The Significance of the French and Francophone Presence in North America in French Language Learning and Advocacy in the United States
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1403.01Keywords:
French language, Francophone, Québec, advocacy, FrancoresponsabilitéAbstract
This article examines the significance of the French and Francophone presence in North America and its impact on French language learning and use, with a special focus on the linkage between Québec and French language advocacy. Within a context of heritage languages, the lack of opportunity to learn additional languages in US public schools, and declining enrollments in languages in US colleges and universities, the scope of both the historical and contemporary role of Francophones in the US is described, and a brief overview of French language advocacy is provided. Current trends, including Francoresponsabilité and Franco-Activisme, as well as the importance of advocacy partnerships and online learning, are also explored.
References
American Academy of Arts & Sciences. (AMACAD). (2017). America’s Languages: Investing in America’s Languages. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.amacad.org/publication/americas-languages
American Association of Teachers of French. (AATF). (2019). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://frenchteachers.org/
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. (ACTFL). (2019). Making Languages Our Business. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.actfl.org/uploads/files/general/MakingLanguagesOurBusiness_FullReport.pdf
American Councils for International Education. (American Councils). (2017). The National K-12 Foreign Language Enrollment Survey. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.americancouncils.org/news/announcements/new-report-world-language-study-us-k-12-schools
Boris, V. (2017). What Makes Storytelling So Effective for Learning? Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.harvardbusiness.org/what-makes-storytelling-so-effective-for-learning/
Brault, G.J. (1986). The French-Canadian Heritage in New England. Lebanon, NH: The University Press of New England.
CanadaVisa. (2023). Study in Québec. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.canadavisa.com/study-in-Québec.html
Caribou à lunettes. (2023). Caribou à lunettes. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://cariboualunettes.com/en
Centre de la Francophonie des Amériques. (CFA). (2022). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://francophoniedesAmériques.com/
Choquette, L. (2018). French Canadian Immigration to Vermont and New England (1840-1930). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://vermonthistory.org/journal/86/VH8601FrenchCanadianImmigration.pdf
Conseil pour le développement du Français en Louisiane. (CODOFIL). (2023). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.crt.state.la.us/cultural-development/codofil/
Cultural Services French Embassy in the United States. (Cultural Services). (2022). French Language Job Fairs. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://frenchhighereducation.org/13977-french-language-job-fairs
Dietrich, S. & Hernandez, E. (2022). Language Use in the United States: 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2022/acs/acs-50.html
Eastern Border Transportation Coalition. (EBTC). (2023). QUÉBEC: CANADA – U.S. TRADE (US$). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://ebtc.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Québec.pdf
Erudera. (2023). Canada International Student Statistics. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://erudera.com/statistics/canada/canada-international-student-statistics/
France-Amérique. (2019). Franco-Responsibility: Louisiana Rises to the Challenge. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://france-Amérique.com/franco-responsibility-louisiana-rises-to-the-challenge/
France-Amérique. (2021). The French Cousins behind New York’s Little Paris. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://france-Amérique.com/the-french-cousins-behind-new-york-little-paris/
Franco-American Centre. (FAC). (2023). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://facnh.com/
French-American Heritage Foundation of Minnesota. (Fafhminn, n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://fahfminn.org/
French Americans. (2023). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Americans
French-Canadian Americans. (2023). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French-Canadian_Americans
French-Canadian Legacy Podcast. (FCL). (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://fclpodcast.com/
France Diplomacy. (n.d.). International Strategy for the French Language and Multilingualism. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/francophony-and-the-french-language/france-s-commitment-to-the-french-language/international-strategy-for-the-french-language-and-multilingualism/
The French Program at Lehman College, CUNY. (CUNY Lehman). (n.d.) Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.lehman.edu/deanhum/langlit/french/frenchprogram.html
Furr & Harmon Furr. (2022). How to Tell a Compelling Story to Motivate Others. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.fastcompany.com/90780223/how-to-tell-a-compelling-story-to-motivate-others
The Global Seal of Biliteracy. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://theglobalseal.com/
Government of Canada. (2022). Canada-United States Relations. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/us-eu/relations.aspx?lang=eng
Government of Canada. (2019). Some Facts on the Canadian Francophonie. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/official-languages-bilingualism/publications/facts-canadian-francophonie.html
Gouvernement du Québec. (2023). Québec Government Offices Abroad. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.Québec.ca/en/gouvernement/ministere/relations-internationales/representations-etranger
Gouvernement du Québec. (2023b). United States Strategy. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.Québec.ca/en/government/policies-orientations/Québec-international-vision/united-states-strategy
Institut des Ameriques. (n.d.). “France and Louisiana: A "Special Relationship"? Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.institutdesameriques.fr/en/calendar/france-and-louisiana-special-relationship
Jaumont, F. (2017). The Bilingual Revolution: The Future of Education Is in Two Languages. NY: TBR Books.
Johnson, S. (2019). Colleges lose a stunning 651 foreign language programs. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.chronicle.com/article/colleges-lose-a-stunning-651-foreign-language-programs-in-3-years/
Kelleher, A. (2010). What is a Heritage Language? Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.cal.org/heritage/pdfs/briefs/What-is-a-Heritage-Language.pdf
Laura Plantation: Louisiana’s Creole Heritage Site. (Laura). (2023). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.lauraplantation.com/
Leach, C. (2022). Jobs for French Language Speakers: Le Forum Économique. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://wgno.com/news/jobs-for-french-speakers/
Merci Train. (2023). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merci_Train
Merriam-Webster. (2023). Franco-American. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Franco-American
Merriam-Webster. (2023b). Québecois. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Québecois
Modern Language Association. (MLA). (2019). Enrollments in Languages Other Than English in United States Institutions of Higher Education. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.mla.org/Resources/Guidelines-and-Data/Reports-and-Professional-Guidelines/Teaching-Enrollments-and-Programs/Enrollments-in-Languages-Other-Than-English-in-United-States-Institutions-of-Higher-Education
Modern Language Association. (MLA). (2023). Enrollments in Languages Other Than English in United States Institutions of Higher Education. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.mla.org/Resources/Guidelines-and-Data/Reports-and-Professional-Guidelines/Enrollments-in-Languages-Other-Than-English-in-United-States-Institutions-of-Higher-Education
Moderne Francos. (n.d). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://modernefrancos.com/
Nadeau, J-B. (2021). 33 Millions de francophones dans les Amériques. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/597077/de-la-terre-de-feu-a-la-terre-de-rupert-33-millions-de-francophones
NHPoutineFest. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.nhpoutinefest.com/
Nous Foundation. (2022). Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.nous-foundation.org/
Opendoors. (2022). Fast Facts 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://opendoorsdata.org/fast_facts/fast-facts-2022/
Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. (OIF). (2022). La Langue française dan le monde. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=la+langue+française+dans+le+monde+2022
Peckham, R. & Stein-Smith, K. eds. (2021). Strategic Advocacy for the French Language in the US. Marion, IL: AATF.
Perreault, Robert B. (2010). Franco-American Life & Culture in Manchester, Vivre La Difference. Dover, NH: History Press Library Editions.
Pratte, A. & Kay, J. (2016). Legacy: How French Canadians Shaped North America. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart.
Quintal, C. (1996). Steeples and Smokestacks. A Collection of essays on The Franco-American Experience in New England. Worcester, MA: Institut Français, Assumption.
Radio-Canada. (2023). Le Salon du Livre de Montreal. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.salondulivredemontreal.com/
Renken, E. (2020). How Stories Connect and Persuade Us: Unleashing the Brain Power of Narrative. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/11/815573198/how-stories-connect-and-persuade-us-unleashing-the-brain-power-of-narrative
Roby, Yves. (2004). Franco-Americans of New England: Dreams and Realities. Montreal: McGill-Queen's Press – MQUP.
Satell, G. & Popovic, S. (2017). How Protests Become Social Movements. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://hbr.org/2017/01/how-protests-become-successful-social-movements
Schachtman, T. (2017). How France Saved America: Soldiers, Sailors, Diplomats, Louis XVI, and the Success of a Revolution. NY: St. Martin’s.
Sicot, J. (2019). New York, la capitale meconnue de la francophonie. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://lepetitjournal.com/new-york/new-york-la-capitale-meconnue-de-la-francophonie-262838
Thiery, C. (2023). The U.S. Army’s French Treasures on Display in Virginia. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://france-Amérique.com/the-us-army-french-treasures-on-display-in-virginia/
Thiery, C. (2022). Who Are the Francophones in the United States? Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://france-Amérique.com/who-are-the-francophones-in-the-united-states/
Vermette, D. (2018). A Distinct Alien Race. The Untold Story of Franco-Americans: Industrialization, Immigration, Religious Strife. Montreal: Baraka Press.
Wilson, E. (2018). Why American Students Should Study in Canada. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/american-students-study-canada_ca_5cd54ecce4b07bc72976cf4b