Yes, it is.
Evidence of meeting #13 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was research.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #13 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was research.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:55 a.m.
Director and Associate Dean, Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, University of Ottawa
Yes, it is.
9:55 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
We have to continue to use your arguments to make them understand that they are wrong. I appreciate your saying that. At the same time, you say that adults can learn, but that it is not as easy for them. Without wanting to discriminate, it must be much more difficult to learn another language when you're 50, 55 or 60 years old.
9:55 a.m.
Director and Associate Dean, Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, University of Ottawa
It cannot be said that this ability deteriorates continually as you age. However, you reach a plateau. Adults can learn another language, but a completely different teaching style is required. You have to rely on the structural knowledge of the first language and transfer that to the second language. Children do not learn that way. Adults learn that way. What are the similarities? Well, if you are learning Spanish, and you already know French and have some knowledge of French grammar, you can learn by transferring your knowledge. The teaching method has to focus on that.
9:55 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
It would be better to appoint a judge to the Supreme Court who speaks both languages right from the beginning, rather than trying to teach him or her a second language after the appointment. That judge may not have learned the second language by the time he has to retire, at the age of 75.
9:55 a.m.
Director and Associate Dean, Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, University of Ottawa
Well, that is your opinion!
9:55 a.m.
NDP
9:55 a.m.
Director and Associate Dean, Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, University of Ottawa
Yes, I can.
April 2nd, 2009 / 9:55 a.m.
Director and Associate Dean, Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, University of Ottawa
Yes, I do.
9:55 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
That's great; I made the statement, and you support me. Thank you, Mr. Expert. That will help me with my bill.
But, let's come back to you—the agencies. Do you believe, like Mr. Clément, that second-language teaching should begin at the right age?
9:55 a.m.
Vice-President, Research, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
We work in the health care field. I believe that answer should come from people who work in the social sciences and humanities.
9:55 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I am sure you understand why I am a little mixed up this morning. It has to do with post-secondary studies.
9:55 a.m.
Voices
Ha, ha!
9:55 a.m.
President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Given your interest in this, I can certainly provide you with the results of subsidized research that deals directly with this. We will prepare a package of information very quickly and I think it will be of assistance to you.
9:55 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
A little earlier, you said that researchers will learn… In English, there is no problem. I think there are already enough books and information out there. On the other hand, in terms of health care in French, things are not quite so easy. I know people who have taken health-related courses in Montreal in French. There were studying at McGill University, and their books were English, even though the course was given in French and they were taking the course with a view to working in a Francophone hospital.
Do you agree with me?
9:55 a.m.
Vice-President, Research, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Yes, that is a very major challenge. As Dr. Fortier pointed out, the language of research, generally speaking, and certainly in the health care field, is English. The fact is that there are a lot of publications and volumes written in English for which there is not necessarily a translation available, given the costs associated with that. As a result, access to the same quality of scientific information is a challenge for any Francophone student.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Excuse me for interrupting you, Mr. Godin. You can come back to this at the next round.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to begin by welcoming our witnesses. I also want to say that I agree with my colleagues, Mr. Nadeau and Mr. Godin. In fact, maybe we should be talking as a committee. I don't understand why—with all due respect for you—we are hearing from these witnesses this morning.
My questions are for our guests representing the University of Ottawa.
Mr. Clément, you said that you have an action plan that includes a class or something of the sort. I am not really sure what this involves. You also said that you want to increase the number of students who can eventually work for the public service. You are also going to be carrying out a study this summer dealing with that. I would like to know a little more about this, because it is really the main focus of our study. Could you explain to me how that would be done?
10 a.m.
Director and Associate Dean, Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, University of Ottawa
The immersion system falls within my colleague's purview. So, I will let her answer that question.
10 a.m.
Associate Vice-President, Academic , University of Ottawa
The immersion system is intended to allow graduates of high schools that offer an immersion program for English-speaking high school, or students who have taken basic French courses, to continue to study in English in our university. However, French is also a very important component, if they are to maintain the language proficiency acquired through their previous studies. As they progress through their university program, they take more and more courses in French. It gives them a kind of safety net. They can continue to learn French by taking courses given in French, but there are also certain incentives provided—first of all, to encourage them to register in the program, but also to reassure them that they should not be concerned that their average will go down. We know that this is a very important factor for students wanting to receive grants, in particular.