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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A visit from an Alberta university professor is bringing national attention to French immersion at two Yellowknife Catholic schools.

Dr. Martine Pellerin is a professor at the University of Alberta's Campus Saint-Jean in Edmonton, has been visiting Yellowknife Catholic French immersion schools to do research on the ways French immersion teachers incorporate oral communication into their lesson plans.

There are unique challenges facing French education in the North, said Josee Clermont, French co-ordinator at Yellowknife Catholic Schools.

"This researcher found that there isn't a lot of attention paid to French education in isolated areas but our teachers are doing great things with the students," said Clermont.

Pellerin's most recent visit to Yellowknife was on February 25 and 26. She also visited three other times throughout the year with funding from Heritage Canada.

Pellerin is also involved with the Canadian Association of Immersion Teachers, of which Clermont is also a member.

Through the association, Pellerin makes videos of how French immersion teachers use digital technology to help with their lessons. Specifically, in this case, using tablet computers to encourage students to speak to each other in French.

The footage for the videos has been shot but the finished product is not yet available.

Pellerin's visit was part of a national project funded by Heritage Canada and the Canadian Association of Immersion Teachers. The two different organizations provided funds to develop a website for teachers which include short professional development videos.

Ninety per cent of those videos are shot in Alberta and focus on elementary school students, said Clermont.

The footage that Pellerin took at St. Patrick High School focuses on high school immersion teachers and how they use technology to help immerse their students in French. She also looked at the immersion program at St. Joseph School.

"She feels isolated areas are neglected and she wants to show them some attention," said Clermont.

"Our students can find work up here easily, there's a demand for French students because the government has to be able to provide services in French so our students don't have to leave the NWT for work."

The videos that Pellerin shot while in Yellowknife will be used to show immersion teachers across Canada how to encourage their students to speak French by using technology that generates conversation, such as apps on a tablet computer.

"The technology encourages students to talk to each other in French," said Clermont.

"They have to use the same language they see and that's the best way to learn, is to use French in everyday situations."

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