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Policy Documents
Policy for Heritage Language Instruction - Manitoba Education and Training (1993)
Overview
Highlights: Languages other than English or French
In addition to English and French, a variety of languages are offered as "languages of study" (similar to Basic French) in schools in Manitoba. Some languages have been offered for many years and others, like Japanese, have recently become popular.
Languages offered* in Manitoba schools include
German is the language with the highest overall enrolment followed by Spanish.
Within the City of Winnipeg, Spanish is the most popular language followed by Ojibwe, Filipino, Japanese and Cree. Spanish has been growing in popularity in Manitoba since the early 1990s. In the 2004-2005 school year approximately 1300 students were eligible for funding and 18 Senior Years public schools offered Spanish. A number of Independent (private) schools also offer Spanish and other languages (e.g. Balmoral hall offers Japanese and Spanish).
Japanese was first introduced in Manitoba schools in 1994 as part of Asia-Pacific studies.
Since 1979 Manitoba's Public Schools Act provides for instruction in Languages other than English or French for up to 50% of the school day-these are commonly referred to as "Bilingual Heritage" Language Programming. In K-6, Language Arts, Social Studies, Art and Physical Education may be taught in the target Heritage/International Language.
Approximately 1587 students are enrolled in bilingual programming in K-6, with 250 students in "enhanced" programming in 7-Senior 4.
In addition, approximately 150-200 students each year elect to enroll in Independent Study courses in German, Spanish or Ukrainian.
School divisions in Manitoba also offer Bilingual Programming.
| Programming | School Division |
|---|---|
| English-German | River East Transcona |
| English-Hebrew | Winnipeg, Seven Oaks |
| English-Ukrainian | Winnipeg, River East Transcona, Sunrise, Seven Oaks, Lord Selkirk, Mountain View |
Categorical Grants for both languages of study and bilingual heritage language programming are available to public schools.
*The statistics provided represent the numbers reported for funding purposes and for courses offered during the regular school day. Some school divisions offer before and after school programming in Heritage/International languages (e.g. Seven Oaks provides after school programming in a variety of International and Aboriginal languages).
Funding of Schools
Distance Education
School Programs and Graduation Requirements
General Support Documents
Western and Northern Canadian Protocol ProjectsThe need for language programming is growing as students and parents realize the importance of languages in the global marketplace and for personal development. Each province is facing the need to provide language programs in many languages for small numbers of students. Therefore, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta have undertaken several joint projects in international languages under the Western and Northern Canadian Protocol.
Manitoba has participated in three recently completed
projects to support curriculum development in languages
other than
English or French. The WCP projects and the documents that
were the result of inter-provincial collaboration will
be
utilized to develop new curriculum for various Aboriginal
and international/heritage languages. The three documents
listed below are available online at the Western
and Northern Canadian Protocol website.
The
Common Curriculum Framework for Aboriginal Language and
Culture Programs, Kindergarten to Grade 12, June 2000
This document is intended as a general resource for curriculum
developers and teachers working in the field of Aboriginal
languages and education. The framework is composed of three
essential sections: Culture, First Language, and Second
Language student outcomes.
The
Common Curriculum Framework for Bilingual Programming in
International Languages, 1999
Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan all have provisions for
bilingual programs in international/heritage languages.
This document is intended to support curriculum developers
and teachers working in bilingual education.
The
Common Curriculum Framework for International Languages,
Kindergarten to Grade 12, June 2000
This framework is intended for language of study or "basic"
programs. The document provides outcomes for students entering
International/heritage language programming at Early (Kindergarten),
Middle (Grade 5) and Senior Years (Grade 9) levels.
In the 2001-2002 school year two new WCP sponsored projects
in support of International languages will be initiated;
the two projects are the
- development of a common implementation support document for Ukrainian Language Arts K-Senior 4 (Bilingual programs)
- development of a common implementation support document for Spanish as an International Language 7-Senior 4 and Senior 1-4
Other Language Programs
French Language Programming:
- Français de base - Basic French
- Immersion française (French Immersion)
- Français
(French)
Special Language Credit Options
The Special Language Credit Option is a challenge-for-credit mechanism that allows students in the Senior Years (high school) to obtain credits for proficiency in languages other than English or French, which are the two official languages of instruction in Manitoba. The languages for which students successfully challenge for credit vary from year to year.
