Quite so. Anne is sleeping and so I'm going to speak for her.
I asked if I could speak today because I'm a board member of the national Canadian Parents for French. However, I can also speak from the perspective of a life long learner of French, a co-parent of a rights holder, and a member of the minority language community here in Alberta. I am also proud to be one of the 6.6% of Canadians who speak French outside of Quebec, so I will be presenting remarks in both official languages today.
My colleague Martine Cavanagh presented statistics on the French as a second language programs here in Alberta. I'm not going to go back to that topic, nor will I speak about the programs offered at the Campus Saint-Jean since Ms. Mueller spoke to you about the programs offered at the University of Calgary.
I would add that since 2014, the University of Alberta is also offering college level training. Moreover, training for adults and continuous training are offered everywhere in the province through non-accredited programs. Courses are offered by the University of Lethbridge, the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta, as well as the Alliances françaises.
I was able to benefit from several of these French as a second language programs during my studies. When I was 15, for instance, I took an optional basic French course, which I hated. I also took courses at the University of Calgary during my university studies. In addition, I also benefited from events offered in French by the francophone community, where I was able to practice my French, and met my husband.
This brief picture shows how diverse the offer of French as a second language programs is here in Alberta. I would like to add that I am very grateful that I was able to take these courses in Alberta. A lot of these programs are funded by the roadmap.
That being said, I agree with the previous speakers who said that a lot of work still needs to be done to support bilingualism here in Canada, as well as French as a second language programs.
Canadian Parents for French advocates for universal access to FSL programs. In Alberta and across Canada we could not say there is universal access. Whether it be lack of places in immersion programs, insufficient core French instruction, or the need for additional post-secondary language programs, as my colleagues have spoken to, access to FSL programs currently does not allow all Canadians to meet their language learning goals.
In particular, as the parent of a young child, I would like to stress the importance of early FSL learning. Research shows that the ideal entry point for immersion programs is an early immersion program and, as someone who learned French as an adult, I definitely agree with that. I know how important it is to capitalize on those early learning opportunities and yet as a parent I struggle to access them.
Quality of FSL programs is also a priority of Canadian Parents for French, and in particular CPF observes that FSL programs do not provide equitable access to appropriate academic support, especially for academically challenged students and new Canadians. This could be addressed through funding for additional classroom support, or by addressing the lack of pre- and in-service professional development opportunities. I agree with my colleague's ideas about possibilities for training.
Quality is also measured in the high attrition rates we see in immersion and core French programs at the higher level. Students become discouraged and disinterested by the lack of opportunity to communicate in an authentic language context, and I certainly felt that in grade 10 French.
I love Steven's ideas for authentic communication experiences, and research certainly does show that's how to keep students engaged. Quality can also be demonstrated by official recognition of FSL learning. CPF advocates for recognized proficiency levels, such as the common European framework of reference and French-language proficiency testing such as the DELF. Steven spoke to that. I am a DELF C2 diploma-holder myself. I can certainly speak to the value of that as a French-language learner, as a French teacher, and as an employment seeker.
Finally, across the country, ministries of education lack policies to enshrine FSL programming, and my colleague has spoken to that as well. CPF advocates for accountability and leadership among policy-makers, and I absolutely agree with the ACFA's comments in that respect.
I would hope that this committee would encourage the Minister of Canadian Heritage to collaborate with provincial and territorial authorities to encourage access for everyone, everywhere across Canada, to FSL programs and to commit to increased and sustained funding for those programs.
While I may believe that FSL should be a constitutional right, I also think the current context provides sufficient opportunities to support French as a second language programs. Section 7 of the Official Languages Act should be fully enforced.
Tuesday's budget announcement is encouraging, especially the targeted funding for the training of French teachers and the focus on early childhood education. I'm also encouraged by the recent commitment to review the regulations for official languages, for the additional funding for Young Canada Works, and the ongoing work on the renewal of the protocol for the agreements on education in the next multi-year official languages action plan.
I look forward to your questions.