French as a Second Language Teacher Candidates’ Conceptions of Allophone Students and Students With Learning Difficulties
Keywords:
inclusion, Allophones, learning difficultiesAbstract
Abstract
The diversity of Canada’s French as a second language (FSL) student population is increasing with the growing numbers of Allophones and students with learning difficulties. Educational communities in FSL, however, are struggling to meet the needs of such populations. This study considered the views of 15 teacher candidates as expressed in interviews at the conclusion of their teacher education program. Through the lens of sociocultural theory, we explore the everyday and scientific conceptions developed by the teacher candidates about the aforementioned student populations. Few candidates reported learning about both student populations in their teacher education program, but nearly all worked with at least one of these student populations during their practica, possibly raising questions about the relevancy and currency of the curricula of some FSL teacher education programs.
Résumé
Les programmes de français langue seconde (FLS) accueillent une population de plus en plus diversifiée à cause d’une croissance du nombre d’élèves allophones et d’élèves ayant des troubles d’apprentissage. Cependant, les communautés éducatives de FLS ont du mal à répondre efficacement aux besoins de ces élèves. Cette étude a examiné les résultats d’entretiens avec 15 candidats à l’enseignement à la fin de leur année de formation universitaire. En employant une perspective socioculturelle, nous avons considéré les conceptions quotidiennes et scientifiques que les candidats ont développées envers ces élèves pendant cette période. Peu d’étudiants ont indiqué avoir appris les besoins de ces élèves au cours de leur formation universitaire, mais presque tous les participants ont travaillé avec au moins un élève provenant de ces groupes dans un programme de FLS lors de leurs stages en salle de classe. Il se peut donc que ces résultats soulèvent des questions par rapport à la crédibilité et à la pertinence des programmes de préparation à l’enseignement.
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