Don't lose your French: Acadian youth group hopes to attract immersion students

Kyle Gill graduated from aFrench high school about a year ago, now he's doing everything he can to make sure he and other young people who speak French hold onto the language.

His story is one shared by many young Islanders an Anglophone dad and a French mom and even though Kyle went to school in the French system he didn't get much opportunity to speak it.

"A lot of the time it was English in the house, and Englisheverywhere I went beside school," said the new president ofJeunesse Acadienne et Francophone de l'le-du-Prince-douard.

'Everyone's thereto help you and support you'

Gill is using his French plenty now, with seven media interviews alone since taking over the 40-year-old group which he is hoping to expand province wide.

"Youhave people in there who speak French all the time, and may not know English or very little English, so it was a little bit intimidating," Gill said of the first time he attended an event.

"Everyone's thereto help you and support you and help you learn the language too even if you're not too comfortable with it."

Use it or loseit

One of Gill's goals is to encourage more French immersion students to participate in the events, which include weekend activities.

"A lot of people don't realize if you don't practice the language you'll lose it."

Gill added the group is able to take advantage of government funding to keep the costs of events affordable for anyone who wants to participate.

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