The lack of French speakers in Canada will boost the immigration prospects of newcomers. Per the recent updates from Statistics Canada, roughly all immigrants in Canada could converse in either of the two official languages. According to the most recent census, such individuals comprise nearly 93.6 percent of the population.
Although most immigrants can converse in French or English, the newcomers generally prefer English. The latest study by Statistics Canada revealed that the number of French speakers has increased in Quebec. Conversely, the number of Francophones outside Quebec has reduced.
Statistically, Quebec’s number of French speakers or those speaking both languages has multiplied over the past sixty years. In 1951, the provincial population was 38.4 percent, increasing to 80.5 percent in 2021.
Conversely, outside Quebec, French speakers in 2021 were only 5.5 percent. This also stands true for those speaking French as well as English. This group of immigrants has witnessed a decline from 6.6 percent in 2001 who could speak in French or both official languages outside Quebec.
At the same time, those who could speak only English or both languages remained firm, at 93.3 percent in 2001 to 92.9 percent in 2021.
Finally, the number of new immigrants outside Quebec with French as their official language in 2021 was just 102,000. This implies that less than one percent of the population is outside the Francophone province.
The data shows that in regions where English speakers are rising, the number of French speakers falls under the minority category.
Lack of French speakers in Canada to boost immigration prospects
The Canadian government functions through a mandate to promote and protect the status of the English and French languages. The government must ensure equal respect for the two official languages in Canadian institutions and society. Additionally, it must support the minority linguistic communities wherever necessary. IRCC is responsible for implementing the above.
Furthermore, the department has already introduced the French category among the Express Entry programs such as FSTP, FSWP, and the Canadian Experience Class.
Currently, the Express Entry French category is the only category that will certainly grow in the forthcoming years. In 2023, the immigration target for French speakers outside Quebec was 4.4 percent, while IRCC surpassed it with 4.7 percent. In addition, the Francophone immigration target for this year is 6 percent. It will increase to 7 percent in 2025 and 8 percent in 2026.
Qualifying for the French-based category of IRCC and steps to learn French easily
New immigrants must display an NCLC score of 7 to become eligible for the department’s French category. This will apply to all language aspects, including reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
They must take the TCF or TEF test to prove their language potential, as these are IRCC’s two accepted exams for the French language.
These newcomers must ensure the following steps to learn French more easily:
Immersion
The most commonly used strategy to acquire French language skills is learning the language in an immersive environment resembling a routine life. Since the world is more prone to media usage, this immersion environment is possible at home. One can do so through podcasts, movies, television shows, and other media resources.
Flashcards usage and spaced learning – Other vital tactics to learn French
Flashcards are convenient tools for learning French due to their “active recall” characteristics. This is a procedure through which a person’s brain actively searches for memories. This tool can help shift the focus from short-term to long-term memories. However, the most appropriate step is to space out your learning across time. Ebbinghaus’s research displayed that learning is considerably more effective when spread out across multiple periods. This implies learning the language through the same flashcards in one week, using them seven to eight times. This is as opposed to learning the language through flashcards (7 to 8 times) in a single day.
Researching the language history
A recent University of British Columbia claims that a better approach to learning the language is learning those study terms that have roots in their original language. Those with English proficiency will explore several similarities with the French language. Hence, beginners will understand the terms of mutual study or shared vocabulary when learning French.
For instance, “avis,” a French word implying idea, view, opinion, or judgment, has been derived from the English word “advice.”
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