Important Survey Opportunity to Strengthen French Education

Please find attached an important survey that will help shape the level of support French second language programs in your community will receive from the Federal government.

http://pch.sondages-surveys.ca/s/OL-LO/?l=en

We've heard from high-level government officials that responses to this Canadian Heritage survey will be read carefully and will help shape funding priorities. Please take a few minutes to respond.

Included below are some suggested responses to the survey questions from Canadian Parents for French. Once you're done, it will greatly amplify our impact if you forward this email to any friends or contact who are part of French language education. The survey is open to the general public. 

Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. This will help make a difference.

- Your CPF BC & Yukon Branch

Communiqué from Canadian Parents for French - National

RE: Government Consultation on Official Languages

Dear Friend of CPF:

The Government of Canada is holding consultations on official languages across the country this summer. These consultations are designed to help the government decide on a successor to the Roadmap, a 1.2 billion dollar investment in Official Languages which ends next year. 42% of current Roadmap funds are devoted to Official Languages education, and CPF would like to see a successor to Roadmap keep education as a main priority.

To learn more about the Roadmap, please visit - http://www.pch.gc.ca/slo-ols/strat-eng.cfm

We encourage CPF members to complete an online government questionnaire to share your views about education and other priorities you think the government should on in the coming years. You will find the questionnaire at: http://pch.sondages-surveys.ca/s/OL-LO/?l=en

CPF has gone through the questionnaire and developed some suggested answers for our members, and anyone who engages in French second language education. Note that each question has a 1500 character limit - you may have to edit the recommended answers to meet that limit. We suggest that you select the bullets in each answer that best match the situation in your community. In addition to the recommended answers, you may find CPF's official position statements useful when answering the questions.

CPF's Recommended Survey Answers

(A) What are issues that should be prioritized in order to promote linguistic duality an raise Canadians' awareness on the advantages and benefits of our two official languages? (maximum of 1,500 characters)

Answer:

1. Inclusion of all students in French immersion programs by:

*Establishing Ministry of Education policies to allow all students, without exception, to enroll in French immersion programs. Training French-second language (FSL) teachers to include all students, and provide special education to support struggling French immersion students.

• Using distance education to include students in small and remote communities.

2. Fund more research to provide factual information about the benefits of second-language learning and bilingualism.

(B) What are issues that should be prioritized in order to contribute to the social, economic and cultural vitality of official language minority communities? (maximum of 1,500 characters).

Answer: [no recommended answer - CPF suggest answering this as you see fit.]

 (C) How can we ensure an increased efficiency in the delivery of programs dedicated to official languages? (maximum of 1,500 characters)

Answer:

• Reduce costs by using online language learning options at elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels.
• Reduce costs by using online opportunities (such as Skype) so students can communicate with native French speakers in Canada and abroad.
• Reduce costs by having immersion and Francophone educators from different schools and school districts share classroom resources, special education services, and teaching staff.
• Keep students interested in Core French programs by putting more emphasis on teaching conversational skills, and by generally improving Core French programs.
• Strive for greater accountability for the use by school districts of federal funds to support French-second-language (FSL) education.
• Provide funds to increase the number of French immersion programs.
• Increase the number of FSL university and college programs.
• Maintain an adequate supply of qualified FSL teachers by establishing standards for teacher qualifications.
• Train principals to plan and supervise the FSL programs in their schools.

 (D) In your opinion, how can we ensure a more direct impact of our investment to citizens? (maximum of 1,500 characters)

• Set national French proficiency standards for various French-second-language programs so employers and post-secondary institutions understand the abilities of applicants.
• Include parents and community stakeholders in making decisions at the school, school district, ministry and national government levels.
• Help researchers develop working relationships with educators and stakeholders so researches can give them the information they need to make the best decisions for children.
• Establish an online clearinghouse on second-language learning research for decision-makers, educators, parents and researchers.

(suggested responses prepared by Canadian Parents for French)

http://pch.sondages-surveys.ca/s/OL-LO/?l=en