In Summation:
Bilingualism in Canada is a principle that began with the colonization of this land by two competing nations: the French and the British. They established colonies in Canada and claimed the land for their own; imposing their will and their language on the country. As the French and the British continued to expand their territories in North America they also fought each other for dominance. This conflict can be seen in the legislation from the early years of European colonization right up until the modern day. If you wish to expand your knowledge of the politics and legislation that have influenced the development of the official stance of bilingualism in Canada feel free to consult http://www.slmc.uottawa.ca. It is a comprehensive website that focuses on Canada's geopolitical situation, the history of language in Canada, the languages present in Canada, the language legislation in Canada, and the language services and organizations that exist. Finally, it compares the Canadian model of bilingualism to that of other Countries.
As with any issue that has two diametrically opposed sides, there are both benefits and criticisms of bilingualism in Canada. The positive aspects of bilingualism include the "bilingual executive processing advantage" (Klien, 2015) that improves bilinguals' ability to critically think, their flexibility of thought, linguistic awareness and ability to examine language internally (Lazaruk, 2008). In turn, this improved cognitive function leads to improved academic ability and can open doors to an economically secure future.
Despite the benefits that bilingualism can bring there are also pitfalls to be aware of. To begin with, even after several years of immersion in a second language "only 10 per cent of French immersion students achieve proficiency in the language by graduation (Campbell, 2013). If 90% of the students enrolled in French language programs are not obtaining French proficiency perhaps as a country we need to re-examine how and where educational tax dollars are being spent and if their is not a better purpose for them. If you would like to continue to research the benefits and criticisms of bilingual education and bilingualism consult Colin Baker's book The Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism 5th Edition. It provides a comprehensive look at issues that surround bilingualism on the individual, group and national level.
Canada's commitment to bilingualism is a wonderful example of the attempt at the national level to respect a minority group's heritage, culture and sense of belonging. It is crucial that as a nation we re-examine our stance on bilingualism and move toward a position of multilingualism. Not only does Canada's constantly changing population demographic provide grounds to consider multilingualism but more importantly it would help give voice to the many First Nations, Inuit and Metis people who have been systematically neglected by this country. To find out more about the First Nations, Inuit and Metis people and the languages that they speak visit, http://www.med.uottawa.ca/sim/data/Aboriginal_Intro_e.htm. It is a resource developed by the University of Ottawa and includes an introductory look at the terminology, demographics and geography of these peoples. The website also provides a list of resources to connect interested parties with organizations run by the First Nations, Inuit and Metis people themselves.
As with any issue that has two diametrically opposed sides, there are both benefits and criticisms of bilingualism in Canada. The positive aspects of bilingualism include the "bilingual executive processing advantage" (Klien, 2015) that improves bilinguals' ability to critically think, their flexibility of thought, linguistic awareness and ability to examine language internally (Lazaruk, 2008). In turn, this improved cognitive function leads to improved academic ability and can open doors to an economically secure future.
Despite the benefits that bilingualism can bring there are also pitfalls to be aware of. To begin with, even after several years of immersion in a second language "only 10 per cent of French immersion students achieve proficiency in the language by graduation (Campbell, 2013). If 90% of the students enrolled in French language programs are not obtaining French proficiency perhaps as a country we need to re-examine how and where educational tax dollars are being spent and if their is not a better purpose for them. If you would like to continue to research the benefits and criticisms of bilingual education and bilingualism consult Colin Baker's book The Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism 5th Edition. It provides a comprehensive look at issues that surround bilingualism on the individual, group and national level.
Canada's commitment to bilingualism is a wonderful example of the attempt at the national level to respect a minority group's heritage, culture and sense of belonging. It is crucial that as a nation we re-examine our stance on bilingualism and move toward a position of multilingualism. Not only does Canada's constantly changing population demographic provide grounds to consider multilingualism but more importantly it would help give voice to the many First Nations, Inuit and Metis people who have been systematically neglected by this country. To find out more about the First Nations, Inuit and Metis people and the languages that they speak visit, http://www.med.uottawa.ca/sim/data/Aboriginal_Intro_e.htm. It is a resource developed by the University of Ottawa and includes an introductory look at the terminology, demographics and geography of these peoples. The website also provides a list of resources to connect interested parties with organizations run by the First Nations, Inuit and Metis people themselves.