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BCATML will host another live free Twitter chat on Wednesday May 6th, 2015 starting at 6 pm. The topic of discussion will be to share details about the new Core French curriculum. Participants will be able to ask questions to members who worked with the Core French Curriculum Working Group in creating this transformative document. Please follow us on Twitter @BCATML and join the chat using #BCATML in your tweet. If you do not have a Twitter account, you can still participate and ask questions to the group by visiting our main page and using the #BCATML widget window. Please read the updates to the new Core French curriculum by visiting our Curriculum Info page. 
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Teacher Shortage Reaches 'Critical' Levels For French Programs Across British Columbia Patti Holm, President of the Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon Branch, announced the release of a labour market report outlining the serious and widespread shortage of qualified French language teachers across British Columbia. She stated that "[t]he strength and popularity of educational programs, like French Immersion, is fuelling a province-wide need for more and more qualified French teachers." Despite the demand for French Immersion, 86% of BC school districts indicated that it is "challenging" or "very challenging" to fill all available French Immersion teaching positions citing the lack of qualified applicants as the primary obstacle for French Immersion teacher recruitment. The secondary obstacle for French Immersion teacher retention was competition from other school districts. The report also finds that while BC certifies a total of approximately 2,700 teachers per year, it produces about one-fifth of the French Immersion teachers needed. French Immersion student enrolment in British Columbia has steadily increased for the past 16 years. Since 2004, student enrolment in French Immersion has increased by 38.8%, while overall public school enrolment has fallen by 7.8%. In 2013-2014, students enrolled in French Immersion programs accounted for 8.8% of the total public school student population. According to a 2007 study conducted by Dr. Wendy Carr, 78% of elementary school teachers and 71% of middle school teachers do not feel comfortable speaking French, thus creating a gap in the Core French teacher's competency with the language. A majority of BC school districts do not require elementary and middle school teachers teaching Core French to have a specialized background in French that secondary school teachers have. Furthermore, the University of British Columbia is the only institution currently requiring all pre-service teachers to take at least one French methodology course as part of their teacher training prior to entering the workforce. Dr. Carr stated that "teacher education programs need to ensure that all candidates take a French methodology course so that new teachers have at least the basics to teach and inspire BC students to learn French as a second language". Despite a progressive decline in Core French enrolment since 2004, there are 180,000 students enrolled in BC's Core French program, constituting one-third of the total student body. The full report can downloaded by clicking here, or using the link below. 
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How to post:BCATML's Executive members can add news items here. Please email BCATML president at psac51@bctf.ca or your Language Rep with a news item or pro-d opportunity that you would like to share. Archives
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BCATML is the BC Association of Teachers of Modern Languages, a Provincial Specialist Association of the BC Teachers' Federation.
Website last updated September 6th, 2023 |
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