Linguistic Reform and the Language Teacher: A Canadian Perspective
Year:
1979
Author :
Volume and number:
, 35
Collection:
, 2
Journal:
, The Canadian Modern Language Review / La Revue canadienne des langues vivantes
Pages :
, 165-174
Abstract
The history of Canadian language problems is traced & the impact of the Official Languages Act (1969) is discussed. It accorded English & French equal status in federal institutions & guaranteed the rights of Canadians to receive services from the Federal Government in the official language of their choice. Well-received by French language teachers, it has played an important role in Canadian language reform. The widely prevalent "mixed schools" which offer both French & English language instruction have a predominantly English milieu & act as a medium of assimilation for francophones. Although the ten provincial premiers have pledged to improve opportunities for minority language education in their provinces, concrete measures are slow to come. Teachers of French as a second language play an equally important role in language reform: helping students acquire the skills which can overcome the communication barriers that exist between the two language groups. Much progress has been made in the teaching of Fr as a second language in the elementary school system & enrollments continue to increase. But at the high school level, French as a subject has a reputation of hard work & low-mark credit, especially since the Us no longer require second-lang entrance or exit requirements. Hopefully, language teachers will be in the vanguard in promoting the teaching of the official languages in Canada. Modified AA
Theme :
BilingualismLanguage Policy
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