One of the most common things we hear from Ontario parents is some version of this: "I want to help, but I don't speak a word of French." The good news is that the most valuable help you can give does not require French at all.
What actually helps
Set the structure, not the content. You do not need to check whether a verb is conjugated correctly. You need to make sure homework happens at a consistent time, in a quiet place, before everyone is exhausted. Structure is the single biggest lever a parent controls.
Ask your child to teach you. Have them explain what they learned, read a passage aloud to you, or translate a few lines. Explaining something is one of the strongest ways to consolidate it, and it works even when the listener understands nothing.
Listen for avoidance, not errors. You cannot catch grammar mistakes, but you can absolutely notice when French homework always takes a back seat, always gets rushed, or always triggers frustration. Those patterns are earlier and more reliable warning signs than any single test score.
Use audio exposure. French music, cartoons or shows with French audio build the ear without feeling like work. Ten minutes a day of passive listening is worth more than an occasional cramming session.
What accidentally makes things worse
Translation apps as a crutch. Pasting sentences into a translator produces homework that does not match the student's level. Teachers notice immediately, and the student learns nothing.
Correcting pronunciation you are not sure about. Well meaning corrections based on English spelling habits can reinforce the wrong sounds. If you are not confident, let the audio resources and the teacher handle pronunciation.
Framing French as the "hard" subject. Children adopt the labels they hear. A child who hears that French is impossible will act accordingly.
When homework help is not enough
If homework is a nightly battle, if your child hides French work, or if marks keep sliding despite effort, the issue is usually a foundation gap rather than a homework problem. That is the point where one on one time with a teacher who knows the Ontario curriculum changes the trajectory quickly. Confidence tends to return within a few sessions, and homework stops being a fight at home.