Learning Languages in Alberta

Educators

Encouraging Linguistic Diversity

Alberta Education believes strongly in encouraging linguistic diversity in Alberta students. In addition to the provincially developed language programs, public, private and band-operated school authorities offer a range of language learning opportunities to students.

School authorities are encouraged to provide opportunities for students to pursue a language or languages that are not their first language.

Alberta Education currently provides provincial programs of study and support resources for the following provincial languages:

  • alternative language programs:
    • French immersion
    • bilingual language arts curriculum for Chinese (Mandarin), German, Spanish and Ukrainian
  • second language course series:
    • French as a second language (FSL) course series with entry points at Grade 4 or Grade 10
    • 3-year language and culture course series (Blackfoot, Chinese [Mandarin], Cree, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Spanish and Ukrainian)
    • 6-year language and culture course series (Chinese [Mandarin], German, Italian, Spanish and Ukrainian)
    • 9-year language and culture course series (Chinese [Mandarin], Cree, German, Japanese, Punjabi, Spanish and Ukrainian)
    • 12-year course series (Blackfoot, Cree and Italian)

Further information is available at /teachers/program/interlang.aspx.

Many schools offer locally developed and authorized bilingual programs or language and culture courses in languages such as Arabic, Polish and Russian. Alberta Education continues to encourage school authorities to develop, acquire and authorize junior and senior high school language courses and programs that meet the needs of the local community.

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Language Learning Legislative Provisions

Alberta Education encourages opportunities for all Alberta students to learn languages other than English by making second language courses and partial immersion (bilingual) programs and related services available.

While every student is entitled to receive school instruction in English, the following legislative provisions allow school authorities to offer a range of language programs to Alberta students.

  • Students eligible under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are entitled to have access to Francophone education programs (section 10 of the School Act).
  • A board may authorize the use of French or any other language as a language of instruction (section 11 of the School Act).  Language learning opportunities may be provided through an Alternative Language Program, an education program that emphasizes a particular language and culture, if the board determines there is sufficient demand (section 21 of the School Act).  In offering a partial immersion (bilingual) program, boards are to ensure that students also have the opportunity to acquire competence in all English language arts skills to meet graduation requirements.
  • A second language course series (FSL, language and culture programs) delivers the second language as a subject for the purpose of developing communication skills and cultural awareness.  A board may choose from available provincial programs of study or develop and authorize a local aboriginal or international language program to meet the needs of their students (section 39 of the School Act). 
  • Locally developed/acquired and authorized second language courses reflect the curriculum standards established in provincial second language programs of study.  Learning resources approved for use by the school authority are to meet the requirements of section 3 of the School Act as well as Alberta Education’s criteria for recognizing diversity and promoting respect.  School authorities are responsible for obtaining clearance of copyright and permission to use courses, learning resources and other related materials developed by other school authorities.  School authorities wishing to continue offering a locally developed/acquired and authorized course shall reauthorize their locally developed/acquired courses or programs every three years.

 

References

Please refer to the current edition of the Guide to Education: ECS to Grade 12.

Information about implementing and delivering language programming may be found in the School Administrator’s Guide to Implementing Language Programming.