Mélissa Baril, Caribou à Lunettes, French Youth Literature
Kathleen Stein-Smith, PhD, Officier dans l’Ordre des Palmes académiques, Chair, AATF Commission on Advocacy
Introduction
In a globalized and multilingual world and an increasingly multilingual US, language skills and cultural knowledge can lead to greater empathy for other cultures and empower language learners both globally and locally. Based on the authors’ session at the OFLA/CSCTFL 2023 conference, this article examines the significance of the French language and Francophone culture in our historical heritage and our cultural identity, as well as their significance among the advocacy steps needed to ensure their future.
Advocacy takes place in the classroom and beyond, and advocacy initiatives can be found in educational institutions and organizations reflecting a wide range of interests and including various levels of French language skills. In addition to AATF and its Commission on Advocacy, OFLA, and Central States, language learning and use are encouraged and supported in communities, the workplace, and the media by organizations including the Franco-American Centre and Nous Foundation, by in-person and online programs like the Franco-Canadian Legacy Podcast and the NH PoutineFest, and through creativity and the arts.
The appreciation of literature is always beneficial, and facilitating the experience of books and literature in French among young adults supports both language skills and cultural understanding. At the same time, it encourages – highlighting contemporary North American authors – the creative use of French within the individual through reading, illustration, and potentially creative writing.
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