French students at SFU to earn British Columbia teaching certification

Three French students arrived at SFU in January, pursue their studies in the Professional Development Program – French Module Cohort as part of the Dual Program, to complete their teacher certification and land a job in a British Columbia school.

The Dual Program is a unique program offered by SFU's Faculty of Education, in partnership with the Université de Tours in France, which enables French students paired with Canadian students to obtain their teaching certificate in British Columbia and a Master's degree in didactics of French as a foreign language from the Université de Tours.

We gathered their first impressions of the differences between the French and British Columbian school systems, following their short practicum in the province's schools:

" I really like the relationship between students and teachers, it's a different kind of hierarchy, which I like. Things happen quickly, for example, I proposed a project to 9 immersion classes with a big wall 'Your favourite words in French and other languages' and it was immediately accepted and we were able to post everything in the hallway. The students were proud."  - Ines Chauveau

" The timetable is really different. Students finish at 3:00 p.m. instead of 5:00-6:00 p.m. and many are involved in extracurricular activities, which is very different in France " - Julien Tetelin

" I like the way it works. The inclusion of all students, for example students with with diverse learning needs, is something that's done differently. The teachers are also involved in various initiatives, including a committee on equity at school, which is super interesting." - Corentin Guerinau