Plan Twenty Thirteen (2013)

Strategies for a National Approach
in Second Language Education
April 30, 2004

Official Languages Support Programs
Department of Canadian Heritage

This study was funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage and represents the opinions of the authors. It does not necessarily represent the policies or the views of the Department of Canadian Heritage or of the Government of Canada.

Plan 2013 – Strategies for a National Approach in Second Language Education

ISBN 0-662-39314-7
Cat. No. CH14-8/2005E-HTML

Preface

In the spring of 2003, the Federal Government launched its Action Plan for Official Languages in Canada, entitled The Next Act: New Momentum for Canada's Linguistic Duality. One important strategic objective in the plan is to double the proportion of graduates from Canadian high schools with a functional knowledge of their second official language by 2013.

In the wake of the Action Plan, the Office of the Director General, Official Languages Support Programs, commissioned Plan Twenty Thirteen (2013), Strategies for a National Approach in Second Language Education, a study intended to encourage reflection and suggest concrete steps towards the attainment of the 2013 objective.

Plan 2013 contains numerous recommendations that contribute to strategic objectives from the Action Plan for second-language instruction: improving core second-language programs; revitalizing immersion programs; increasing the number of qualified teachers; offering bilingual graduates the opportunity to use their second language skills; improving bursary and monitor programs; and promoting research in second language education. The report also identifies practical suggestions involving various partners in the area of second language instruction.

The Department would like to thank Sally Rehorick, Principal Consultant and the members of the Expert Consultative Group for the quality of their work.

The recommendations presented in this study do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Canadian Heritage. However, we believe that this report will enrich dialogue among governmental and non-governmental stakeholders on the future of French and English second language instruction in Canada.

Hubert Lussier
Director General
Official Languages Support Programs

Strategies for a National Approach in Second Language Education

Principal Consultant:

Sally Rehorick, Fredericton, New Brunswick
Sally Rehorick is Director of the Second Language Education Centre (SLEC) and professor of second language education in the Faculty of Education at the University of New Brunswick.

Members of Expert Consultative Group:

Gérard Bissonnette, Edmonton, Alberta
Gérard Bissonnette is a consultant whose work experience includes 16 years as Director of the French Language Services Branch at Alberta Education and 17 years as a teacher, principal and supervisor of Core, Immersion and French first language programs.

Helen Coltrinari, Toronto, Ontario
Helen Coltrinari works as a consultant for French as a Second Language and as an educational materials writer. She is also a former Executive Producer, Education Programs, for TV Ontario.

Susan Forward, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Susan Forward is assistant principal at Brother Rice Junior High School in St. John's. She also has significant experience as a Core French and French Immersion teacher, and as French Programs Coordinator at Memorial University. Susan is past president of the Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers.

Alina MacFarlane, Perth, Ontario
Alina MacFarlane is a consultant for French and English as second languages and is currently working with several national language related organizations. She previously coordinated non-credit ESL and FSL programs for the University of Ottawa and taught ESL at the university level. She has also instructed FSL in both core and immersion programs.

Miles Turnbull, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Miles Turnbull is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Prince Edward Island. He is also Director of a specialized Bachelor of Education program for future teachers of French Immersion and Core French. This program is offered jointly by the University of Prince Edward Island and the Université de Moncton.

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