The State of French-Second-Language in Canada 2001

What is different about the 2001 Report?
In August 2000, Canadian Parents for French (CPF) published its first annual Report on the state of FSL programs - that is, all core and immersion French programs in Canada. The Report provided information to decision makers and advocates for FSL programs on the state of the FSL support system. Supports exist at four intertwining levels: national, provincial and territorial, school district, and school. Assessments presented in the 2000 report addressed the first two levels and set out initial criteria for the future assessment of the remaining two.

The 2001 Report provides updated information and highlights progress being made at the national, provincial and territorial levels. The 2001 Report introduces a tool designed for self-assessment of FSL support systems at the school level. The School Self-Assessment Tool is based on research into those factors that contribute to quality FSL programs. The Tool is intended to encourage schools to create and continue a dialogue with all stakeholders: parents, teachers, students, and school administrators. The 2001 Report also focuses its attention on innovation in core French programs, particularly the concept of "intensity".

How was the report created?
The 2001 Report was created with the participation and cooperation of CPF branches across the country. CPF Branches gathered data regarding FSL in each province and territory; CPF national staff collected national information. This information was then given to a task force responsible for comparing this data with that of the 2000 Report in order to identify progress.

Volunteer groups were also established to assist in the development of this report. Two groups of note were the National Task Force, and the team responsible for designing the School Self-Assessment Tool.

What's in the Report?
The highlight of the report is the self-assessment tool designed for use by schools.

A "self-assessment tool design group" of research consultants and education experts was formed to refine school district and school criteria for quality FSL programs that had been prepared for the 2000 Report. Using those criteria, the design group prepared a draft self-assessment tool to be used by schools to assess their areas of strength and scope for action. After several revisions, the draft tool was tested in focus groups comprised of parents and teachers. It was further tested in telephone interviews with administrators, students, parents, and teachers as well as through an internal CPF survey. Feedback from both focus groups and interviews served as a validity check on the Tool.

National and provincial findings of progress in FSL programs are broken down into areas of subject matter with highlights of recent action taken across the country. As did the 2000 report, the 2001 report contains data and statistical tables regarding FSL in each province and territory.

Who was involved in the Report?
The chief researcher for the report is Dr. Alina MacFarlane. Dr. MacFarlane received her PhD in Psychopedagogy from the University of Ottawa, rounding out her BA and BEd in French and English and her MEd in Second Language Education. Dr. MacFarlane's background is in teaching, consulting and research. She has been a sessional professor and ESL teacher at the University of Ottawa and a French teacher at the high school level. She was formerly coordinator of ESL programs for international students at the University of Ottawa. Dr. MacFarlane has completed a number of research projects, including work with the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ottawa Board of Education and the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks. She has presented several workshops on the subject of education and second language learning at various conferences. Dr. MacFarlane has received a number of awards and distinctions and has written several publications on the subjects of French immersion, language teaching and language testing.

Two volunteer groups were organized to assist in the development of this report: a National Task Force, and a team responsible for designing the school self-assessment tool. The CPF National Board of Directors reviewed the report in its initial draft stage, providing verification of the material published in the report. CPF Branch Executive Directors assisted with data collection in their regions.

CPF National Task Force
· Joan Netten, PhD, President, Canadian Parents for French
· Ian Richmond, PhD, Vice-President, Canadian Parents for French
· Alina MacFarlane, PhD, Independent Research Consultant
· Rhonda Douglas, Director of Development, Canadian Parents for French
· Joan Hawkins, Research Officer, Canadian Parents for French

Design Team for School Self-Assessment Tool
· Joan Netten, PhD, President, Canadian Parents for French
· Ian Richmond, PhD, Vice-President, Canadian Parents for French
· Alina MacFarlane, PhD, Independent Research Consultant
· Paul Caron, FSL Coordinator (Retired)
· Roger Lalonde, FSL Coordinator (Retired)
· Steve Kiar, Senior Partner, COMPAS Research Inc.
· Rhonda Douglas, Director of Development, Canadian Parents for French
· Joan Hawkins, Research Officer, Canadian Parents for French

What is CPF?
Canadian Parents for French (CPF) has been Canada's leading force in support for FSL programs since its founding in 1977. CPF creates and promotes opportunities for young Canadians to learn and use French as a second language. CPF is a registered charitable organization with a volunteer board supported by a professional staff. Branches work at the provincial and territorial level to facilitate the work of some 170 local chapters in communities across the country.

Mission:
Canadian Parents for French (CPF) is the national network of volunteers that values French as an integral part of Canada and is dedicated to the promotion and creation of French second language learning opportunities for young Canadians.

The State of French-Second-Language in Canada 2001

Full English version of the report.
Full French version of the report.

Self Assessment Tool

Please note that the report is provided in Adobe Acrobat Reader format. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, it can be downloaded free of charge from Adobe: