A Made-in-Canada Second Language Framework for K-12 Education: Another Case Where No Prophet is Accepted in their Own Land

Monique Gabrielle Bournot-Trites,Carl Ruest,Bruno D Zumbo,Lucas Friesen

doi:10.37213/cjal.2020.30434

Monique Gabrielle Bournot-Trites, Carl Ruest + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.37213/cjal.2020.30434

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Abstract

To ensure quality of education, a language framework should be the foundation on which second language curricula are developed. In 2010, the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), as suggested by Vandergrift (2006a, 2006b), recommended the use of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) in the K-12 Canadian school context and presented several considerations for adaptation before it should be adopted and used. Although the CEFR is partially used across Canada, few of the CMEC’s considerations have been met to date. Given this state of affairs, we suggest the made-in-Canada, Canadian Language Benchmarks and les Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (CLB/NCLC) as an alternative. We argue that the CLB/NCLC, profoundly revised in 2012, best embrace the Canadian context and, using Vandergrift’s criteria for a valid language framework, that CLB/NCLC are now superior to the CEFR in many aspects.

Highlights

To ensure quality of education, a language framework should be the foundation on which second language curricula are developed
A language framework should be the foundation for the development of second language (L2) curricula which in turn enables students to become competent in the L2 they study
The CMEC (2010) specified that the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) could not be implemented in Canadian schools without major adaptations, such as developing and validating sub-levels and considering intercultural competence in the Canadian context

Summary

Introduction

To ensure quality of education, a language framework should be the foundation on which second language curricula are developed. In 2010, recognizing the importance of a language framework for curriculum development, the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) endorsed Vandergrift’s proposition and recommended the use of the CEFR (Council of Europe (CoE), 2001) as a framework for L2 learning in Canadian schools. The CMEC (2010) report recognizes that Canada needs to have common reference levels for teachers’ report cards, for use as a Canadian standard for language proficiency, and for developing self-assessment portfolios for K-12 students.

Results

Conclusion