Written by Gabriela Estrada

If you are a parent learning French and need to understand how your children's school works in Canada, this blog is for you! Canada is a bilingual country, and although its education system is similar to that of other countries, the terms change between French and English. 

Today we will focus on key French words to help you familiarize yourself with your children's education in the French-speaking provinces of Canada. Read with me to the end and take note of the vocabulary - let's get started!

The beginning of schooling (Début de la scolarité)

In Canada, children usually begin their formal education around the age of 5, in the jardin d'enfants (kindergarten/kindergarten). In some provinces, this stage is facultative (optional), but you should know that, in Quebec, kindergarten is part of the système scolaire obligatoire (compulsory school system). (compulsory school system). After kindergarten, children move on to the première année (first grade).

School levels (Les niveaux scolaires)

The Canadian education system is organized in several stages. Here I share the important terms you should know in French, with their English equivalent, and some additional details:

• L'école primaire (The elementary school): Is where children go from age 6 to 12. Each year is called année scolaire (school year) or grade (grade). For example, the deuxième année (the second grade). At the end of this stage, the remise des diplômes (graduation) from elementary school, even if it is not with a formal diploma as in the university.
• L'école secondaire (Secondary school): this stage is divided into two cycles:

1. Le premier cycle (the first cycle): for students from 12 to 14 years old (equivalent to the 7e and 8e grades/années) 7e et 8e grades/années - grades 7 and 8). Here, students usually have a tuteur de classe (class tutor) or enseignant principal (main teacher).
2. Le deuxième cycle (the second cycle): for students from 14 to 17 years of age (from grade 9 to 11). 9e au 11e grade/année - grade 9 to 11 in Québec, and up to the 12e grade/année - grade 12 in other provinces). Upon completion, they receive a diplôme d'études secondaires (secondary school diploma). (high school diploma).

• Le Collège ou CÉGEP (the pre-university in Quebec): if you are in Quebec, your children will have to attend two years in a CÉGEP after high school before they can enter university. These studies are called études collégiales (collegiate studies).
• L'université (the university): depending on the carrière (career) or program d'études (program of studies) chosen, university studies can last between 3 and 5 years. The following are obtained diplômes universitaires (university diplomas) such as the licence (bachelor's degree), the maîtrise (master's degree) or le doctorat (doctorate).

Essential vocabulary to talk about school (Essential vocabulary to talk about school ( Vocabulaire essentiel pour parler de l'école)

To help you in your conversations about school, here are some more useful words, with their meaning in Spanish:

• Les élèves (the pupils/students). They can also be called les écoliers (the schoolchildren) in primary school.
• Les professeurs/enseignants (professors/teachers). They can be le professeur principal (the main teacher) or le directeur/la directrice (the director of the school).
• Les matières (subjects/subjects).
• Les exams (the exams). There are also devoirs (homework) and évaluations (evaluations).
• La salle de classe (the classroom).
• L'emploi du temps (the school timetable).
• Les manuels scolaires (textbooks)
• Cahiers (notebooks).
• Fournitures scolaires (school supplies).
• La rentrée scolaire (back to school)
• Les vacances scolaires (school vacations).
• Les vacances d'été (summer vacation).
• Les vacances de Noël (Christmas vacations).
• Le bulletin scolaire (the report card).
• Réunion parents-professeurs (parent-teacher meeting).
• The canteen (the school canteen).
• La cour de récréation (the playground).
• Les devoirs (homework).

Strategies for memorizing vocabulary

Although French and Spanish share the Latin root and this facilitates the deduction of many terms due to their similarity, there are words that are different in their written form and pronunciation that require strategies to memorize them. Some of these are:

1. Visual associations: relate each word to an image or picture to fix it in memory.
2. Study cards (flashcards): write the French words and their Spanish translations. Review them every day.
3. Use in real contexts: try to apply the words in everyday conversations or phrases.
4. Spaced repetition: review vocabulary at progressive time intervals for reinforcement.
5. Auditory learning: listen to recordings with the French terms and repeat them aloud.

Learn French with Planeta Immiland Education

Planeta Immiland Education is the first migration language school for Canada. In each class, we apply constructivist theory and foster communication skills focused on developing the four main skills of French as a second language (FSL): speaking, reading, writing and listening, to use it effectively at work, in studies, in any French-speaking country and for living in Canada. See French courses.

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If you are ready to take the next step, contact us at and start your French classes with our certified teachers.

Learning the French school system will help you master the language, understand French-Canadian educational standards and better integrate into a social conversation about your children's schooling.

I hope you liked this topic, thanks for reading, see you next blog!

With love,

Planeta Immiland Education