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Noémie Ipou
In Ottawa, the percentage of Canadians who spoke mainly French at home dropped from 10% in 2016 to 8.4% in 2021, according to the Ottawa Citizen. There are several reasons for this alarming decline.
1.The role of parents in learning the mother tongue
In 2021, English was the most spoken language in homes in Ottawa. According to a 2013 article in Le Droit, based on data from the 2011 Census, more than two-thirds of Franco-Ontarian families are exogamous (only one parent is of French mother tongue). Since 1970, the number of exogamous couples has constantly increased, and at an accelerated rate since 1996. In addition, according to Statistics Canada, the sex of the Francophone parent can make all the difference in terms of language transmission. In 90% of cases, children with two French-speaking parents will retain their languages. French-speaking mother, non-French-speaking father? 40.8%. The reverse? We drop to 19%.
2.The impact of the media on learning
Unfortunately, even if parents make the effort to transmit French to their children by enrolling them in French-speaking schools, the children tend to resist speaking French in the playground, in favour of English. The Survey on the Vitality of Official-Language Minorities (SVOLM) sheds light on the language used during the practice of five daily activities: watching television, surfing the Internet, organized sports, non-sports activities and reading. English remains the dominant language: most of the children’s favourite series, movies, shows, games, books, or social media are English-speaking.
3.How does the community influence the desire to learn a language?
Furthermore, children’s use of French is linked to the linguistic dynamics of the community. Among the children of Francophone parents who lived in a Francophone minority environment in 2006, 33% used exclusively or mainly French in reading, and 12% used exclusively or mainly French for watching television. More than half of the children of Francophone parents living in communities where less than two percent of children have French as their first official language spoken used only English to read or to watch television.
4.The importance of Francophone learning structures
When thinking about learning French, the real or imagined difficulty of grammar or conjugation can seem scary at first. However, French is not just about that. All the culture, history and values associated with it are important aspects of learning French that remain important to pass on to children. It is a heritage that gives access to a rich universal culture.
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For Anne-Marie Guévin, Coordination Assistant at the Centre for Children and Families, On y va – Grandir Ensemble, “Learning French from an early age promotes not only its acquisition but also the identity-building of the children, which will enable them to define and recognize themselves through the Francophonie throughout their lives. It also gives them the confidence and desire to express themselves in this language, a key element in strengthening the vitality of Francophone communities, particularly in minority settings. Therefore, it is important to offer structures to support children in their learning of French from an early age. The development of knowledge and skills in the French language in children will allow them, in turn, to engage and contribute fully to the development of the Francophone community. That’s why Grandir Ensemble offers French playgroups for toddlers all over the city, including once a week at the Alliance Française Ottawa.”
With 21 primary schools and 14 secondary schools in French, the number of students studying in French in the City of Ottawa is 11,000. This number demonstrates the continuity of interest in French. But schools are not the only way to promote the learning of French.
5.Activities for kids in Ottawa to learn French
The City of Ottawa has put in place several Francophone programs to encourage children to learn French. There are many recreational, training, and cultural programs that help strengthen the French language skills of young children.
Children’s workshops are also a fun and educational way to introduce them to this beautiful language. With this idea in mind, Alliance Française created Les Petits Penseurs, an introductory philosophy workshop for children aged 6 to 12, whether they are French-speaking, English-speaking or FSL learners, even beginners. The workshops aim to support children in their learning of French but also in their cognitive, emotional, and social development. These workshops are held at the same time as the Alliance Francaise Ottawa book club to allow parents who wish to accompany their children to do so while participating in intellectual exchanges in French.
Noémie Ipou is the Communications and Marketing Manager for Alliance Française Ottawa
