Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
Fédération des enseignantes et des enseignants de l’élémentaire de l’Ontario
136 Isabella Street, Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1P6
Telephone: 416-962-3836 Toll free: 1-888-838-3836
Fax: 416-642-2424
Website: www.etfo.ca
REPORT TO THE 2013 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
FRENCH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE COMMITTEE
Terms of Reference
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To advise and make recommendations to the Executive on strategies, which
raise awareness and sensitize ETFO and its membership about French as a
Second Language (FSL) issues and French language services.
To identify ways of supporting FSL teachers and programs.
To provide advice on the promotion of teaching FSL as a career.
To monitor changes in legislation and make recommendations to the Executive
to communicate with the Ministry of Education and boards about FSL issues.
Committee Members
Brian Abdallah
Antonella Ciampa
Janet Robinson
Anna Rowe
Katarina Simunovic
Jennifer Mitchell
Michaela Murphy
Renfrew County Teacher Local
Greater Essex County Teacher Local (Chairperson)
Durham Teacher Local
Upper Canada Occasional Teacher Local
Elementary Teachers of Toronto Local
Staff Liaison
Staff Liaison
Committee Activities 2012-2013
The committee held two face-to-face meetings and one teleconference. At its first
meeting, November 9-10, 2012, the committee reviewed the outcome of resolutions
they submitted to the 2012 Annual Meeting. Committee members agreed that a
resolution which was defeated at the Annual Meeting should go forward to the 2013
Annual Meeting with some amendments to the original wording. Committee members
also discussed an FSL conference being offered to ETFO members during the 20132014 year. They envisioned the conference being delivered entirely in French, and
offering relevant content for Core, Extended and Immersion teachers. Committee
members talked about strategies to create awareness and positively reinforce FSL
teaching environments. One suggestion included the creation of a postcard campaign.
The committee confirmed recommendations to the Executive regarding an FSL
Conference and a postcard campaign.
The second meeting was a teleconference held on February 26, 2013. The committee
reviewed the process involved when a committee’s recommendations are referred to
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the General Secretary for study and report to the Executive. The committee had further
discussions about the idea of an FSL conference being offered to ETFO members. A
decision was made to submit the suggestion to the Annual Meeting in the form of a
resolution. The committee reviewed the resolution to the 2013 Annual Meeting
regarding teachers being encouraged to leave the classroom while their students are
being taught by other teachers. There was consensus that this is an issue which needs
to be discussed in order to address perceptions about who “owns” the classroom;
committee members believe it is important to promote changes in habits in order to help
support a positive environment for FSL classes.
At its final meeting on May 27, 2013, the committee reviewed the principles of a
communications strategy, specifically as it might apply to the goal of creating awareness
of the important work done in FSL teaching environments. One approach might involve
the development of a pamphlet for other ETFO members that outlines the value of
itinerant programs including FSL and the importance of supporting optimal learning
environments for these programs. Further, lobbying of the government could be a
useful strategy to improve school board accountability with regards to expenditure of
funds allocated for FSL programs and resources. The committee also discussed how
best to put forward resolutions at the Annual Meeting.
Recommendations to the 2013 Annual Meeting:
1. That ETFO encourage classroom teachers to leave the classroom while planning
time and/or French as a Second Language (FSL) lessons are being taught by
colleagues.
2. That ETFO provide a provincial French as a Second Language (FSL) conference
during the 2013-2014 school year.
Respectfully submitted,
Antonella Ciampa, Chairperson
MM:AC:AA
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