CPFMagazine_FALL2017_Vol5Issue1_eVERSION
A national network of volunteers, parents and stakeholders who value French as an integral part of Canada. CPF Magazine is dedicated to the promotion and creation of French-second-language learning opportunities for young Canadians.
A national network of volunteers, parents and stakeholders who value French as an integral part of Canada. CPF Magazine is dedicated to the promotion and creation of French-second-language learning opportunities for young Canadians.
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Support for Post-Secondary Students Studying<br />
in their Second Official Language<br />
An Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages and Canadian Parents for French Partnership<br />
In today’s global economy, government and private sector<br />
demand for bilingual employees is rising. Survey responses from<br />
63 companies across Canada indicated that 84% of employers<br />
considered knowledge of both English and French to be an asset<br />
or gave preference to English-French bilinguals, while 81% of<br />
those who supervised bilingual employees considered them<br />
to be a valuable asset to their organizations. Findings suggest<br />
that the demand for bilingual employees outside Quebec and<br />
the public service is increasing, with one in five respondents<br />
anticipating greater demand. (IPSOS 2008) Canadian universities<br />
and colleges are aware that employers favour bilingual candidates<br />
for their linguistic, cultural and analytic skills, and that research<br />
demonstrates that students can and do successfully complete<br />
post-secondary studies in their second language. They continue<br />
to develop more course and program selections and to enhance<br />
support for students.<br />
The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages<br />
(OCOL) has partnered with Canadian Parents for French (CPF) to<br />
support second language students and update the Inventory of<br />
Post-Secondary Options and Support for French and English as<br />
a Second Language. The Inventory was developed by OCOL to<br />
enhance and promote opportunities for students to pursue some<br />
or all post-secondary studies in their second official language.<br />
The inventory is displayed in an interactive map which<br />
identifies all programs and individual courses offered by each<br />
of 90 participating universities and colleges. Each entry also<br />
provides extensive information about the academic support,<br />
opportunities to socialize with native speakers, and employment<br />
assistance offered to students: language labs and tutorials;<br />
academic writing workshops; second-language co-op placements;<br />
placement in residences with native-speakers; and cultural<br />
activities to name to a few.<br />
Visit the OCOL website (www.clo-ocol.gc.ca) in spring 2018<br />
to view the updated Inventory of Post-Secondary Options and<br />
Support for French and English as a Second Language and learn<br />
about the exciting opportunities to enhance your second official<br />
language skills. n<br />
References<br />
IPSOS (2008) Survey of Supervisors of Bilingual Employees, Canadian Parents for French, Ottawa https://cpf.ca/en/files/IpsosReid_FSL2008_E.pdf<br />
Canadian Parents for French Vol 5 • Issue 1 • 2017 7
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