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A language expert says New Brunswick has a lot to learn from Edmonton schools when it comes to effectively teaching French.

"Research proves the earlier a child starts a second language, the better,'' said Fred Genesee, an expert in second language acquisition at McGill University in Montreal.

"Edmonton schools have really taken that to heart. Their students are doing extremely well in French and many even opt for other languages."

Edmonton public schools offer an intensive French immersion program that starts in kindergarten.

Early immersion students take all subjects in French until the second semester of Grade 2 when they switch to 70 per cent instruction in French.

A French second-language or core program, beginning in Grade 4, gives a second option to families.

Students get 150 minutes of French per week.

They can also opt, after the early immersion or core program, to enrol in late immersion in Grade 7.

In New Brunswick, beginning next year, students will have no French instruction from grades 1 to 4.

They will take an intensive French program in Grade 5 and choose between a late immersion or enriched core program in Grade 6.

New Brunswick Education Minister Kelly Lamrock and his Liberal caucus have been under fire since announcing the changes.

Genesee said he understands changes were needed in New Brunswick, but said he's not certain cutting early immersion was the way to go.

"The solutions the government has opted for may not solve the problems in New Brunswick," he said. "Not only that, but it sends the unfortunate message that they don't value French as much as they do English in New Brunswick."

Genesee suggests the government model a system after Edmonton schools.

Students there have tremendous success with the early, intense exposure to the French language, he said.

"Edmonton is really a star in this area," Genesee said. "They've proven that early exposure to a second language does not negatively affect the child's first language. All their scores reflect that."

Marie Commance-Shulko, a French immersion consultant for the Edmonton school district, credits the program's success to work done outside the classrooms.

Teachers need an advanced level in French to teach and take several professional development courses in French each year.

They also work with French consultants on best teaching methods.

"In 2002, we established a French language renewal project where we talked to parents, teachers and students about how to make our French programming better," Commance-Shulko said.

"We came up with 13 recommendations and implemented every one."

One recommendation was to hire consultants to work with French teachers to make sure students are getting the most out of their French instruction.

Commance-Shulko, who taught French for 25 years, is one of those consultants.

"I might model a classroom lesson for a teacher, provide workshops, or work with teachers who have students struggling in the language," she said.

Since the renewal project began, a growing number of Edmonton students are choosing the early French program.

And many of those students are taking French all the way to Grade 12.

In New Brunswick, the retention rate was cited by Lamrock as a reason for changing French instruction.

He wants to have 70 per cent of students bilingual by 2012, but the majority of students in New Brunswick drop French before graduation.

"What we found works well for keeping students in French is we have peer mentoring," Commance-Shulko said. "The high school students talk to junior high students and our junior high students talk to elementary students about why they stayed in French, how they like it, and why it's important to keep it."

Edmonton students are also offered French experiences outside of the classrooms, such as exchanges to France, visits to francophone communities and field trips to watch French films.

"In high school, we have French theatre for the students to participate in and watch," Commance-Shulko said. "We also ensure all our public and school libraries carry a wide variety of French literature."

Students there are thriving. Edmonton public schools have some of the highest literacy and numeracy success rates in the country - in both English and French.

And recently the school district was accredited as an international French examination centre.

Students can opt to take a test from France to obtain a diploma in French studies or advanced French.

In May 2007, more than 300 Edmonton students from the early French and core French programs chose to take the optional test, which includes an oral and written examination.

About 91 per cent of those participants received an internationally recognized French diploma.

"More and more of our students feel confident enough in their French to take the test," Commance-Shulko said. "There are six levels of proficiency and the majority are scoring at the B1 level, which is the fourth level."

B1 proficiency means students are considered independent in their second language.

Genesee believes New Brunswick would see similar success if it modeled a system after the Edmonton district.

"A couple of French consultants, increased professional development and more opportunities for students outside the classroom, would make a big difference in New Brunswick," he said. "Why not follow the example of those who have successful French graduates and a system that works well for all students?

"I don't see how cutting a program that's had such success in other provinces makes sense."