Evidence of meeting #79 for Official Languages in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was teachers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Are you saying that those 35,000 teachers are not up to the task and that there should be more of them?
Liberal
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers
As I said, we see the potential by taking the figures I have in hand and doing some calculations. If all primary and secondary students took a second language program, we would need at least 50% to 70% more teachers. It is a matter of arithmetic. There is some overlap. Some classes should be added.
Liberal
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers
I do not have any notes.
Liberal
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
—tell us what you want us to put in our report about the federal government's role. What can the federal government do? The federal government cannot do everything. There are jurisdictional, budget and other issues. What is most urgent? What are the priorities for a good immersion plan? In fact, it is not just immersion in your case; it is also teaching.
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers
Yes, it is basic teaching.
Liberal
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
We know from the Statistics Canada figures that, if the number of immersion schools increases, French instruction in the core classes declines. That is very disturbing.
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers
Yes, it must not be done to the detriment of other things. Immersion programs must not be increased to the detriment of core language schools.
Liberal
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
But that is what is happening, according to Statistics Canada. The percentage of anglophone students outside Quebec who are exposed to French-language learning is declining.
Liberal
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
We are not talking about the success of immersion. Apart from immersion, there is a very disturbing decline in French-language instruction in the regular schools.
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers
I am not sure about that. The figures we have show that immersion is growing 2% or 3% a year and that core French is declining or plateauing in most provinces.
Liberal
Liberal
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
One is not enough to cancel out the other.
Mr. Leclair, Ms. Kenny, Mr. Quinty, I am going to ask you the following question. Do not look at your notes and tell me what you want to see at all costs in the report that this committee will be submitting to the government. You know that the government really listens to you. So don't miss your opportunity.
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers
We would like to see two things. First, a national second language education policy.
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers
Through the implementation of the framework such as—
Liberal
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Try to be specific. You have an opportunity to request specific things. Do not speak in slogans; say very specific things.
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers
The government should provide money to coordinate the implementation of a common frame of reference for languages. That is very specific.
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers
We are ready to do that. We only need the money to do it.
Liberal
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
What is a common framework? Put something in the framework for me.