Official Languages committee  In its strategic planning document entitled “Vision 2010”, the University of Ottawa placed leadership in official languages among its top priorities. This planning exercise was guided by two values: a university engaged in the promotion of the Francophonie and a bilingual univers

Official Languages committee  Thank you. Of course, this is not a recent issue. It is something that we have been looking at through research on bilingualism for many years now. In terms of the best time to begin, I would say, the earlier the better, for all kinds of reasons: first of all, because a child ha

Official Languages committee  Based on our institutional experience at the University of Ottawa, I can certainly say that, as a department head, it is preferable to hire people who already have a certain level of proficiency in the second language, even if they may require additional training subsequently.

Official Languages committee  Yes, I do; there was a lot of reaction.

Official Languages committee  Yes.

Official Languages committee  Yes, it is.

Official Languages committee  Well, that is your opinion!

Official Languages committee  Yes, I can.

Official Languages committee  Yes, I do.

Official Languages committee  The research community reacted strongly, and particularly my colleague, Rodrigue Landry, from the Canadian Institute for Research on Linguistic Minorities. We all agreed. At the time, I also got in touch with him, with a view to bolster our argument. Unfortunately, researchers do

Official Languages committee  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

Official Languages committee  The immersion system falls within my colleague's purview. So, I will let her answer that question.

Official Languages committee  You are absolutely right. If students were better trained in their second language by the time they arrive at university, it would be easier for us to integrate them into our own immersion system. There is no doubt that they can be better trained. However, if it were decided that

Official Languages committee  Yes, certainly.

Official Languages committee  Your question is a complex one. I fully agree with you as to what might be called the international hegemony of the English language. That is the case in the field of science, just as it is everywhere else. How can a university allow that to happen? Well, first of all, academic f