Immersion teachers use many gestures and context clauses as they speak, so the children are able to follow what is said, even if they do not understand every word.
Children soon try words and phrases to communicate with the teacher.
They progress at varying rates through the stages of language learning. Some will start using words and even sentences in French when others are still using English, just as they did when they learned their first language. The school can only do so much to expose the child to every day experiences in French, so the more activities available to the children in the second language, the better. Experiences like clubs, camps, books and plays, give the children opportunities to live the language and increase their vocabulary and comfort levels. Most parents of Immersion students will not be able to speak French, so most of the help at home will be in English.