Involvement of parents in the schooling of their immersion children

CPF has been asked to support research regarding the involvement of parents in the schooling of their immersion children.

In the last twenty years, a growing number of researchers have been considering the role of parental involvement in the schooling of children and several studies have concluded that parental participation is one of the main factors contributing to school success. This said, little research has been done in terms of the extent of parental contribution to the schooling of immersion children. Immersion parents, who share their children’s first language, are often much less familiar with the language in which their immersion children are studying various subjects in school.

Currently, Marie-Josée Vignola, researcher at the Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa, is conducting research that focuses on how immersion parents support their children in their school experiences. The purpose of the study is to find out what assistance these parents and children need, and how families adjust to the immersion situation. The project will explore the role and degree of involvement of non-francophone parents in the schooling of their children enrolled in immersion programs, focusing on the parents of early immersion students.

Canadian Parents for French has a great opportunity to help gather this information by recruiting parent participants via our websites. Willing participants will be asked to participate in a telephone interview. With permission, interviews will be taped for reference and will remain secure and confidential.

You are invited to participate in a 45-minute telephone interview at your convenience.
Please contact Professor Marie-Josée Vignola, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa by email at mvignola@uottawa.ca for more information before January 31st, 2007.