French Heritage and Community Languages in

the U.S. – Richness and Complexity

Overview of French in the United States

Long-standing French-speaking Americans

French-speaking New Americans

Educational opportunities

Benoit Le Devedec, ACTFL 2014

French speakers’ presence in the United States

2

French as a global language

3

Diversity of origins and communities

4

Long-standing French-speaking

Americans

5

Louisiana

Maine

6

7

8

De-institutionalization of French

In 1812, Louisiana became the first and only state to enter

the Union in which a non-English-speaking group

commanded a popular majority.

Until the Civil War, Louisiana continued to publish

documents in French and its legislature continued to

operate bilingually as a practical necessity.

An 1847 law authorized bilingual instruction in the state's

public schools.

A new constitution in 1921 banned French from being

used in court, and spoken or learned at school.

9

Re-officialisation of French: the

CODOFIL

10

CODOFIL's mission is to "work toward the creation of an

eco-system that permits the development of French in the economic, educational, cultural and professional

sectors and in which Louisiana's French and Creole

speakers are valorized in their cultural and linguistic

identity." It seeks to "provide access to economic, educational, cultural and professional opportunities in

French to all Louisianians.”

11

Maine: Acadians and Franco-

Americans

12

13

Repression and persecutions

14

Recognition and revitalization

New Americans

15

Who are they?

Recent immigration widely dispersed throughout the US,

mostly from North and West Africa, and Haiti.

Often invisible or overlooked in the United States as

French speakers.

English Language Learners who had French as their main

education language but not necessarily as their first or

only social language. Cases of SIFE and illiteracy.

Strongly attached to the French language, while striving

to preserve their home langue, integrate a new country and access new economic opportunities.

Often live in underserved areas with little to no access to

French language instruction.

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Bambara 9%

French 40%

Fulani 13%

Creole 26%

Wolof 7%

Arabic 5%

What languages other than English are spoken in your home?

97.8%

0.0% 2.2%

yes no not sure

Is it important to you that you continue to learn and use French?

93.5%

2.2% 4.3%

yes no I don't know

Is it important to your family that you continue to speak and learn French?

What educational opportunities

for all these French heritage

speakers in the US today?

21

22

23

24

New Educational opportunities

Most French heritage language speakers in the U.S. want to transmit their linguistic and cultural heritage to their children and/or maintain their French language skills while adapting to their new American environment.

Although there have been severe challenges in terms of opportunities to maintain instruction in French in the U.S. school system, new, grassroots, bottom-up educational formulas have emerged over the years to meet these needs through bilingual education.

134 public schools in 27 states and 85 cities now offer French dual language or immersion programs.

Another 50 bilingual programs are offered in private schools that serve mainly expatriate families, but they also include local American families who can pay the often high tuition fees.

+ new forms of educational support for Francophone students in underserved areas, including French Heritage Language programs in public schools and community-based organizations.

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1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

French bilingual revolution in US schools

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14

11 11

10

6

5 5

4 4 4

3 3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2 2 2

1 1 1 1 1

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

LA UT NY MA MD MN GA NC MO OR VA CO DC FL OK SC AZ CA MI PA TX WI CT IL NJ OH WA

Provides free French classes to underserved French-speaking

communities in public schools and community centers, in-

school and afterschool.

Currently serves 20 sites with 450 students K-12 in New York

City, Florida, Maine and Massachusetts.

Advocates for the teaching of heritage languages

Encourages the creation of immersion and dual language

programs where is needed

Facilitate the integration of new

immigrants by making French an

asset to them

30

Bridging the gap between generations

in Maine

Conclusion

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The diversity in national origins, ethnicity, and socio-

economic status make the French case unique

Despite historical difficulties, French continues to be the

2nd most commonly taught language in US schools and universities (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012)

Parents play a key role in promoting heritage language

learning and generating the larger support necessary to

sustain innovative programs in public schools.

The recent rise in French-English bilingual education

shows that successful community-led initiatives can be

achieved through the willingness of different communities to work together- the fruit of multiple

partners from local, national, and international

organizations; private foundations, parent groups, and

education officials.

Sources

García, O. (2009). Bilingual education in the 21st century: A global perspective. United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

Grin, F. (2003). Language policy evaluation and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Lo Bianco, J. (2010). Language learning from the inside: Learners’ voices & public policy ambitions, with Aliani R. Clevedon, Avon, UK: Multilingual Matters

Lo Bianco, J. & Véronique D.(Eds.). (2008). Institutions et Pouvoir. Chapter 7, pp 331-377, in Précis de Didactique du Plurilinguisme et du Pluriculturalisme. Edited by Zarate G., Lévy D. 7 Kramsch C. Paris: Editions des Archives Contemporaines

Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. (2010). La langue Française dans le Monde 2010. Paris: Nathan Ed.

Rhodes, N.C., & Pufahl, I. (2010). Foreign language teaching in U.S. schools: Results of a national survey. Washington, DC: Center for Applied Linguistics.

Ross J., & Jaumont, F. (2012). Building bilingual communities: New York's French bilingual revolution. In O. Garcia, Z. Zakharia Z., & G. Bahar Otcu (Eds.), Bilingual community education and multilingualism. New York: Multilingual Matters.

Ross, J., & Jaumont, F. (Fall 2013). French heritage language vitality in the United States. Heritage Language Journal, 9, 3.

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