French teacher retention is a growing issue across Canada, as more and more FSL teachers are leaving their roles due to lack of support from many levels. It’s going to take more than words to better working conditions for FSL teachers and provide them with a safe, inclusive working environment.
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How structuring can help
Rénald Cousineau, Marline Al Koura, and Eartha Monard share their experiences as administrators, and demonstrate how support for FSL programs starts from the top.
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How additional support can help
Ryan Furlong and Rola Tibshirani explain how supporting FSL teachers in schools can lead to more confident, engaged teachers.
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How inclusion can help
Chantal Ross and Léo-James Lévesque highlight the importance of how inclusion and proper resourcing can help FSL teachers feel confident in their roles.
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Here are some fast facts about the state of FSL in Canada:
9000 French teachers are needed across Canada.
26% of FSL teachers in Ontario drop out within the first five years of employment.
40% increase in French immersion enrolment in the last 20 years.
When FSL teachers are put in a position to succeed, it leads to a more effective, more fulfilling journey for everyone involved.
Extended Support
means FSL teachers become more confident in their roles.
Confident Teachers
are more likely to stay in their jobs and create a better learning environment for their students.
Successful Students
lead to a revived appreciation and passion for the French language.
Report
La pénurie du Personnel Enseignant en Immersion française et en FLS (ACPI)
Summary of report about the lack of French teachers in French Immersion and FSL.
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French Classes Gave Me Confidence, A Student’s Story (Canadian School Counsellor)
The importance of learning French and the opportunities it can create.
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Identifying requirements, recommendations, and guidelines in French as a Second Language Teacher Education (CASLT)
Detailed analysis of findings of a two-year pan-Canadian study, in FSL teacher education and professional learning.
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Putting Data to Work – Process for data collection to determine the extent of Canada’s French teacher shortage (CSBA)
Project in development due to the lack of data to measure the French teacher shortage in Canada.
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Overview of language statistics, focus on the French as a second language population, 2021 (Statistics Canada)
Language statistics data analysisfrom the 2021 census, knowledge of official languages, languages of instruction .
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FSL for School Administrators From Awareness to Action (OMLTA)
An info sheet on strengthening FSL in schools, role of the school principal
Download info sheetHere’s how you can get involved, advocating for your French teachers so they feel empowered and supported enough to stay.
Share
Spread the message across Canada that #WeNeedMoreThanWords to support our French teachers.
Advocate
Email your local representative to encourage their support for more sufficient, targeted funding for French teachers and programs.
Sign nowSee what else Canadian Parents for French is doing to help recruit and retain FSL teachers across Canada.
See what else Canadian Parents for French is doing to help recruit and retain FSL teachers across Canada.
CPF Nova Scotia: Take Your Career Further as a French Teacher
Learn moreCPF Ontario: SayOui
Learn moreCPF Manitoba: Teach in French – Give the Gift of Language & Culture
Learn moreCPF Alberta: Be a French Teacher – C’est ta route
Learn more