Rationale

In Canada, where one quarter of the population comprises speakers of French, one of Canada's two official languages, it is important for British Columbia students to have opportunities to communicate in French.

• Communicative competence in French expands national and international career opportunities in many fields, such as commerce, hospitality, and tourism.
• Learning French enhances the learning of first and additional languages.
• The ability to communicate in French encourages the development of positive attitudes toward Francophone and other cultural groups, and increases students'awareness of their own cultures.

Communication in French is an appropriate and accessible goal for all learners in BC schools. Because the overriding aim of
Core French is communication, the suggested instructional and assessment strategies emphasize the practical use of
the language in all its forms, and de-emphasize the analytical study of grammatical theory as an end in itself.