Next week, EducLang member Dr. Stephanie Arnott is participating in the Centre for Educational Research on Language and Literacies at OISE Research Colloquium 2021. Her presentation “French as a Second Language (FSL) research in Canada: Histories, realities and possibilities” will take place on February 9th, at 5:00-6:30 pm.
Abstract: In 1970, the Canadian government initiated the Official Languages in Education Program, which included funding to provinces and territories to offer mandatory second language instruction in both official languages (i.e., English and French). French as a second language (FSL) instruction has since been introduced via different program formats in English language school boards, oftentimes varying in terms of time and intensity across different provinces and territories. With this history in mind, this presentation aims to provide a comprehensive and critical perspective on what research has revealed about the (in)effectiveness of FSL programming and the daily realities faced by stakeholders in the field. Then, a longstanding finding in the FSL research – i.e., the lack of motivation to continue learning French in school when it is no longer a mandatory subject of study – will be the focus of discussion and collaborative data analysis. Attendees will be invited to share their beliefs and experiences related to adolescent motivation to learn FSL in Canada. As a group, we will explore data from a recent research project conducted with FSL learners (n = 63) who were surveyed on their intention to continue studying French when it was no longer a mandatory subject of study. This data will be used as a springboard to debate the merits of the discourse on the benefits of learning French and its applicability to learners of all ages.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 840 9807 6809
Passcode: CTL3001
We hope to see many of you there!
Alaa & Amanda