The Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute has submitted a brief to the Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages, as part of Canada-wide consultations on the new federal Action Plan for Official Languages for 2023 to 2028.
OLBI took part in the last consultation process, in 2016, proposing among other things to make an English and French learning app available to the public. This idea came to fruition as part of the 2018–2023 action plan with the launch of the Mauril language learning app, available for free from CBC/Radio-Canada.
In its brief, OLBI suggests concrete steps the Canadian government can take to reinforce the place of French in Canada, the growth of francophone minority communities, and inclusion and innovation in language learning in an increasingly diverse society.
Key brief messages
- The brief highlights the importance of offering language immersion at university as a means to ensure that language learning is linked to disciplinary learning beyond high school. Immersion at university is a pedagogical innovation unique to Canada, one recognized internationally, which could be developed to support learning of the two official languages not only for undergraduates, but for graduates as well. OLBI also highlights the usefulness of this approach in offering language support to an increasingly diverse and international student body.
- OLBI proposes the development of a certificate in immersion for teaching staff to better highlight the key knowledge and skills associated with implementing immersion-based pedagogy.
- The research chairs in language planning and the Master of Arts in Bilingualism Studies are training the future leaders in language education and policy. To support the next generation of researchers in official languages, OLBI proposes that a summer program for young researchers be created to support development of this singular expertise and of knowledge dissemination.
- Health care is an essential service. However, in Canada, it is unfortunately impossible to receive care in one’s first language in minority settings, despite many studies that have shown the harmful effects of this lack of access. OLBI proposes to the government the creation of a French as a second language program for English-speaking health-care professionals who serve francophone community members.
- To encourage young anglophones in grades 10 and 11 to continue learning French, OLBI proposes to develop and implement a for-credit, summer second language program.
- OLBI highlights the importance of greater support for research on innovation in design, pedagogy and technology in language teaching and learning, language immersion, language proficiency assessment and management of language programs. It proposes that this be accompanied by increased support for the dissemination of scholarly knowledge among professionals, students and parents, who are directly affected by language development and learning.
- Canadian researchers in the field of language are recognized worldwide. However, few programs support their involvement in international-scale research. OLBI recommends that the government support Canadian researchers’ collaborations with partners in language education abroad, for example, the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML)’s research programs.
- Many youth in elementary and high school have difficulty learning French as a second language. Unfortunately, without supplementary assistance, they become turned off to learning French and give up on studying the language at the postsecondary level. OLBI proposes to develop, implement and supervise a permanent official language tutoring program with university student volunteers who care about language learning or are in the immersion program. This tutoring program could also assist young refugees whose first language is neither English nor French.
- The rate of bilingualism among English-speaking Canadians has been stagnant for many years. It’s necessary to show the concrete advantages of bilingualism in the revised version of the Official Languages Act and in the Public Service Employment Act. All things being equal, bilingualism and postsecondary studies in French should be considered as assets in federal government hiring processes. It’s important to recognize and value the degrees of applicants who have chosen to study in French.
OLBI believes that the proposed measures could have a transformative effect in Canada for generations to come and make the country a model for the world. The bold measures it’s putting forward could also allow the federal government to bank on positive, concrete benefits to halt the gradual erosion of the place of French in Canada and help it flourish. With its national and international reputation in language education and its Canadian Centre for Studies and Research on Bilingualism and Language Planning (CCERBAL), OLBI has the expertise and know-how needed to support the implementation of the new version of the Official Languages Act, which should be adopted in the coming year, as well as the new Canadian government Action Plan for Official Languages.