Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of British Columbia Okanagan campus offers a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) program with a French stream, designed to inspire future generations of educators. This 16-month post-diploma program is conducted in French and aims to prepare teachers to teach from kindergarten to grade 9+ in immersion French, core French, or Francophone schools.

Program Structure

The B.Ed. program includes two school-based practicum experiences, a community field experience (CFE), and a 15-week school-based practicum. For students in the French cohort, school-based or community practicum experiences take place in French immersion, core French, or Francophone schools. Students may also participate in international community field experiences.

Program Benefits

The program offers practical experience, complete with two school-based practicum experiences and a community field experience. Students develop personal and professional connections with mentors in the Okanagan Valley, supporting their growth throughout the program. The Southern Interior French Education Network organizes professional development sessions, social events, and provides accessible resources in French for teachers.

Community Orientation

Class council sessions offer opportunities to explore elements of French culture and language through music and film. The small cohort size fosters a sense of belonging and language security, allowing for greater peer support.

Pedagogical and Language Support

Specialized seminars in French for course subjects, such as numeracy and literacy, prepare students to teach French as a second language or in a minority context. Students can receive individual or group linguistic support through a non-credit course or throughout the program.

Courses and Programs

The B.Ed. program prepares teachers to teach from kindergarten to grade 9+ in:

• Immersion French: teaching French language and subject content (e.g., mathematics, science, physical education) in French.
• Core French: teaching French language.
• Francophone schools: teaching subject content in French within the Francophone school board.

Admission Criteria

To be admitted to the French stream, applicants must meet the admission criteria for the Teach Children or Teach Adolescents stream and provide proof of French language proficiency. Acceptable proof includes:

• A high school diploma in French (including grade 12).
• A Diplôme d'études en langue française (DELF) B1 or B2 and/or a Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF) C1 or C2 from an authorized examination center.
• A letter from a French department faculty member at a Canadian university, indicating the applicant has demonstrated French language proficiency in a teaching capacity.
• A letter from a Francophone school authority (e.g., CSF, SD 93), indicating French language proficiency.
• Proof of completing post-secondary studies at an institution where French is the language of instruction.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for the B.Ed. program can be found on the program's webpage.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Several scholarships and bursaries are available to students studying in French at the B.Ed. program, including:

• A $3,000 bursary for post-secondary studies in French as a second language (if the student did not attend a Francophone high school).
• Travel bursaries for community field experiences outside of British Columbia and for the French Institute at UBC in Quebec (variable amount).
• A bursary for tuition fees for the French Institute at UBC in Quebec as a summer course (variable amount; for students whose first language is not French).
• A bursary for future teachers accredited to teach in French: for anyone enrolled in a full-time teacher education program offered by an accredited post-secondary institution in British Columbia (55% of courses in French).

Explore the Francophone Community

The Okanagan region offers a diverse range of Francophone communities, organizations, and events, including:

• Espaces francophones: an initiative to create a sense of community among Francophones at UBCO.
• Centre culturel francophone de l'Okanagan (CCFO): a cultural center for Francophones and Francophiles in the Okanagan region.
• Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique: a public school board recognized nationally for its dynamism and innovative spirit.
• Écoles d'immersion et programmes de français de base: various French immersion and core French programs in the Southern Interior region of British Columbia.
• La Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique: the official spokesperson organization for the Francophone community in British Columbia.