Sussex, NB—Today, Canadian Parents for French New Brunswick (CPFNB) submitted a position paper to the commissioners appointed by the Government of New Brunswick to study French Second Language within the context of the Official Language Act Review. This position paper consists of over 20 recommendations to improve FSL learning in the province and was completed in collaboration and partnership with la Société de l’Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick (SANB).
“While the review of the Official Languages Act is not inherently related to French-Second Language Learning in New Brunswick, it plays an integral role to becoming a more bilingual, unified province. The collaboration between SANB and CPFNB to complete this report also demonstrates the possibilities of linguistic collaboration to achieve that goal” said Austin Henderson, Vice-President of CPFNB. “As a product of our province’s French Immersion program, I can attest to the importance of effective FSL programming as part of the greater efforts to create a more unified, bilingual province.”
The report, written by Dr. Joseph Dicks, the retired Director of the Second Language Research Institute of Canada and professor at the University of New Brunswick’s Department of Education, addresses the questions raised by the Commissioner related to the state of FSL learning in New Brunswick. It outlines 23 recommendations under six primary categories: early childhood education, FSL program models, language programs and proficiency levels, enrolment, attraction, and retention in French Immersion programs, FSL program access and quality, and post-secondary education and workplace FSL.
The report and executive summary was submitted to the Commissioners as part of their ongoing review. It can be read online www.cpfnb.org
CPFNB submits position paper on the status of FSL learning in New Brunswick