ERIC Number: EJ1402975
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1481-868X
EISSN: EISSN-1920-1818
Available Date: N/A
Who Is Immersion For?: A Critical Analysis of French Immersion Policies
Kunnas, Marika
Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics / Revue canadienne de linguistique appliquée, v26 n1 p46-68 2023
Elitism has been an issue in Canadian French immersion since its inception. This study examines how two racially diverse Ontarian school boards and Ontario French immersion policy, curricula, and other related documents construct and support an elite student within the immersion program. The elite student who emerged from immersion documents is a White, middle-class, English, established resident, mirroring the current demographics of the program. A middle-class bias emerged within the documents due to an assumed wealth, and lack of financial assistance, transportation and promotional materials. The program locations themselves favoured the middle-class. The curricula demonstrated a Eurocentric focus and colonial lens. In the documents of this study, it was assumed that parents had functional knowledge of English and French. Program entry-points favoured established residents over newcomers. Given its evident elitism, there has been a shift toward inclusion, particularly for students with special education needs and English language learners. However, this inclusion has yet to be critically enacted.
Descriptors: Immersion Programs, Inclusion, Second Language Learning, Native Language, French, Educational Policy, Policy Analysis, English, English (Second Language), Foreign Countries, Middle Class, White Students, Advantaged, School Location, Equal Education, Ethnocentrism, Immigrants, Special Needs Students, Race, Gender Differences, Socioeconomic Status, Decolonization, Parent Participation, Elementary Secondary Education, Intersectionality
Canadian Association of Applied Linguistics / Association Canadienne de Linguistique Appliquée. Departement de langues, linguistique et traduction, Pavillon de Koninck, Universite Laval, Quebec, QC G1K 7P4, Canada. Web site: https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/CJAL
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A