Becoming a Youth Ambassador for Bilingualism ANJANA BALACHANDRAN GRADE 12 STUDENT AT LONGFIELDS DAVIDSON HEIGHTS, OCDSB BY CLÉMENCE CHARRUYER, COMMUNICATION, DIGITAL MEDIA & MARKETING COORDINATOR AT CPF NATIONAL 16 CPF MAGAZINE FALL <strong>2018</strong>
In August <strong>2018</strong>, 30 students from across Canada went to Montreal and participated in the National Ambassador Youth Forum (FNJA), organized by French for the Future. French and hope to inspire the future generation. I want other French students to be proud of being bilingual. I hope that by sharing my story and experience in discovering myself, other young Canadians are able to find the meaning and value of having the ability to express themselves in both official languages. The free program trains bilingual students enrolled in French programs (Core French, extended French, French immersion and Francophone schools) to become FFF ambassadors. Their mission is to promote the French language and official bilingualism in their schools throughout the year by organizing activities related to French. Anjana Balachandran, a Grade 12 student enrolled in a French immersion program at an English high school in Barrhaven, Ottawa, was one of them and agreed to share her experience with us. 1. How did speaking French during the French for the Future National Ambassador Youth Forum experience differ from speaking French in the classroom? The National Conference was an experience I will never forget where we were able to immerse ourselves in the French culture! I got to spend time with other young people like me who were passionate and inspired. The chance to live our lives in the rhythm of our passions - the French language. This year’s location was Montreal, Quebec - the capital of French in North America. In the classroom, we often learn the theory but during the conference, we were able to authentically put our knowledge to practice. This allowed for a total immersion into French while discovering different parts of the Quebec heritage and culture. 2. What leadership knowledge or skill did you gain from the experience? Every Youth Ambassador was a leader already, whether that be in their school or community. The forum allowed us to grow further as leaders through various workshops and leadership training in addition to the amazing support networks. It was truly astonishing to learn the different ways each of us are leaders in our community. Additionally, each person has their own path in respect to being a leader and the FNJA emphasized the importance of paving your own path. 3. What did you learn about yourself? More than meeting new friends and attending excellent workshops I think the biggest takeaway for me was the shift in perspective. This forum has changed my perspective in a way that, learning languages opens the window to different cultures and enables one to learn about the journey and life experience of others. This opportunity for personal growth would not be possible by merely being unilingual. To elaborate, because I am fluent in French, I am able to connect with someone else who is merely unilingual, learn their life journey and share my own… essentially connect on a personal level. 4. Did anything happen during this experience that you were surprised at or didn’t anticipate? One of the factors that made this experience unforgettable is making new friends from around the country. I was so blessed to have the opportunity to meet 30 young driven individuals from all across Canada, all very accomplished and driven to make a change. I am so proud to say that through FNJA I was able to meet other like-minded young people from coast to coast to coast. As a result, I had the opportunity to gain insight into the various different aspects of French culture, from White Rock, British Columbia to Hampshire, Nova Scotia and everywhere in between. 5. What follow up activities are you planning or implementing at your school this year? French, both linguistically and culturally, has become a valuable part of my life. By sharing my experience with other students I hope to emphasize the importance of 6. How has this experience changed your attitude towards being bilingual? My ability to communicate in French has enriched so many of my experiences. The realization of being able to fluently engage with other students from different provincial, linguistic and cultural backgrounds was truly a moment of personal growth. I became increasingly aware of the importance young Canadians place on being bilingual and I am grateful for being able to show my appreciation for French as it has shaped my identity as a young Canadian. I also learned a lot in regards to the struggles of the preservation and promotion of French. In Canada, French is the second official language but often times it is not acknowledged as so. By means of programs such as French for Future, young Canadians are not only able to grow as young leaders in their community but able to come to the realization of the devastating reality of the diminishing language. 7. What advice would you give to other FSL students who have not had an opportunity to have an experience like this? Keep exploring – this would be the advice I would give to FSL students. Continue seeking opportunities to grow as a French student, whether it is through cultural opportunities, pursuing postsecondary studies or social network. Being open to new experiences allowed me to grow culturally and linguistically, this is an incredibly valuable part of my life. More than the grammar, I believe the cultural experience is more important, its to be able to walk on the streets of Quebec and connect with others. Moreover, the ability to communicate in French enhances and redefines the meaning of being Canadian - so never lose sight of that. To those who are hesitant to continue in the French program, I assure you that it’s worth it! n CPF MAGAZINE FALL <strong>2018</strong> 17
Change language