The French Bilingual Binational Program offers your child an extensive and proven range of neurodevelopmental, cognitive, social and health benefits along with career and lifestyle opportunities attributed to bilingualism. The program is offered by Highgate School and Unley High School, both part of the Australian Association of French English Bilingual Schools.
This program allows students to follow both the Australian and the French curriculums through a unique harmonisation model. It has the support of Department for Education of South Australia and the French Ministry of Education via the French Embassy in Canberra.
What is the French Bilingual Binational Program?
The French Bilingual Binational Program sees a harmonised curriculum across all non-specialist learning areas. Most subjects will be taught in French and for those subjects, parts of the French curriculum are covered along with the Australian curriculum.
Highgate School started its program in 2017 and Unley High School in 2018. 2022 will see Unley High School offer the International Baccalaureate program to its SACE year students. This provides a strong opportunity for the completing French Bilingual Binational year ten students to continue their French language studies through the compulsory language component of the Baccalaureate. From 2023, students having completed year 6 at Highgate will be able to transition through selective entry to continue the French Bilingual Binational Program at Unley High School.
Genevieve Papineau, Director of Reception to Year 10 French Bilingual Binational Program said:
“These primary students embarked on their bilingual journey in their very first year at school and it will be really exciting to see them transition and complete the program at high school level when they graduate.”
Which subjects are taught in French?
Highgate students are taught all subjects in French except for performing art (except Media and Visual Arts), PE, Technologies (Design and digital). Students also learn Chinese languages.
Unley High School’s curriculum has been harmonised for Years 7 and 8 Maths, Science, HASS and French. In Years 9 and 10, the curriculum has been harmonised for HASS and French. In 2021, the program commenced a Year 10 work experience placement offering with local French companies through the French Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry..
The program is not aimed only at children from French-speaking families
The French Bilingual Binational Program is not solely a program for French speaking families to allow their children to maintain their French language and to follow the French curriculum. In fact, over 70% of the children enrolled in the program come from non-French speaking families.
Benefits of the French Bilingual Binational Program
The benefits of learning another language and of bilingualism are well known.
Bilingualism positively affects children’s cognitive development, social development and their health. It is known to provide exceptional neurodevelopmental benefits such as higher executive functioning, adaptability and problem solving. In some cases, bilingualism can be linked to better confidence and academic outcomes.
Completing the International Baccalaureate at Unley High School in SACE years to allow students to enter any university around the world. In addition to further education, bilingualism opens up access to international career pathways. For examples of the career benefits of learning French, you can watch videos on The French Embassy in Australia’s YouTube channel. La France en Australie – YouTube
This video from La France en Australie highlights career opportunities open to those who speak French: « Great opportunities that I’ll never forget » / Why Learn French ? « Great opportunities that I’ll never forget » / Why Learn French ? – YouTube
Apart from the academic benefits, a bilingual education through the French Bilingual Binational Program also allows students a greater cultural education with connections to France and its culture. Students of the French Bilingual Binational Program are able to enjoy uniquely French cultural events such as meeting His Excellency, Ambassador of France to Australia, Jean-Pierre Thébault; French markets, pétanque days and zoom calls with bilingual students in France. French culture is also brought into the classroom and the playground with French games.
We asked students in the French Bilingual Binational Program what they like about the program. Louis from Year 5 at Highgate said quite simply “I like the fact that I speak two languages”. Older brother Sebastian studying the program at Year 10 at Unley High School said “The program gives me more opportunities for my future”. Tabatha at Highgate said “I like to discover new things like sports that we didn’t have in France for example. I prefer the Australian school [system] because we have more autonomy and we learn sometimes with games”
Programs continue despite the AUKUS fallout
The programs were established in collaboration with local French families and the Department for education prior to the announcement of a deal with France to build submarines in Adelaide. The AUKUS fallout has not affected the Department for Educations commitment to the program or families completing their studies at Highgate and Unley.
Enrolments
To enrol in the French Bilingual Binational Program at Highgate, you will need to make an expression of interest and complete a registration form. You can find out more information about this process and the appropriate contacts via this link https://www.highgates.sa.edu.au/french-bilingual-binational-program/french-enrolment/
While the preference is for the forms to be returned by week 3 of term 3 for enrolment the following year, Highgate School accommodates enrolments throughout the year where they are able to do so.
Entry to Unley High School’s French Bilingual Binational Program is by application and requires a language assessment. Out of zone students are also eligible to apply for Unley’s program. Assessments usually occur in March/April but the school is open to taking applications and conducting assessments throughout the year if need be. Further information about enrolments can be found via this link: https://uhs.sa.edu.au/french-programs/
With all the benefits of the French Bilingual Binational Program being offered at a public-school accessibility it’s difficult to find a reason not to enrol your child!
