In a province desperate for French teachers, a program to train them is half empty

A program at the University of Prince Edward Island that trains French teachers is only about half-full, despite a nationwide shortage of French teachers.

Schools in Prince Edward Island and across Canada have been struggling for years to find French teachers.

Despite the high demand, UPEI filled only about half of the 30 spots in its one-year French second-language bachelor of education program this year, as there were not enough applicants.

Elizabeth Blake, the program’s coordinator, expressed her concerns, saying, “Every year, we wonder how can we recruit, what are students looking for, what do they want? How can we bring them here to UPEI? How can we bring them into teaching?”

To address the shortage of French teachers, there are bursaries and signing bonuses available to attract new candidates, as stated by Blake. She mentioned, “If you have the necessary skills and desire to teach, the boards are looking to hire.”

P.E.I. has one of the highest rates in Canada of students taking French immersion, and UPEI hopes to encourage more of these students to pursue a career in teaching, like Nick Reeves, who is currently doing his practicum at his former school.

Reeves emphasized the importance of providing students with the opportunity to learn in French, especially in regions like the Maritimes where there are many French-speaking communities. He encouraged potential French teachers to stay committed and support students in their language learning journey.

Rebecca Adams, a French teacher who taught Reeves in Grade 12, highlighted the need to promote the idea that second-language learners can become French immersion teachers. She shared her personal experience as a second-language learner and encouraged her students by saying, “If I can do it, you can do it.”

The Public Schools Branch and the province’s French-language school board hired approximately 40 new French teachers last year and anticipate the need for more in the coming years. The French school board is offering a $5,000 study bursary to individuals who commit to working with them.

Recognizing the insufficient number of local applicants to meet the demand for French teachers, the province is planning international recruitment trips to address the shortage.

Despite the ongoing need for French teachers, UPEI still has more than a dozen vacant seats for its program, starting again in May. Blake expressed her concerns about the escalating shortage of French teachers nationwide and its potential impact on the education system, questioning if adjustments may be necessary in teaching methods and curriculum.