Showcase meeting 4 – Tuesday, February 24, 2026

What does research say about the inclusion of students with diverse backgrounds in FSL classrooms?

PRESENTATIONS :

1. Mimi Masson (she/her) is an associate professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Sherbrooke, where she teaches additional language education. She has worked as a teacher and teacher trainer for over 10 years in Canada and Japan, specializing in the teaching of French and English as a second language. In her presentation, she will explore the concept of inclusion in French as a second language, based on the idea that inclusion is not simply a matter of integrating more students into existing programs, but rather of fundamentally rethinking our pedagogical approaches. Recent research reveals that racialized, allophone, immigrant, and sexual and gender-diverse students experience very different realities in our FSL classrooms. Each profile faces distinct challenges that require tailored pedagogical responses. Three key questions will guide our reflection:

• • What language standards and varieties of French do we value in our programs?
  • How do we leverage the linguistic and cultural riches that students already bring to the classroom?
  • How do we address the historical and cultural dimensions of French language teaching?

2. Reshara Alviarez (she/her) is a language education researcher and graduate of the University of Toronto specializing in inclusive language policies in Creole-speaking and migrant contexts. Her presentation will focus on the challenges and opportunities associated with including students with special needs in additional language classrooms, with an emphasis on inclusive education in FSL programs across Canada.

She conducted a needs analysis of teachers across the country as part of the Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers (CASLT) project “Success for All.” Her presentation will report on the results of this study, including the experiences of teachers, as well as an overview of the tools developed in response to these results.