Nipissing awarded funding for French as a Second Language programming
North Bay, ON – Nipissing University’s Schulich School of Education has received $424,333 from the Government of Ontario and Government of Canada to support the delivery of French as a Second Language (FSL) teacher education programming.
The funding, part of Ontario’s French Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy aimed at improving access to FSL teacher education programming and enhancing the recruitment and retention of FSL teachers, will support eight different projects at Nipissing University through June 2024.
“As one of the pre-eminent teacher education programs in Ontario, this funding will enable us to support FSL teachers and teacher candidates to build their knowledge, skills and confidence through new and enhanced course offerings and professional development opportunities. We are also excited for the associated partnership development opportunities with two of our local boards,” said Dr. Callie Mady, Interim Dean of Education and Professional Studies at Nipissing University. “By offering additional support and development opportunities, we hope to attract, support, and retain more French as a Second Language teachers who continue to be in high demand across the province.”
Three of the funded projects will see Nipissing partner with the Near North District School Board and the Nipissing Parry Sound Catholic District School Board to offer professional development opportunities for FSL teachers, addressing strategies for supporting students with learning difficulties as well as supporting students’ reading skills development.
Another funded project will provide the option for students in Nipissing’s teacher education program to take one of the program’s mandatory courses in French instead of English, allowing future teachers the opportunity to maintain and enhance their language skills.
The funding will also support the development and delivery of three Additional Qualifications courses for FSL teachers including, “Adapting Curriculum for Second Language Learning in a French as a Second Language Setting”, “Teaching in a French Immersion Setting”, and “Reading Part 1 for a French as a Second Language Context”. FSL teachers can also take advantage of a reduction in cost for FSL additional qualification courses: Part 1, 2, and 3. Registration for these courses is now open and more information can be found at: French as a Second Language Courses (nipissingu.ca)
“Ontario is taking great strides in addressing the shortage of French as a Second Language teachers in our schools,” said Jill Dunlop, Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities. “Whether helping current teachers elevate their skills or supporting postsecondary students who are still completing their teacher training, these actions will have long-term positive impacts on access to quality French education in our province.”
Announced by the Government of Ontario in 2021, Ontario’s French Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy is a four-year strategy designed to address the French-language and French as a Second Language teacher shortage in both the French and English school systems.
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Media Contact:
Carly Johnston
Communications Officer
Nipissing University
(705) 474-3450 ext. 4035
communications@nipissingu.ca
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This project has been made possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Minority Language Education and Second Official Language Instruction.