Francophone High School Students' Perceptions towards the Relationship between English and French in Québec

The author's study, conducted in English as a second language (ESL) high school classes, investigated Quebec high school students' perceptions about the relationship between French and English. The participants were 170 ESL students in grades 10 and 11. The author's study is a replication of a 2010 investigation whose focus was to describe university-level students' perceptions about the role of the English language in Quebec. The author decided to replicate this earlier study with a younger population, on the assumption that high school students may not have the same ideas and beliefs as university-level students. The author's study consists of a mixed-methods approach. The quantitative component of her study used the 2010 research instrument, a survey. The qualitative component consisted of open-ended questions, which were used in order to obtain a deeper understanding of participants' feelings. The author's results show that there are many positive beliefs about the English language amongst young Francophone learners. Although there is a high level of acceptance of the English language, students also see the need to preserve their mother tongue in Quebec. Thus, English is perceived as only a second language which enables young Francophones of today's generation to excel in their long-term goals—socially, politically and educationally.

Master's Thesis

McGill University

Montreal

2014

139p.

en