Teachers give feedback on proposed language changes 2011, additional, ministry, schools, raised

tiffiant

Teachers give feedback on proposed language changes
Ministry considering changes to curriculum
News1130 Staff Feb 05, 2011 00:00:40 AM
   VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Members of the B.C. Teachers' Federation, educators, and French advocates met with the Ministry of Education Friday to talk about the role of French in schools, as the ministry looks at changes that could give other languages the same weight in the classroom.

At the meeting many raised concerns about specifying French as an additional language in the curriculum, instead of an official language.

Denise Moffatt with the BCTF says the consensus at the meeting seemed to be that French should be set apart somehow. "They agreed that there should be curriculum developed for the other languages. But they also believe that that within that curriculum there should be a special recognition of the role of French as an official language."

The ministry will take the feedback into consideration when deciding on changes. If the draft is approved the changes would go into effect in 2012.

Friday's meeting was scheduled months ago to discuss French in schools.

Many advocates for other languages being taught in BC schools like Punjabi, Cantonese, Japanese, and Spanish are hoping those courses will be given the equal weighting.

bbqfish

Manitoba has German and Ukrainian immersion classes , in addition to French immersion.