Reading and writing are introduced later to reinforce listening and speaking. There is little formal study of the structure of the target language in Grades K-3 although some attention will be given to this aspect of language learning in Grades 4 and 5. By the end of Grade 12, students will have a basic competence in both oral and written aspects of French on which to build later in life if they need or desire to do so. The program is based on the cultural experience of the students. In Saskatchewan, this gives a multicultural basis to the Core French program.
Students then move towards an appreciation of the culture of French speaking peoples.
In doing so, they learn to accept the fact that other ways of expressing thoughts and doing things are equally valid and acceptable. It should be stressed that these three objectives do not exist in isolation but rather form an integrated whole. It pointed out that students need a minimum of 1200 hours to attain a basic level of second language proficiency, oral and written. It also indicated that one would need 5000 hours of second language instruction to become functionally bilingual. Expectations became more realistic and therefore attainable.