Villa Maria

To find out more about Villa Maria and the courses we offer, have a look at the brochure A Spirited Education and the 2010-2011 Curriculum.

Language Programs

English Language Arts

Students who attend Villa Maria come from a variety of ethnic and academic backgrounds, as well as a variety of schools: English, French, French Immersion and Bilingual. As a result, the English Language Arts program is designed with a sensitivity to the students’ diverse needs.

Our enriched English Language Arts program systematically develops and hones essential language and communication skills which serve our students well when they enrol in post-secondary education and enter their chosen career paths.

Students learn about their world, themselves and their classmates as they explore many themes in both classic and modern literature. They are encouraged to respond to literature in a variety of ways, including written personal responses, creative projects (both oral and written) and both formal and informal essays.

Faculty assigns individual and collaborative projects, and encourages students to enter speaking and writing competitions, which may result in works being published. Students at all levels enjoy regular theatre excursions, culminating in the annual Secondary Five (5) trip to the Stratford Festival.

The following option courses complement the Villa Maria Language programs:

• Communicating Skills
• Drama
• Media and Communication
• Media Technology
• North American Literature (Literature and Contemporary Society)
• Spanish

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French

French programs play a central role in the Villa Maria curriculum. Français, langue seconde, programme enrichi, and Français, langue d’enseignement prepare students for life in Quebec and elsewhere in the world where a strong working knowledge of French is an asset.

The primary objectives of our French language programs are to give students the tools and confidence necessary to help them integrate fully into francophone life, to enrich their world vision by allowing them to become familiar with Quebec and other French-language cultures, and also to contribute to their general training and education by developing their capacities in reasoning, problem solving, and self-awareness of their own language learning and development.

Français, langue seconde, programme enrichi and Français, langue d’enseignement are both offered in Secondary 1 through 5.

 In Cycle One, the Music, Visual Arts and Physical Education and Health courses are taught in French.  All Music courses offered in Cycle Two (Secondary 3, 4 and 5) will also be taught in French.

In addition Cycle One students enrolled in Français, langue d’enseignement and one group of students in Francais, langue seconde, programme enrichi will also study Geography, and History and Citizenship, in French.

During their five years at Villa Maria, students will have opportunity to attend theatre productions in French and meet with invited francophone authors, musicians and artists.