The purpose of this study was to understand the experience of “school shifters” in Manitoba. School shifters are students who transferred from French immersion to French-language schools, thus changing schools and divisions for their secondary education. Through a study of the ethnolinguistic environment surrounding three cases, this study focuses on the local context, social practices, power elements and individual agency surrounding each case. By using a reflexive, ethnolinguistic case study methodology, this study treated each participant as a case while including the researcher’s own experience. Data was collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews (Fontana & Frey, 2000) and analyzed. Results showed that the participants’ experience had an impact on their beliefs with regards to the local context, social practices, power elements, identity formation and the importance of making new friends. This study concludes with a call for action that suggests improvements for French immersion and French-language programs in Manitoba.

The purpose of this study was to understand the experience of “school shifters” in Manitoba. School shifters are students who transferred from French immersion to French-language schools, thus changing schools and divisions for their secondary education. Through a study of the ethnolinguistic environment surrounding three cases, this study focuses on the local context, social practices, power elements and individual agency surrounding each case. By using a reflexive, ethnolinguistic case study methodology, this study treated each participant as a case while including the researcher’s own experience. Data was collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews (Fontana & Frey, 2000) and analyzed. Results showed that the participants’ experience had an impact on their beliefs with regards to the local context, social practices, power elements, identity formation and the importance of making new friends. This study concludes with a call for action that suggests improvements for French immersion and French-language programs in Manitoba.

Thesis (D.Litt. (French))-University of Pretoria, 2007. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Inaug.-diss.--Bonn. / Lebenslauf.

Thesis--Göttingen. / Cover title. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. [viii]-xv).

Thesis--Halle-Wittenberg. / Cover title. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Inaug.-Diss.--Bonn. / Add t.p., with thesis statement, inserted.

Thesis (M.A.) in French--University of Maine, 2007. / Includes vita. Abstract, table of contents in French and English. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-73).

The?se - Univ. de Paris. / Also available in print.

Inaug.-Diss.--Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Berlin. / Includes bibliographical references.