Immersion- Language Majority

Quebec, Canada

Damien DemarcoJennifer KwongJaewon LeeAlison WuMark Negrete

July 10th, 2013Prof. Forbes

EDS 125

Saint Lambert Elementary School

A Little About Saint Lambert...

• Located Quebec, Canada

• Maximus in Minimus (the greatest in the smallest detail)

• Population approx. 22,000 (2011 Census)

• 50% Canadian40% French7.8% English

Home Language in Saint Lambert

• French: 75.46%

• English: 19.19%

• Both: 1.97%

• Other: 3.73%

Data collected in 2006

Some Context...

• Historically, economic and political power were in the hands of the English.

• Francophones did not have the same status as Anglophones.

• Power shift in 1960-70s, and the government took measures to preserve French.

• Despite this, Francophone-Anglophone relations still remain a contentious issue.

Goals

• Language Goal: be bilingual in French and English

o The English-speaking parents wanted their children to learn French in a bilingual immersion setting.

o concerned with the low level of French

Goals

• Literacy Goal

o Provide rigorous programs of instructions in two languages

o Academic goal: Students will achieve high academic performance through multimedia arts.

Mission Statement

"St. Lambert Elementary School provides a strong student-centered educational

experience through an integrated curriculum with emphasis on the arts, technology, and

a healthy lifestyle."

Mission Statement (cont.)

"Our students are encouraged to grow as individuals while developing a strong community spirit in an atmosphere of mutual respect, kindness and compassion. We celebrate personal efforts,

improvements, and accomplishments to help foster self-confidence.

Our aim is to offer quality education creating, within each child, a continuing desire to learn and to strive for

excellence."

Instructional Practices

• 70% of their coursework in French and 30% in English by the time they graduate

• Important that children experience the Artso Offer dynamic music program to all studentso Second option:

Cycle One- dance Cycle Two- drama Cycle Three- visual arts

Instructional Practices (cont.)

• Promote healthy lifestyle

• Technology used by students to develop and manage school's website

• Technology used as a communication tool with students, staff, and parents

Instructional Practices (cont.)

• Attend professional development workshops.

• Deliver strong programmes of instruction that are engaging, differentiated, and meet the MELS standards.

• Do creative and educational projects that combine the arts, technology, and subject content.

• Prepare young people for the challenges of high school by working closely with other high schools on transition to high school projects, out-take meetings, and joint events.

Major Policy Issues

• Language conflict began in 1760 when British took over the province.For 200 years the minority English language was enforced as the language of power over the majority Francophones.

• 1968: Large influx of Italian Immigrants in the predominantly Francophone community of St. Leonard, chose to educate their kids in English. Francophone school board responded with a motion making French the language of education in that district.Demonstrations sparked from both sides, making headlines.

Major Policy Issues (cont.)

• 1969: Official Languages Act: Made Canada officially bilingual in English and French

• The Same Year in Quebec, 1969: Bill 63: Quebec’s first language law. Claimed to promote French, but gave parents the freedom to choose French or English for their children. Francophones were not satisfied and larger demonstrations ensued.

• 1974: Bill 22: French was made the official language of Quebec. Francophones were still dissatisfied, noting too many ways to circumvent the law.

Major Policy Issues (cont.)

• 1977: Bill 101: Supplanted Bill 22, making French the official language of advertising, education, and administration, with many exceptions.

Major Policy Issues (cont.)

There have been numerous debates and alterations to the bill since 1977, but Quebec is still the only province in Canada where French is the sole official language. Tension still exist between the opposing groups.

Correlations between the language history of Quebec can be drawn to that of the Latino populations of the U.S., particularly in California. With California being originally a Spanish speaking land, and English speaking minorities taking over, there has been a history of backlash by the Spanish communities, not unlike the Francophones in Quebec. The difference is that French seems to have regained power as the official language in Quebec, whereas Spanish speakers continue to struggle for recognition.

The ADVANTAGES of a Bilingual Immersion Program in Quebec

The linguistic distinction in QuebecFRANCOPHONE: ANGLOPHONE:

ALLOPHONE:

A native French speaker A native English speaker A native speaker of another

1st language 1st language language other than French or English

e.g. Arabic, Pakistani, 1st language

• English language skills are improved

• Math skills are improved

• Children have better attitudes towards Francophones.

• Children often say, 'My mother and father told me that later it will be important for me to be able to speak English when I get a job,'" Marie Peloquin, the principal, told the newspaper.

• "Learning the two languages is highly valued by the parents."

The DISADVANTAGES of a Bilingual Immersion Program in Quebec

• Bill 101 leads to a displacement for the Allophones ( immigrants to Canada and indigenous groups)

• The Official Languages Act/ Canada's official bilingualism has an ambiguous sense of identity to the Francophone or Anglophone. Does being a hard core proud Canadian mean you have to speak both French and English and not one or the other.

• The drive for protests, political gain one over the other, depending on the parents francophone anglophone or allophone.

• What side will the child identify with especially if the parents are proud francophones or anglophones... OR Allophone.

• Bilingual education still remains a sensitive topic.

• Pauline Marois, leader of the Parti Quebecois, was forced to backtrack after saying publicly that the province's children should be bilingual by the time they leave school and language

• tensions will still surface if the PQ decides to strong arm the language laws.

• There’s a growing resistance from young, anglophone Quebecers upset about developments under the PQ Govt.

What are the INTERESTING ASPECTS of this program?

• Bilingualism is more important in the larger cities especially in Montreal and among the educated classes ( social elite/prestigious bilingual education) however French is used in all other environment and situations.

• French Canadians ( the Francophone) have a poor "evaluation of themselves apparently viewing their linguistic group inferior to the English Canadian ( Anglophone). (http://webs.uvigo.es/ssl/actas1997/06/GarciaL.pdf)

• Whenever there is a language law imposed to ANY multilingual or bilingual society. There is

going to be a resistance or protests. In this case it was bill 101.

• Interesting how Bill 101 or the PQ gov't of language policy is similar to the United States with

Prop 227 and 203 in California and Arizona.

• Resources now say Quebec is a bilingual government. Everything is mandated in both French

and English. However, the majority of resources still claim that French as the sole

official language at the provincial level.

• Resources will acknowledge different lexicons of French of Quebec such as Acadian French,

Quebec French, Metropolitan French and or the variation of Canadian French. How does this

make the ANGLOPHONE feel? inferior?...

Resources1. http://www.stlambert.rsb.qc.ca/?lang=en

(Saint Lambert Elementary School Website)

2. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/secondlanguage-instruction

(The Canadian Encyclopedia)

3. http://www.unavarra.es/tel2l/eng/canada.htm#experiment

(Bilingual Education Programs in Canada)

4. http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/scripts/explore.php?Lang=1&elementid=103__true&tableid=11&contentlong

(McCord Museum Website)

5. Bilingual Education in the 21st Century by Ofelia Garcia

6. http://www.rsb.qc.ca/?BB8B9746-5359-430E-8E60-57EDFF8A38FE

(District website)

7. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2009/10/22/f-quebec-language-laws-bill-101.html

(CBCNEWS Website)

8. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/02/16/Bilingual-education-hot-topic-in-Quebec/UPI-60941203208767/