Languages

 Welcome to the Languages Department at Princess Margaret Secondary!

 Languages Pathway at PMSS

At Princess Margaret, students begin their language learning journey with a foundational year of French in Grade 8, building upon their learning from elementary school. Starting in Grade 9, students have the option of continuing in French or tackling a brand-new language (Punjabi or Spanish). All languages at PMSS are available up to the Grade 12 level (and are accepted by BC post-secondary institutions as academic courses).

Enrichment Activities and Opportunities

An integral part of the Languages programs at PMSS is enrichment through field studies, the arts, external certifications and cultural experiences. Here are some exciting highlights from recent years:

Screenings at the Vancouver International Film Festival (French 12)

The Vancouver International Film Festival runs every year in late September to early October, and Grade 12 French students enjoy getting to watch French-language films at the festival as one of their first field trips of the year. Thanks to generous funding through VIFF’s Ignite High School program, students attend the festival in Downtown Vancouver free of charge.

Outings to French bakeries/cafés (French 11-12) 

There is no shortage of Francophone cultural experiences in BC, though it may take a little exploration out of the suburbs to discover them! Students in French 11-12 have the chance to visit Francophone-owned businesses in the Lower Mainland, practise their French in authentic, real-world contexts (and not to mention, taste some delicious pastries and desserts along the way).

Scavenger hunt at Granville Island (French 10-12) 

As the weather gets warmer, it has become a PMSS tradition for French 10-12 students to visit Granville Island for a scavenger hunt: their goal is to follow the clues given, discover every corner of the Public Market, (hopefully) be the first group to answer all the questions correctly for the chance to win the grand prize — and do this all in French! What better way would there be to celebrate a semester of hard work in French class?

Refuge Canada exhibition, Museum of Vancouver (French 11-12)

The French teachers at PMSS are always on the lookout for exhibitions that allow students to use their French and engage with Francophone culture. In December 2023, French 11-12 students visited the travelling bilingual exhibition Refuge Canada at the Museum of Vancouver, where they learnt about the experience of refugees in Canada and their journeys to safety.

DELF certifications: French, recognized for life! (French 12)

The DELF (Diplôme d’études en langue française) is an internationally recognized certification of French and is valid for life. Students registered in French 12 have the unique chance to take these exams at no cost (normally $155-325). Students are offered extra preparatory sessions prior to the exams in April. For more details on the DELF examinations, contact Mr. Lam.

Day trip to Paldi, Vancouver Island (Punjabi 10-12)

Mrs. Chhina has made it a tradition for her Punjabi classes to make the annual trek out to Paldi on Vancouver Island, to explore the historic site known for its multicultural origins, particularly its early Punjabi settlers. Students enjoy learning about the resilient history of Punjabi-Canadians in BC, while strengthening their own connections to their heritage and culture.

Flamenco dance performance (Spanish 11)

Students in Mr. Lam’s 2022-2023 Spanish 11 class attended a flamenco performance at the Scotiabank Dance Theatre. Music and dance are an important part of Hispanic cultural expression, so it only makes sense that students have the opportunity to experience this as part of their language learning journey at PMSS. Depending on event availability, students in future cohorts may see music concerts and other performing art shows.

Contacts