CPF-British Columbia & YukonBC Students Win Top Awards at 2015 National Concours

Shortage of French Teachers Acute Across BC

Jeun’Info Exploring the World of Journalism

Mark Your Calendars4 6 1110

Fall 2015British Columbia & Yukon | Colombie-Britannique et Yukon

As students change gears and prepare for post-secondary life and the job market, worries about GPAs and extracurriculars tend to creep in and force them to

“prioritize” certain educative choices over others. Unjustifiably and all too often, French gets left by the wayside, seen as an unnecessary hassle. However, with Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon’s latest project, Where Are They Now?, we will be able to prove to students, parents, and decision makers alike, that learning French, far from being a drain to the GPA, is an asset to a student’s resumé and to their long-term success.

Supported by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, we have partnered in this project with Radio-Canada, Canadian Parents for French Alberta and Canadian Heritage to learn where and how French program graduates from BC, Yukon, and Alberta have benefitted from bilingual-ism after high school. Thus far, we have heard from over 400 grads who have been able to reap the benefits of their bilingual education!

Prior to this project, we hadn’t been able to formally hear from these graduates to truly evaluate the post-graduation impact of second language learning. Acknowledging the great unheard stories that they can share with current and future students, we have collected some of these grads’ stories of life after high school so that we can show students in French programs some of the many possibilities that their education can offer.

“Graduates of French programs include Olympians, journalists, engineers, Ministers, teachers and so much more. For many, learning French created some unique opportunity: be it socially, culturally or professionally. We launched the WhereAreTheyNow.ca project to catch up with French program graduates from BC and Yukon, capture their experiences, and share their stories to help inspire current students,” – Canadian Parents for French BC & YK President Patti Holm, on the impetus behind the project.

Where Are They Now?A Project to Inspire Today’s StudentsBy Jensen Edwards and Jinnie Liu, Communications Summer Students

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Where Are They Now? A Project toInspire Today’s Students continued . . .

What will the project look like?In late November we will be relaunching WhereAreTheyNow.ca, to host: • biographies from French

program grads; • 25 video interviews with grads;• downloadable posters;• and curriculum materials for

teachers too!

We are going to be sending post-ers and curriculum materials related to Planification 10, FLS 11 and FLS 12 to every French-teaching High School in Western Canada. Ultimately, the goal is to motivate and to encourage students to stick with second-language learning. This project can also be used in CPF’s advocacy. By showing local decision makers these first-hand accounts of some of the opportunities that great programs like French Immersion have offered to graduates, we can reinforce the value of second language learning.

For example:The Professional Benefits: “My first job out of my Master’s degree in Political Science was due to speaking French (late immersion BC grad 1989.) It was a fashion job with trips to Paris. My daughters are now enrolled in early immersion in BC – thankfully they won

the placement lottery. I feel like it is the #1 boost we can give them in their education and future careers.” (282) – Editor-in-Chief of a lifestyle magazine

The Cultural Benefits:“[…] My job is to create global campaigns that celebrate the things that we are passionate about. My experience in the French Immersion program helped me develop a deep love for travel, adventure and French food. It taught me about adaptability, responsibility and the value of doing something off the beaten path, which have all helped me in building my

career. I’m grateful for the program and teachers who created such a wonderful experience for us.” (189) – Brand strategist with Lululemon

The Personal Benefits:“Late Immersion helped me to get into the Rhone-Alps - Ontario exchange program, where I went to school in France for my 3rd year of university. Knowing French then later helped me when my work sent me to Cannes for a wireless conference. It helped me tremendously when I met a very nice Quebecois man while waiting in line at CIBC. He’s now my husband.” (288) – An Independent IT Contractor

When the project wraps up, students will have access to many other stories like these, and will be able to learn more about the ways in which French can help them throughout their lives. We hope to be able to share these current students’ stories someday too!

Stay tuned—we’re excited to share Where Are They Now? with you!

CPF-BC & Yukon 2015-2016

CPF-BC & Yukon Branch OfficeSuite 227c – 1555 West 7th AvenueVancouver, BC V6J 1S1Tel: 778.329.9115 Toll-free: 1.800.665.1222 Toll-free Fax: 1.888.678.1780 Email: info@cpf.bc.ca Website: www.cpf.bc.caExecutive Director: Glyn LewisProject Coordinator: Heather BartlettFinancial & Office Administrator: Benjamin Wong (part-time)Office Support: Alicia Rooney (part-time)Newsletter Design: Stripe Graphics Ltd.

BOARD OF DIRECTORSPresident: Patti Holm, Kamloops, BC pholm@cpf.bc.caVice-President: Diane Tijman, Richmond, BC dtijman@cpf.bc.ca

Directors-at-Large: Rebecca Beuschel, Quesnel, BC rbeuschel@cpf.bc.caGreer Cummings, Qualicum Beach, BC gcummings@cpf.bc.caMarguerite Kuiack, Whitehorse, YK mkuiack@cpf.bc.caDarian Pang (Youth Rep), Surrey, BC dpang@cpf.bc.ca

French Immersion class at Trafalgar Elementary in the 1980s. Are you in this picture? We would love to hear from you!

Bonhomme de neige at a Carnaval event in Alberta during the 1980s.

FALL 2015 | 3

This year CPF is launching a new platform of engagement for

bilingual youth. Jeune Artiste is an open format

French creative arts competition in BC and Yukon. Students will compete in storytelling, spoken-word poetry, dra-matic reading and singing/song writing. This is an opportunity to have students showcase their creativity in their original work or borrow from their favourite artist – and present in French and English. The final is a province wide competition to build a bilingual creative arts scene in BC and Yukon. Get ready for more informa-tion on this event coming to your schools this September.

Check out the CPF website for updates: http://bc-yk.cpf.ca/actvities/ youth-activities/jeune-artiste

Jeune Artiste

Stand out en français with the French Cohort Program

Engage in this unique multidisciplinary program in Public Administration and Community Services at Simon Fraser University. Taught in French and in English, this BA program in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences offers exciting opportunities:• Priority access to international exchange• Experiential learning, small classes and

personalized student services• Entry to SFU’s renowned Co-op program

APPLY TO SFU: OCTOBER 1, 2015 TO FEBRUARY 28, 2016

NEXT COHORT STARTS IN SEPTEMBER 2016

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

sfu.ca/frcohort

PROGRAM OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

4 | FALL 2015

Vancouver 10,000 students from across British Columbia competed, 4 students represented BC at the National competition, and all four took home top awards in this year’s pan-Canadian French public speaking competition, Concours d’art oratoire.

“In addition to the cultural and language benefits, Concours d’art oratoire helps students develop their creative and public speaking abilities, as well as self-confidence,” said Patti Holm, President of Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon.

“It’s an incredible feat to make it to the finals — taking home a medal is a real achievement. We congratulate everyone who participated; they are all winners. Félicitations!” added BC Concours d’art oratoire chief judge, Dr. Renée Hamilton-Clark.

This year marked the 32nd anniversary of the Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon sponsored Concours d’art oratoire, and the 13th anniversary of the National competition. The National finals were hosted Saturday, May 30th in Ottawa, ON.

BC Students Win Top Awards at National French Public Speaking CompetitionBy Jensen Edwards, Communications Specialist, Summer Student

2015 National Winners from British Columbia:

Sophia LuoGrade 12 Core French“Pourquoi apprendre une autre langue?”Burnaby North Secondary(SD 41 - Burnaby)

(2nd Place)CPF BC-YK PresidentPatti Holm (right)

Zachary BeslerGrade 12 Late Immersion“Faut-il modifier le processus des évaluations des habiletés?”McRoberts High School(SD 38 - Richmond)

(3rd Place)CPF BC-YK PresidentPatti Holm (right)

Madeleine ArthurGrade 12 Early Immersion“L’ivore de sang”Sir Winston Churchill Secondary(SD 39 - Vancouver)

(2nd Place)CPF BC-YK PresidentPatti Holm (right)

Charles Hubert FavreauGrade 12 Francophone“La politique et les jeunes”Sir Winston Churchill Secondary(SD 39 - Vancouver)

(2nd Place)CPF BC-YK PresidentPatti Holm (right)

For a complete listing of medalists from our Provincial Concours competition, as well as media coverage from the event held at SFU Surrey on May 2nd, 2015, please visit our website:www.bc-yk.cpf.ca/media/concours-2015-media-coverage

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There is a shortage of qualified French-language teachers across the province, according to a new report

from Canadian Parents for French.French immersion is an increas-

ingly popular choice for parents, with overnight lineups, school lotteries and waiting lists being common through-out B.C. as new students register for school. In Vancouver this year, 799 students vied for 529 French immer-sion kindergarten spots. In Surrey, 403 students applied for 280 spaces.

In all, 49,451 students in B.C. are in French immersion, a number that has grown by 38.8 per cent in the past 10 years, while overall enrolment has fallen nearly eight per cent. Nearly 8.8 per cent of the total public school population is in French immersion, with another 5,000 students in franco-phone schools and 180,000 students taking French as a subject, CPF says.

While B.C. certifies a total of roughly 2,700 teachers per year — many of whom will not be able to find work in B.C. — it produces only about one-fifth of the French immer-sion teachers needed, according to the report Falling Behind: 2015 Report on the Shortage of French Immersion and Core French Teachers in B.C. and Yukon, which was commissioned by Canadian Parents for French B.C. and Yukon.

There are two separate but linked issues, the report found. The first is that many teachers teaching French as a subject in English schools don’t feel comfortable speaking French, and the second is a shortage of French immer-sion teachers.

“French immersion teachers are in red-hot demand,” said Patti Holm, president of CPF BC. “In many cases, students training to become French immersion teachers are being approached and recruited before they graduate. The shortage is acute, widespread, and is progressively getting worse.”

A vast majority of school districts say it is very challenging to fill French immersion teaching positions, the report found.

Teachers studying in the French specialist teacher training program at UBC are in demand. The program graduates about 60 qualified French teachers each year, said Wendy Carr, director of the teacher education program at the University of B.C.

“It’s a ticket to ride,” Carr said. “They’re getting job offers while they’re doing their practicums. They’re in demand and they know it. They can get jobs in Ontario, they can get jobs in other countries, because they’ve got the French.”

However, when Carr researched the shortage, she found out that many French immersion teachers start out in French, but leave to teach English because of challenges like parent scrutiny and a lack of resources.

“It’s a program that has quite a spotlight shining on it, and for some teachers that is pressure,” Carr said.

In a survey by CPF, school districts cite lack of space as the No. 1 reason for not expanding French immersion programs, despite the high demand. Second is a shortage of qualified teachers.

The discomfort of those who teach French as a subject to English students can be addressed by hiring specialists to teach those French classes.

Some school districts, like Surrey, have addressed this by hiring special-ist French teachers to teach French to students in grades 5 to 8, Carr said.

There are options for already certified teachers to upgrade their French skills to be more comfortable teaching French as a subject and even to become capable enough to teach in French immersion, Carr said.

“I think there are a lot of oppor-tunities for young teachers if they’re generalists who like language,” she said.

“If they’re willing to go and work on their language for a year, they can come back and have quite a future in this job market.”

Sun Education Reporter tsherlock@vancouversun.com

© Copyright The Vancouver Sun

Shortage of French Teachers Acute Across BC Report Finds

By Tracy Sherlock, Vancouver Sun, April 21, 2015

Instructors are ‘in demand and they know it’

FALL 2015 | 7

Your students studY in French

What about you?

education in contexts oF diversitY

Upcoming Spring MA/M.Ed. Program:

Programs offered in partnership with

diversify your professional practice, improve your career prospects and develop your language skills

SFU’s Faculty of Education offers a complete range of programs taught in French:

• Master’s degree (Ma) and (M.ed.)• doctoral degree (edd)• Graduate diploma (Gde)

Program start: January 2016apply by: October 15, 2015Learn more: www.sfu.ca/educfr/en/Masters-Degree/

online information session Monday, September 21, 5pmTo register: educprog@sfu.ca

The Link: French Immersion Online by Distributed LearningWould your son or daughter like to graduate with a diploma in English and French?Greater Victoria’s French Immersion Program at The Link offers a complete online program that allows students to graduate with proficiency in French, receiving a second certificate of graduation.

The ministry has outlined that upon graduation from French Immersion in Grade 12, students should be able to participate easily in conversations in French, take post-secondary courses with French as the language of instruction, and accept employment with French as the language of the work place.

With this in mind, The Link’s French Immersion program provides students with opportunities to become proficient in French, acquiring the competency necessary so that they can interact in environments where French is spoken and alive. Students will use different communication tools in order to allow the speaking and listening communication to be done in a Distributed Learning (online) setting.

Why take French Immersion at The Link?• To expand on and solidify skills developed by French Immersion learners during their middle school years in

order to ensure retention of the language.• Some districts are limited in the degree to which they can offer French Immersion from grades 9 to 12 given

limitations such as enrollment and availability of teachers.• Due to personal, academic, athletic and artistic reasons, many students need the flexibility offered by a

Distributed Learning Program.• The Link’s program allows students to select a course which fits with their schedule at their school of record

to meet graduation requirements. (Often this is a challenge for French Immersion students at the senior level.)• The Link offers a larger variety of courses to meet the learner’s needs and interests.

If you are interested in registering for French Immersion at The Link or would like to know more, please contact Hélène Berube at 250.360.4300, Extension 2 or at hberube@sd61.bc.ca.

8 | FALL 2015

Reprinted courtesy of CPF Magazine, Vol. 2 Issue 2 – 2015

FALL 2015 | 9

On May 22, 2015 CPF Tri-Cities hosted its 15th annual Verbathon event. Participating schools were Irvine Elementary, Glen Elementary and Our Lady of Fatima schools. MLA Linda Reimer was in attendance for this awesome event, and to celebrate its 15th anniversary, students from Irvine Elementary performed in a half-time show.

What is Verbathon?

With Verbathon, French grammar is taught through games in a fun, active, and team-based approach. Sports-style events can be conducted where students learn to conjugate verbs, construct sentences using overt instruction and communicative techniques. www.verbathon.com

Annual General Meeting and Conference in Vancouver: November 13-15, 2015 For more information, please visit our website: www.bc-yk.cpf.ca/agmSociocultural Grant Application Deadline: October 15, 2015 All Chapters up to date in their reporting are eligible to receive funding. No late entries will be accepted.For more information, please visit our website: http://bc-yk.cpf.ca/actvities/sociocultural/sociocultural-grants

Membership Drive: September 1 – October 31, 2015If you join or renew your membership during this time, you will be automatically entered to win.Please see page 12, for more details.

10 | FALL 2015

Chapter HappeningsCPF Tri-Cities hosts Verbathon Tournament

Mark Your Calendars!

FALL 2015 | 11

INSCRIS-TOI !

Jeun’info C.-B.

ICI.Radio-Canada.ca/jeuninfo

QUELQUES DATES À RETENIR : 28 novembre - Réunion d’information et ouverture de l’appel de candidature 6 décembre - Fermerture de l’appel de candidature 12 décembre - Auditions

My Jeun’Info experi-ence was an unforgettable one

that I will cherish for many years to come. I first found out about the program from my French teachers at school. Having seen the reports of the past year’s participants, it seemed very challenging and I was sceptical to try it out, however, after much encouragement from my teachers, family and friends, I finally applied and went for my audition.

I was very interested in journalism and had never experienced anything like it before. The cameras, backdrops, even hair and makeup, and of course all the work that went into creating a report fascinated me.

Although it was challenging at times, I will never forget all the fun memories like the adventures of filming or going to Tim Hortons three days in a row with Julie (Supervisor) and Simon (Cameraman). I also enjoyed working with other young journal-ists in training and really

being able to improve my French. As my incredible journey was

coming to a close, seeing the final product of my report on the screen was a very satisfying moment for me. I worked hard, learned new aspects about journalism, formed friendships, kept my French speaking active, and as a result, achieved one of my biggest

accomplishments. Jeun’Info was an amazing opportunity with so many benefits and I will value my experi-ence for the rest of my life.

What is Jeun’Info?Jeun’Info is an opportunity for high school students to explore the fasci-nating world of journalism. Students spend a month working alongside pro-fessional journalists at Radio-Canada to create an original report in French on a topic that they are passionate about.

Maria Lesyk’s report on Internet Dating was broadcast on March 4th, 2015. The reports of all the 2015 participants may be viewed online at http://blogues.radio-canada.ca/ jeuninfo/2015/03/04/apprentis- journalistes-reportages

Jeun’Info – My Perfect MatchBy Maria Lesyk, French Immersion Student

CPF MEMBERSHIP FORM J O I N N O W OR I N V I T E OT H E R SCPF allows one or two adults per family as voting members.

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Occasionally the CPF membership list will be made available to other groups/ agencies to offer members benefits or education-related information. Use of the list will be carefully regulated and only permitted under a contract specifying confidentiality and one-time authorization. If you do not wish to receive mailings other than directly from CPF, please check this box. ❒

MEMBERSHIP FEES Best Value! 3 year – $60 $ __________ 1 year – $25 $ __________ Donation* $ __________ Total (No GST) $ __________

80% of your membership fee supports the activities of your local Chapter during the Membership Drive, 10% goes to CPF National to partially cover processing costs.

DONATIONS: Your gift in support of CPF is also welcomed and appreciated. All donations are important to us. However, due to cost, we will issue tax receipts in January of the following year only to donors who have made donations of more than $10, unless a receipt for a lesser amount is specifically requested. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! (CPF Charitable Reg. No. 11883 5131 RR0001)

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Return to: CANADIAN PARENTS FOR FRENCH Suite 1104 - 170 Laurier Ave. W., Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5V5

CPF is grateful to the BC Ministry of Education and Canadian Heritage for their financial support.

This label is your proof of CPF membership, which expires on the date shown above your name.

CPF – BC & Yukon’s Annual Membership Drive Runs September 1st to October 31st 2015!Renew your membership! Ask others to join! And do it before October 31st because during our membership drive you can win wonderful prizes! Remember 80% of your membership fees comes right back to your local Chapter during the Membership Drive. That means more fun events in schools, more resources for parents, teachers and students, and more extra-curricular activities in French for our kids!

Check out some of these great prizes we have lined up for you:

Apple – EarPods with Remote and Mic.

iTunes – one of 5 gift cards valued at $30 each. Blenz Coffee package including two 1lb bags of coffee beans.

Fort Langley – a Family Pass to the National Historic Site.

Charlotte Diamond – a collection of 3 CDs in French from the award-winning artist.

Stay tuned for more! We will list additional prizes on www.cpf.bc.ca as soon as they are confirmed. Winners will be determined by draw in December 2015. There has never been a better time to take out or renew your membership. It’s as easy as filling out the form below and sending it to our national office in Ottawa with your payment.