Media Releases >
Media Releases Archive
> French recruits bring expertise on multi-lingual learning
French recruits bring expertise on multi-lingual learning
Document Tools
Contact:
Daniele Moore, 604.268.7107, daniele_moore@sfu.ca
Marianne Jacquet, 604.268.7124, mjacquet@sfu.ca
Cecile Sabatier, 604.268.7125, cecile_sabatier@sfu.ca
Daniele Moore, 604.268.7107, daniele_moore@sfu.ca
Marianne Jacquet, 604.268.7124, mjacquet@sfu.ca
Cecile Sabatier, 604.268.7125, cecile_sabatier@sfu.ca
November 16, 2004
Simon Fraser University's faculty of education recently hired three French nationals as part of its initiative to offer more post-secondary programming in French, and train more French and French immersion teachers. The trio has studied and written extensively about the complex challenges and interpersonal dynamics of second language learning in multi-ethnic settings.
Kitsilano resident Cécile Sabatier, originally from the Auvergne region in central France says, “Schools have a role to play in the promotion of multiculturalism in society. They should work on improving attitudes towards and perceptions of multilingualism.” An assistant professor in SFU's new office of Francophone and Francophile affairs, Sabatier teaches courses in French in the education faculty's professional development program.
Born in the French Alps region bordering Switzerland, Danièle Moore, now living in West Vancouver, has been appointed an associate professor. She is writing a book on multi-lingualism in schools, and teaching in SFU's new graduate studies program in French education for teachers. Like Sabatier, Moore has expertise on bilingual patterns of language transmission, bilingual interactions within families and among adolescents, and attitudes towards bilingualism in schools.
The two have concluded that fostering a facility in several languages in multi-ethnic schools benefits the learners and society. “Multilingual children, in favourable settings, do not hesitate to use all language resources that they've learned in various environments,” says Moore. “Further research indicates that helping mono-lingual children adopt similar, flexible language resources can make them more culturally aware and proficient in their mother tongue.”
Originally from Paris, North Burnaby resident Marianne Jacquet has spent the last 15 years researching at the Université de Montreal, the University of British Columbia and more recently SFU. An assistant professor in the office of Francophone and Francophile affairs, Jacquet teaches Victoria-based students in the new master's program in French, offered outside of the Lower Mainland. Jacquet studies the extent to which schools accommodate religious and cultural diversity, and the decision-making underlying that process.
Jacquet wants to know how prepared student-teachers are to teach in increasingly multi-ethnic schools, and to deal with value conflicts. “Courses addressing various issues related to ethnic diversity are most often taken by students who already have some personal knowledge of the subject,” observes Jacquet. This means the vast majority of student-teachers are unprepared to face the challenges of teaching in B.C.'s multi-ethnic schools.”
-30-
(electronic photo file available)
Websites: SFU education: www.sfu.ca/OFFA-BAFF/officefrancophone.htm
Kitsilano resident Cécile Sabatier, originally from the Auvergne region in central France says, “Schools have a role to play in the promotion of multiculturalism in society. They should work on improving attitudes towards and perceptions of multilingualism.” An assistant professor in SFU's new office of Francophone and Francophile affairs, Sabatier teaches courses in French in the education faculty's professional development program.
Born in the French Alps region bordering Switzerland, Danièle Moore, now living in West Vancouver, has been appointed an associate professor. She is writing a book on multi-lingualism in schools, and teaching in SFU's new graduate studies program in French education for teachers. Like Sabatier, Moore has expertise on bilingual patterns of language transmission, bilingual interactions within families and among adolescents, and attitudes towards bilingualism in schools.
The two have concluded that fostering a facility in several languages in multi-ethnic schools benefits the learners and society. “Multilingual children, in favourable settings, do not hesitate to use all language resources that they've learned in various environments,” says Moore. “Further research indicates that helping mono-lingual children adopt similar, flexible language resources can make them more culturally aware and proficient in their mother tongue.”
Originally from Paris, North Burnaby resident Marianne Jacquet has spent the last 15 years researching at the Université de Montreal, the University of British Columbia and more recently SFU. An assistant professor in the office of Francophone and Francophile affairs, Jacquet teaches Victoria-based students in the new master's program in French, offered outside of the Lower Mainland. Jacquet studies the extent to which schools accommodate religious and cultural diversity, and the decision-making underlying that process.
Jacquet wants to know how prepared student-teachers are to teach in increasingly multi-ethnic schools, and to deal with value conflicts. “Courses addressing various issues related to ethnic diversity are most often taken by students who already have some personal knowledge of the subject,” observes Jacquet. This means the vast majority of student-teachers are unprepared to face the challenges of teaching in B.C.'s multi-ethnic schools.”
-30-
(electronic photo file available)
Websites: SFU education: www.sfu.ca/OFFA-BAFF/officefrancophone.htm