Teaching in French in Ontario
Do you have a love for teaching? Quick facts: Do you love French language and culture? • Ontario’s publicly funded education system has: –– 12 French-language school boards with over 450 French-language schools. Then you should explore a career teaching in French –– 60 English-language school boards with in Ontario, where there is a strong and long-term over 4,400 schools that offer French as a demand for more French teachers! second language. Teaching in French goes beyond language. It also • Students in English-language schools are required involves instilling an understanding and appreciation to study French as a second language (FSL) from of Franco-Ontarian culture and heritage. This Grades 4 to 8 and earn at least one credit in FSL dynamic culture incorporates diverse Francophone in secondary school. communities and, as such, offers a window into • Ontario is the province with the largest number intercultural understanding and global citizenship, of Francophones outside of Quebec, with over which benefits all students. 600,000 Francophones.
How Ontario students learn French Ontario needs more teachers qualified All students in Ontario learn French. Students can to teach in French learn French at a French-language school or as a There is a strong demand for learning French in second language at an English-language school. At Ontario schools, because it opens up a world of a French-language school, all subjects are taught in career and social opportunities which enrich life. French and schools are expected to give students However, the province is facing a severe and long- a solid foundation in Francophone culture. At an term shortage of qualified French teachers. English- language school, students can learn French Currently, both French- and English-language as a subject (core), or they can choose extended school boards are experiencing a shortage of French or French immersion programs where French French-language and French as a second is the language of instruction for a variety of subjects. language teachers. Requirements for teacher education As of September 1, 2015, Ontario’s teacher education program has changed.
The current program features: • four semesters • a minimum of 80 days practice teaching • greater focus on students’ mental health, well-being and diversity • greater focus on how to teach using technology.
Teacher education at Ontario’s faculties of education French-language teachers in Ontario have excellent Students can choose either a: job prospects. In fact, three out of four graduates of • concurrent program for those who want to French-language teacher education programs were complete both their undergraduate degree hired last year. And more than 600 teachers were and a 16-month Bachelor of Education program hired in French-language boards alone. at the same time consecutive program for students who have In 2016, the average Ontario teacher’s salary was • completed an undergraduate degree and are more than $75,000, after five years of teaching, looking to complete their Bachelor of Education. which is among the highest in both Canada and other Co-operation and Organisation for Economic For information about programs and admission Development (OECD) countries. requirements, you will need to contact the individual faculty. Besides a competitive salary, new teachers in Ontario are provided with ongoing support and professional development, including mentoring, through the Applying to a teacher education program New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP). Teaching You may apply online to publicly funded consecutive in Ontario is especially rewarding since its publicly programs of teacher education through the Ontario funded education system has been acknowledged Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) website at as one of the best in the world, according to ouac.on.ca. McKinsey and Company. Getting into a teacher education program What you need to become a teacher Language proficiency is essential: teaching in To teach at a publicly funded elementary or French in the French-language system requires secondary school in Ontario, you will need: superior French-language skills; teaching French 1) an undergraduate degree from a university in the English-language system requires advanced or college (a BSc, for example); and French- and English-language skills. 2) a Bachelor of Education degree (or Besides language proficiency, faculties of education equivalent), which includes four semesters also use marks, an interview or a points system of postsecondary study. that weighs marks and volunteer experience when considering student applications.
• 2 • Many programs also ask applicants to complete a have access to publicly funded health care services. profile that details their experience working with Furthermore, children ages 4-18 have access to a students. This means that volunteer work with high quality, free, publicly funded education system. school, community, recreation or religious Ontario welcomes those who want to teach in programs may be helpful. Check the faculty French or study in a teacher education program. websites for details. By working or studying here, you will be making a Teacher education programs are listed on page 4. contribution to Ontario’s rich cultural diversity while strengthening Ontario’s Francophone culture. If you are already a qualified teacher You can find more information about living, in Ontario working and studying in Ontario through the If you are proficient in French you may obtain Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration at qualifications to teach French as a Second Language. ontarioimmigration.ca. Additional Qualification (AQ) courses allow teachers to add another division or subject area to what they Ontario College of Teachers: the next step are already qualified to teach. after teacher education More information can be found on these courses In order to teach in Ontario’s publicly funded through the Ontario College of Teachers. elementary and secondary schools, you must become a member of the Ontario College of If you are already a qualified French teacher, Teachers. The College licenses, governs and you can find job opportunities through the regulates Ontario’s teaching profession. It also Jobs in Education website. sets ethical and practice standards, accredits teacher education programs and conducts If you are a Canadian-certified teacher disciplinary hearings. who has trained outside of Ontario More information about the College is available With a few exceptions, certified teachers from at oct.ca/about-the-college. anywhere in Canada can be recognized in Ontario, without any additional training, experience, or assessments.
Learn more about receiving a Certificate of Qualification and Registration at the Ontario College of Teachers.
For those living outside of Canada Internationally educated teachers will need to have their qualifications assessed by the Ontario College of Teachers. Please see oct.ca for more information.
Living in Ontario offers many advantages. It is an economically vibrant and prosperous province that offers excellent job opportunities for teachers qualified to teach in French. All permanent residents
• 3 • Teacher education Ontario Institute for Studies in Helpful links: programs in Ontario Education / University of Toronto Office of the Registrar and Ontario Ministry of Education Student Services French-language teacher Toronto, ON Information about teaching in French education Telephone: 416-978-4300 in Ontario. oise.utoronto.ca/ite/home/index.html Laurentian University ontario.ca/dfje email: [email protected] School of Education Overview of French-language Sudbury, ON Queen’s University education in Ontario. Telephone: 705-675-1151 ext. 4286 Faculty of Education Admissions Student edu.gov.on.ca/eng/amenagement Toll-free: 1-800-461-4030 Services laurentian.ca/program/education Kingston, ON Facts about Ontario’s publicly funded email: [email protected] Telephone: 613-533-2000 education system. educ.queensu.ca edu.gov.on.ca/eng/educationFacts. University of Ottawa html Faculty of Education Trent University Ottawa, ON Education Admissions Office Information for teachers, including Telephone: 613-562-5804 Peterborough, ON professional development, curriculum education.uottawa.ca/en Telephone: 705-748-1011 ext. 7738 and more. email: [email protected] Toll-free: 1-855-MY-TRENT edu.gov.on.ca/eng/teachers trentu.ca/education Note: The University of Ottawa teacher email: [email protected] education program has campuses in Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) Ottawa, Toronto and Windsor. University of Ottawa Faculty of Education Information about the College, Ottawa, ON including professional standards French as a second language and accreditation. teacher education Telephone: 613-562-5804 education.uottawa.ca/en oct.ca Brock University email: [email protected] Faculty of Education Ontario Universities’ Application St. Catharines, ON University of Western Ontario Centre (OUAC) Telephone: 905-688-5550 ext. 3550 Faculty of Education brocku.ca/education London, ON The OUAC processes applications for email: [email protected] Telephone: 519-661-2080 admission to undergraduate teacher edu.uwo.ca education programs at Ontario’s Nipissing University email: [email protected] universities. Faculty of Education ouac.on.ca North Bay, ON Wilfrid Laurier University Telephone: 705-474-3450 Faculty of Education nipissingu.ca/ Waterloo, ON email: [email protected] Telephone: 519-884-1970 wlu.ca/programs/education/ graduate/education-bed/index.html email: [email protected]
York University Faculty of Education Admissions Office Toronto, ON Telephone: 416-736-5001 edu.yorku.ca
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