Raising FLAGS - Renewing Core French at the Pre-service Teacher Level

Oct 15, 2026

A new core French teacher-candidate program, FLAGS (French Language and Global Studies), was established at the University of British Columbia in 2007 to support elementary generalist candidates with rudimentary French proficiency and strong motivation to teach. The program starts with a five-week summer immersion through Explore!, then continues in UBC’s regular Bachelor of Education with added French conversation and methodology courses plus a core French practicum concentration (optionally augmented by a three-week practicum in a francophone locale). It targets the weak state of core French teaching and learning in British Columbia.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Résumé

Introduction

Raising FLAGS: Renewing Core French at the Pre-service Teacher Level Dr. Wendy Carr University of British Columbia Author’s Note The author is grateful for the generous sharing of perspectives offered by the members of UBC’s first FLAGS cohort (2007-8) . Abstract A new program for core French teacher candidates called FLAGS (French Language and Global Studies) was established at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 2007. The program is intended for those who are keen to teach core French and possess rudimentary proficiency in the language but may not necessarily have the same proficiency or prior coursework as candidates applying to existing French specialist cohorts. The FLAGS program begins with a five-week summer immersion experience through Explore! and then proceeds with UBC’s regular Bachelor of Education program but with an added French conversation course, a core French methodology course and a core French practicum concentration (augmented, in some cases, with a three-week practicum in a francophone locale) . FLAGS is intended to address the less than satisfactory state of elementary core French teaching and learning in British Columbia. Résumé FLAGS (French Language and Global Studies) est un nouveau programme établi en 2007 par l'université de la Colombie-Britannique pour les futurs enseignants du français de base. Le programme s'addresse à ceux et celles qui veulent enseigner le français de base et dont leniveau de compétence en français est adéquat pour la communication mais n’est pas nécéssairement au même niveau de celui des candidats du programme pour les spécialisteset/ou les cours pré-réquis pour être spécialiste manquent. Le programme démarre en été avec une expérience immersive de cinq semaines grâce au programme Explore!, puis continue avec le baccalauréat régulier en éducation de l’UBC supplémenté avec un cours de conversation, un cours de méthodologie et un stage en français de base (avec l'option pour certains de compléter trois semaines de stage dans une région francophone) . FLAGS acomme objectif de contribuer à l'amélioration des conditions d'apprentissage du français debase en Colombie-Britannique. CJAL * RCLA Carr 38 Introduction FLAGS (French Language and Global Study) is a new program at the University of British Columbia (UBC) designed for elementary generalist teacher candidates who have a special interest in teaching core French. The program begins with a five-week summer immersion experience in a Canadian university (subsidized by the federal/provincial Explore! bursary program) followed by UBC’s regular 12-month Bachelor of Education consecutive program with two additional courses: French methodology and French conversation for teachers. There is no language screening test or specific pre-requisite French courses to enroll in the program; however, students must possess a rudimentary level of proficiency and a strong desire to learn and teach French. The program for elementary core French generalists complements the existing French specialist 1 cohort that is oriented to French immersion teaching and learning. FLAGS addresses a gap in teacher education in British Columbia (BC) . Candidates enrolled in a regular teacher education program in BC, though required to teach core French if employed at the Grade 5 to 8 level, are not required to take a French second language (FSL) methodology course. Further, many enter the program with a linguistic background of a Grade 11 core French course or, in many cases, lower since only a Grade 11 second language course2 is required to enter university. One FLAGS student described this gap: Usually, students are either generalists or in a full French stream. Thus, teacher candidates who have an interest in teaching French but perhaps need more time to work on their language skills are left to do so independently. 1 The terms ‘generalist’ and ‘specialist’ are used, in part, to denote the language of instruction for each cohor

FAQs

What is the FLAGS program and who is it designed for?

FLAGS is a core French teacher-candidate program at UBC designed for elementary generalist teacher candidates interested in teaching core French. It is intended for those with rudimentary French proficiency and a desire to learn and teach French.

How does the FLAGS program structure its training?

FLAGS begins with a five-week summer immersion through Explore!, followed by UBC’s regular 12-month consecutive Bachelor of Education program. It adds two courses—French methodology and French conversation for teachers—and includes a core French practicum concentration, sometimes augmented by a three-week practicum in a francophone locale.

Why was FLAGS created in British Columbia?

FLAGS addresses a gap in teacher education for core French in British Columbia. Candidates in regular teacher education programs are not required to take a French second language (FSL) methodology course, and many have limited linguistic and methodological background, contributing to weaker program quality and student outcomes.

Oct 15, 2026

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