CPF Magazine Winter 2020 Issue

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CPF EVENTS Didn’t We Learn This Already? Fifty Years of Official Languages, Bilingualism and Education BY MATTHEW HAYDAY UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH | MHAYDAY@UOGUELPH.CA | TWITTER: @MHAYDAY Matthew Hayday PRESENTATION NOTES u In preparing my notes for my talk this morning, I realized that had spoken at a similar conference organized by the Association for Canadian Studies ten years ago, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Official Languages. u I am a historian who has studied official languages, bilingualism, and second language learning in Canada over the past twenty years, and it absolutely gob-smacks me that so little progress is made on some of these fronts, and how much we see repeating from the past. u Which is what inspired the title of my talk: Didn’t we learn this already? New Threats and Opportunities u We are facing a deeply fragmented landscape at the provincial level when it comes to the questions of bilingualism and FSL and the will of provincial governments to take positive initiatives. u Recall that when it comes to polling data, Canadians tend to be most open on this issue of language learning opportunities for children – when it comes to the scope of various language-related services – things get more difficult as you progress into other sectors, and to services that are more explicitly targeted at francophones alone. Where Do We Go from Here? u A large part of the work for organizations like CPF and the OCOL, and the many francophone associations across the country is going to have to be about protecting what programs and rights currently exist against hostile regimes. u The short-term challenge is going to be to maintain pressure on Ottawa to continue its funding and advocacy role in this sector, much as we might have hoped that the provinces would have fully taken this on decades ago. u The longer-term challenge is to address the issue of bringing the mass of English-speaking Canadians – not just French immersion parents – back around to the perspective that second-language learning for themselves, and two official languages for the country as a whole is an asset for them personally and the country u Currently, there is clearly a demand – and one that goes well beyond government-based jobs – for people with language skills – in both French and other languages. u The challenge is conveying to Canadians the idea that learning a second language isn’t just something that you do if you want to work for the federal government or teach – but that it will have a much wider-based applicability and usefulness in their lives. u I think it’s important to realize that the context in which we are living has changed in some substantive ways from when the official languages regime was created and stabilized. n 14 CPF MAGAZINE WINTER 2020
Discover our INTEGRATED FRENCH IMMERSION OPTION www.usainteanne.ca ASK JOSÉE about scholarships! Did you know you can earn a degree and learn French at the same time? Count French credits towards you program and graduate with no delay. FOR MORE INFORMATION In the context of today’s highly competitive job market, bilingualism is a valuable asset that opens doors to employment opportunities nationally and internationally. By living, studying, working and playing in French 24 hours a day, you will develop the confidence and proficiency you need to succeed. Josée Gauvin recruitment@usainteanne.ca 902-769-2114, ext. 7372
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CPF Magazine Winter 2020 Issue

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