FSL Teacher Education - Navigating the rising tide together

Abstract

Across the educational landscape, we are experiencing a rising tide—a growing shortage of qualified French as a Second Language (FSL) teachers. Like waves gathering force on the horizon, the issue has been building for years, eroding the foundations of strong French language instruction in schools. Faculties of Education and school boards are being called to come together, respond to the surge, and build strong foundations to weather the storm. Our collective response began with two events, where stakeholders were brought together to explore how we might navigate this challenge. Our guiding question: How can we strengthen FSL teacher learning and retention? As we wade deeper into the conversation, two powerful anchors have emerged from the current: mentorship and relationships. These themes provide steady ground beneath shifting waters, supporting both the learning and long-term success of FSL teachers. But not all aspects of our FSL Teacher Education program were met with equal clarity. Among the waves of ideas, three areas surfaced as points meriting ongoing dialogue: CEFR/DELF Correcteur Training, French language course requirements, French proficiency testing. Rather than smoothing our differing perspectives, our goal is to ride the waves together, using our shared commitment to mentorship and relationships as a compass that can guide us through choppy waters. By exploring how we understand these areas differently— and where we align—we can begin to co-create a shared direction. So, where do we go from here? The tide is shifting, and with it, an opportunity to shape the shoreline of FSL teacher preparation. Our next steps are not about controlling the waves, but about learning to navigate them together by building a shared vision of mentorship, leveraging shared values as our anchor and creating a culture of ongoing dialogue.