Intensive French Results of first year

Results of Intensive French at OCS 2009/2010

Intensive French (IF) became a reality for the Grade six class at Ottawa Christian School (OCS) during the past school year and research results demonstrate that it was a success on all fronts.

Oral production
Students were interviewed at the beginning and end of the intensive period to determine their ability to carry on a conversation in French related to their own lives and the topics studied. At the end of the six-month period, most students exceeded the target level described as: Able to show a certain spontaneity when speaking about familiar topics; uses simple but complete sentences; asks and answers simple questions. In short, students were no longer restricted to memorized phrases but could create sentences to express what they wanted to say. Evidence of this was described anecdotally by many parents who noted that their child now claimed to ‘think in French.’ This phenomenon was accurately described by another parent as the child having ‘internalized conversational French.’ The OCS average for oral production exceeded the national average for IF programs.

Written production
Written production skills were tested in February using a standardized measurement instrument that required students to write a short composition. OCS students perform similarly to other IF students in Ontario with regard to fluency of written production and exceeded performance on overall level and accuracy.

Motivation and attitudes toward studying French
In order to track any change in motivation and attitudes as a result of the IF experience, students completed a questionnaire in September and again in February. Student scores on all the subscales increased over the six-month period. However, in order to appreciate the most interesting change, it is important to understand the difference between an integrative and an instrumental orientation to motivation. Instrumental motivation refers to an interest in learning another language for personal gain, such as a better job or higher salary. This concept is reflected in a questionnaire item such as: Studying the French language can be important for me because other people will respect me more if I know another language. Integrative motivation, on the other hand, refers to interest in learning another language to know the other language group (or out groups, in general) and a willingness to identify with the speakers of a language group. This concept is reflected in a questionnaire item such as: Studying the French language can be important for me because it will make me feel more comfortable with people who speak French.

This suggests that language learning is oriented to the ‘other’ rather than to the ‘self.’ The score reflecting this integrative orientation to learning French in September was the highest of all the subscales, leaving very little room for improvement. Nevertheless, in February, this scale shows one of the largest changes. We can be very thankful for this striking outcome, which reflects a spirit congruent with the educational goals and core values of OCS.

Parental appraisal of student experience of the IF program
Parents were also invited to assess the program and the quality of their child’s experience. All parents responded; six considered the experience to be very positive, three positive and one negative.

Summary
It appears that IF was a successful experience at OCS. This program is often described as a ‘kick start’ for learning French since the intensity of instruction brings students brings to a level where they are able to communicate spontaneously and creatively in French. Although their level of proficiency is still limited, students finally feel they are able to do something with the language they are learning.
Larry Vandergrift, Ph.D.
Chair, IF Implementation Committee

Nicolas Laliberte’s graduation speech—June 2010

Parents, Teachers, community members, I would like to thank you for supporting us all these years, thank you for all the time you have put in at the school making it a better place for us to learn and openly grow in our Christian faith. And thank you for being here tonight to celebrate our graduation with us.

Schoolmates, whether you are in Kindergarten or in Grade 7, thank you for the time we have spent
together. You may not know this but we need to feel needed. Thank you for being there and fulfilling that role. We will miss you guys, miss reading with you, miss having fun with you and miss just exchanging a smile and a hello in the hall.

And finally, graduating class, my peers, “I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” …   I actually don’t really know what that means. Anyway, many of you have been with me since SK. Others I just met this year. Either way, it is a privilege to graduate with you.

I want to start by reading you all the verse we chose to be the theme of our grad. Revelation 3:8 “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know you have little strength, yet you have kept my words and have not denied my name.” I would like to draw your attention for a moment to the second half of that verse; “I know you have little strength, yet you have kept my words and have not denied my name.” “I know you have little strength…”

As many of you know, about two and a half years ago I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. I missed almost half a year of school and was reduced to about the size of a toothpick. (Give or take a bit.) It got so bad that I couldn’t even get up to go to the bathroom. (My mom carried me, thanks mom.) You can bet that I soon became aware of how little strength I had. Yet, there are others in my class who have had to deal with equal or even greater trials. From life threatening allergies to spending months in hospital to the passing of loved ones, the list of people in our class who have had hardships in the last three years alone I need to use both hands to count. That’s over a quarter of our class! In just three years!

However we relied on God for strength, supported each other, and overcame the obstacles. We may have had some difficulties along the way but we matured and stuck by each other as a family. We have been so blessed to be part of a praying community. When anyone of us needed prayers we knew that you would be praying for us. Together we kept God’s word and did not deny his name.

We have emerged stronger as individuals and as a class. Class, there is no group of kids I would rather be graduation with than you. You have set an example for me and encouraged me to give it my all in all, whether in chess, or in phys. ed. and track, or in academic studies, or in the arts, you are my inspiration and my motivation.

Don’t get me wrong. I know you’re…we’re not perfect. As we are reminded at the beginning of our grad verse: “God knows our deeds.”

That means he sees when you hold the door open for someone, and when you share your lunch with someone who forgot theirs. But he also sees when you do stuff like “borrowing” gummy bears from Mrs. Speirs’ desk, or offering people “Belgium chocolates” and not warning them that they contain jalapeno peppers, or switching our educational history movie with a… well… let’s just say, less educational movie. Or even cheering for the Leafs.

We have shared many good times and there are many more yet to come. For example, we will go on to graduate from high school, and perhaps college or university, and then maybe one day get married and have a family. I’d love to tell you, now that we are going on to high school, we can expect nothing but good times. But we know that our life on this earth is tainted by sin. There will also be pain and sorrow to accompany the good times.

It is in those moments, when we feel weak, that we know we will have the prayers of our family and community, and that Christ Himself will see us through until the end. And in the end we know there is a place waiting for us where there is no more sickness, sorrow or pain. And we will pass into that place through the final door, which God has placed before us and which no one can shut. We share in Christ’s suffering so that one-day we may be able to pass through that final door which is Jesus Christ our Lord.

May God bless you this evening and may you keep his words and not deny his name so that we may all see each other on the other side of that final door. Thank you.

OCS Students and Community Excited Touring New School at Dedication and Ribbon Cutting

The blue sky layered with soft cirrus clouds was the backdrop at Ottawa Christian School’s new facility at 255 Tartan Drive in Barrhaven on Friday, June 11. More than 300 students, staff, parents, politicians, businesses and supporters gathered for the Building Dedication and Ribbon Cutting ceremony for Ottawa Christian School.

Visitors were greeted with songs of praise and worship as they gathered for this much anticipated occasion. Celebrations began at 6:30pm with greetings from Hugo Marcus, Executive Director at the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools followed by greetings from Wafa Martin, OCS Board Chair. “It takes a community to raise a child and it takes a community to build a school,” said Martin.

Grade 7 teacher, Laurence Stassen and parents, Corrine Scholman and Allison Schenk, and students led the festivities with a variety of songs and instruments. MC Pastor Darryl Meijer and OCS parent introduced those that led prayers and songs by members representing staff, administration, students and the OCS community.

Following the Dedication were presentations by Ottawa City Councillor, Jan Harder and Pierre Poilievre, MP Ottawa Carleton. Ms. Harder recalled a meeting more than 8 years ago when now Chair of the OCS Board, Wafa Martin, came to her office looking for land in Barrhaven. Mr. Poilievre brought greetings on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and presented a certificate congratulating the school on their “…wonderful achievement today as you open your new facility. I wish all the best to the students who pass through your doors.”

The ribbon cutting included a number of members from the community. Principal, Paul Triemstra and Board Chair, Wafa Martin waited for a count down… “10 – 9 – 8 – 7…”and at the sound of “One” the ribbon was cut and the anxious students raced to the doors to begin their tour of their new facility. The tours started with sounds of “Wow, this is beautiful, so bright and spacious!” and ended in the gymnasium with ice cream and fellowship.

For families interested in learning more about Ottawa Christian School, visit an Open House in August and September or call the school to have a private tour. Please contact Ottawa Christian School to reserve a tour at info@OCSchool.org or 613-722-5836.

For Open House dates and rental opportunities please contact Trisha at 613-722-5836 or visit www.OCSchool.org.

To see more pictures of the day and of the week to week progress of the building, go to the New Facility Photo Gallery.