Since 2003, the Canadian government has repeatedly called for research into innovative ways to teach Core French (CF) – a non-immersion program, where French as a Second Language (FSL) is taught on a daily basis, or a few times per week. This exploratory study investigates the driving forces behind the widespread popularity of a CF method called the Accelerative Integrated Method (AIM), which combines target language use with gestures, high-frequency vocabulary, and drama to accelerate the development of fluency from the onset of classroom instruction. In order to learn more about the “meaningfulness” of this growing trend (Fullan, 2007), this mixed-method inquiry attempts to shift the focus from product to process, comparing educator perspectives and AIM implementation within two Ontario contexts: (a) where AIM was mandated for elementary (Grades 4-6) FSL instruction, and (b) where AIM was an optional method for FSL teachers to use (or not). Survey and interview data were collected from and triangulated across a variety of educators from both contexts, including FSL consultants (n = 18), principals (n = 8), CF teachers (n = 9), and one Ontario Ministry of Education representative. Four semi-structured interviews and multiple observations were also conducted with those CF teachers who were using AIM (n = 8). An additional CF teacher who had attempted to use AIM, and had subsequently rejected it, was also interviewed. Findings showed that AIM implementation and educator perspectives did not vary significantly based on whether AIM was mandated or optional for CF instruction. A clear preference emerged towards using AIM and the accompanying resources during the beginning stages of CF instruction. Discussion about the growing popularity of AIM was positive; however, it also exposed a range of emotions about when and how AIM should be used. In terms of implementation, while some AIM routines, activities, and strategies were used by all, each AIM teacher exercised their agency while using the method, supplementing and adapting for different reasons. Implications include the need to reexamine the objectives of micro-level AIM policies, recognize the adaptability of AIM, and consider including detailed observations in future research linking AIM to student achievement.

Since 2003, the Canadian government has repeatedly called for research into innovative ways to teach Core French (CF) – a non-immersion program, where French as a Second Language (FSL) is taught on a daily basis, or a few times per week. This exploratory study investigates the driving forces behind the widespread popularity of a CF method called the Accelerative Integrated Method (AIM), which combines target language use with gestures, high-frequency vocabulary, and drama to accelerate the development of fluency from the onset of classroom instruction. In order to learn more about the “meaningfulness” of this growing trend (Fullan, 2007), this mixed-method inquiry attempts to shift the focus from product to process, comparing educator perspectives and AIM implementation within two Ontario contexts: (a) where AIM was mandated for elementary (Grades 4-6) FSL instruction, and (b) where AIM was an optional method for FSL teachers to use (or not). Survey and interview data were collected from and triangulated across a variety of educators from both contexts, including FSL consultants (n = 18), principals (n = 8), CF teachers (n = 9), and one Ontario Ministry of Education representative. Four semi-structured interviews and multiple observations were also conducted with those CF teachers who were using AIM (n = 8). An additional CF teacher who had attempted to use AIM, and had subsequently rejected it, was also interviewed. Findings showed that AIM implementation and educator perspectives did not vary significantly based on whether AIM was mandated or optional for CF instruction. A clear preference emerged towards using AIM and the accompanying resources during the beginning stages of CF instruction. Discussion about the growing popularity of AIM was positive; however, it also exposed a range of emotions about when and how AIM should be used. In terms of implementation, while some AIM routines, activities, and strategies were used by all, each AIM teacher exercised their agency while using the method, supplementing and adapting for different reasons. Implications include the need to reexamine the objectives of micro-level AIM policies, recognize the adaptability of AIM, and consider including detailed observations in future research linking AIM to student achievement.

A focal concern amid Canadian French immersion students upon completion of their secondary school studies is a shared belief and feeling that they are limited in their ability to communicate with francophone communities (Howard, 2007; Schaffer, 2013; The Globe and Mail, Friesen, 2013). Furthermore, it has been widely discussed that French immersion students are finding themselves in the midst of language identity crisis, unable to find a place among either of the dominant monolingual groups (Roy, 2010). This case study examined the potential persistence of language identity crisis in three French immersion students who extended their French as a second language education by pursuing post-secondary education in a French immersion program at a large bilingual university. The study reveals the linguistic identity construction of these students by clarifying how each participant positioned (Davies & Harré, 1990) herself towards Francophone language and culture. It exposes the factors which influenced the linguistic positioning of the participants and comments on patterns in the factors which affected their linguistic identity in particular.

Cette thèse a pour objet l’étude des représentations des professeurs des écoles relatives aux spécificités du français en usage à l’école afin d’orienter et d’optimiser l’outillage pédagogique nécessaire à l’accueil, en classe ordinaire, d’élèves allophones nouvellement arrivés en France. La première partie de la thèse dresse un état des lieux de l’enseignement du français aux nouveaux arrivants allophones scolarisés à l’école élémentaire sans soutien spécifique. Puis, une clarification des concepts de français langue seconde (FLS) et de français langue de scolarisation (FLSco) est effectuée. Cet éclairage vise à fournir l’appui théorique nécessaire à l’analyse des enquêtes menées auprès des professeurs des écoles, interrogés sur les spécificités du français en usage à l’école, à la fois, langue de communication particulière, matière enseignée et langue des matières enseignées. Le recueil et l’analyse de leurs réponses composent la seconde partie de cette thèse. Les résultats générés servent de point d’ancrage aux diverses propositions didactiques et pédagogiques élaborées pour faciliter la prise en charge des nouveaux arrivants allophones, mais également de tous les élèves qui connaissent des difficultés avec la maitrise du français de / à l’école. / This research aims at studying the representations of elementary school teachers about the specificities of the French language used at school, in order to guide and optimize the educational materials needed by allophone pupils recently arrived in France, included into ordinary classes. The first part of the thesis proposes an inventory of French teaching at allophone pupils immersed in an elementary school without any support. Next, some clarification of the concepts of French as a second language (FSL) and French as the language of schooling is done. It will help enlightening the analysis of the surveys of school teachers questioned about the specificities of French used at school, such as a specific communication language, a language as subject and a language of the other subjects. The collection and the analysis of the answers compose the second part of this thesis. The results obtained serve as a support to make didactic and pedagogical proposals to facilitate school inclusion of newly arrived allophone children, and also, of all pupils who have difficulties with French of / at school.