News | Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute

If bilingualism opens doors, OLBI holds the key

On November 1^st, OLBI celebrated its 50 years of excellence in second-language teaching, both in Canada and across the globe. We would like to thank all those who devoted themselves to improving our students’ employability, whether it be our staff members or our professors. It is now time to shift our outlook towards the future and contemplate OLBI’s role on the national and global stages of second-language teaching.
Congratulations Margret Norenberg

It is our pleasure to announce that Margret Norenberg has accepted to fill the professorial position of the ESL Long Term Assignment at OLBI!
Promoting the Irish Language in Ottawa

One of our professors, Sheila Scott, was recently interviewed for an article in the Fulcrum, which featured her hard work and innovative academic approaches to teaching the Irish language and culture. Opening up about her own history and passion for Irish culture, Ms. Scott shares what attracted her to study the subject, and eventually do her PhD in Irish syntax and morphology.
Richard Clément, Knight of l’Ordre des Palmes académiques 2018

We would like to congratulate our dear colleague, Richard Clément, who was awarded the Palmes académiques on Monday March 5^th, 2018, from the Ministry of National Education of France for his years of service to the French culture.
The Court Challenges Program will be hosted by the University of Ottawa

As part of the state visit to Canada of Their Majesties the King and Queen of the Belgians, the University of Ottawa and the Université catholique de Louvain joined forces to organize a scientific seminar entitled "Multilingual Education and Language Learning: Canada and Belgium at a Crossroads." We would like to highlight the role of Sylvie Lamoureux, the OLBI Research Chair of Language Management, in the organization of this event, along with Philippe Hiligsmann, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, Arts and Letters of the Université catholique de Louvain.
Government of Canada Armchair Discussion on Linguistic Risk-Taking

With Jérémie Séror and Nikolay Slavkov.
Report of a stay at the ECML

Laura Ambrosio, FSL Teacher at OLBI, traveled to Graz, Austria as part of the program "Learning Journey: Holistic Approaches to Learner Development" organized by the European Center for Modern Languages (ECML) (in French only).
New collaboration between Mexico and Canada

An agreement for language learning
Publication : Language is the Key

Language is the Key, edited by Monika Jezak
Blended Courses in Languages

OLBI, pioneer in teaching, training and research in blended courses
The Robert Bourgon Commemorative Award recognizes French as a Second Language Students

Robert Bourgon Commemorative Award, created in 2014, was granted to Chelsey Brassard, a first year FLS student.

As of 2014, the English as a Second Language, French as a Second Language Student Association awards a student with the Robert Bourgon Commemorative Award. This scholarship of $250 was created in honour of the memory of this professor, who inspired his students with his positive mindset, his passion and his enthusiasm.
Concours de français langue seconde (French as a Second Language Student Contest)

65 francophile students from three School Boards put their skills to the test during the 13^th edition of the Concours de français langue seconde d’Ottawa

This year, the University of Ottawa welcomed 65 students from the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Sylvie Lamoureux, Vice-Dean Undergraduate Studies, Faculty of Arts, and Jérémie Séror, interim director, OLBI, delivered remarks that highlighted the students’ contribution to the vitality of the French language, and that reiterated the importance of learning a second language.
Parcours jeunes et FLS, a new resource for FLS avanced levels teaching

An interinstitutional agreement brings an innovative FLS textbook to life: spotlight on Canadian-French

On March 29, 40 people gathered in the Carrefour francophone of the University of Ottawa to celebrate Parcours jeunes et FLS’s launch. Parcours jeunes et FLS is a French as a second language textbook that was created for B2 and C1 levels and published at the University of Ottawa Press (UOP). The authors, Laura Ambrosio and Miriam Hatabi, were present to discuss the book’s conception.
Spotlight on Hélène Knoerr, Alysse Weinberg and Aline Gohard-Radenkovic’s Book on Immersion

On December 5, the book L’immersion française à l’université : politiques et pédagogies written by Hélène Knoerr, Alysse Weinberg and Aline Gohard-Radenkovic, was featured in an article in Academic Affairs
New uoCampus: OLBI participates!

After using the University’s old computer system for 20 years, OLBI welcomed the arrival of uoCampus at the University launched on November 6.
New in 2017: Two PIFs are better than one!

ILOB is pleased to announce the expansion of the French Intensive Program (PIF), which will now be available over 7 or 14 weeks during the spring-summer trimester.
OLBI Showcase 2015-2016

The OLBI Showcase is always an appreciated period of the year when the administrative and teaching staff is highlighting their amazing work and will share their appreciation.
CCERBAL Conference 2016

This year was the seventh CCERBAL Conference under the theme of Bilingual from Birth: Process, Pedagogy and Policy. It has been very attractive as we welcomed more than 100 participants from everywhere around the globe.
Mois de la francophonie

March is the Mois de la francophonie at the University of Ottawa! It’s the perfect opportunity to get to know and enjoy French language and culture in all its forms.
Our 10th Anniversary!

OLBI is proudly celebrating ten years of bilingualism in the Language Training Services for Academic Staff.
OLBI Welcomes Roger Farley

Roger Farley came into office in early November as Executive in Residence. He will work partly for OLBI and partly for the Centre for Continuing Education.
In Memoriam of Laurens (Larry) Vandergrift

The Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI) of the Faculty of Arts is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Laurens (Larry) Vandergrift, who retired in 2012 but remained active as an adjunct professor.
Dr. Richard Clément Recipient of the CASLT Honorary Lifetime Member Award

Dr. Richard Clément, OLBI’s Director, received a notable distinction honoring his engagement in and dedication to the advancement of Second Language Education.
Our building is renamed in honour of one of its most significant builders

The Arts Building, in which OLBI as well as various Faculty of Arts Departments are located, will now be known as Hamelin Hall in honour of Marcel Hamelin, the man who inaugurated the building in 1996.
The University of Ottawa officialises its designation under the French Language Services Act

The University of Ottawa recently obtained designation for its services and academic programs in French under the French Language Services Act of Ontario. This designation guarantees the continuation of the Francophone character of our university and maintains its commitment to promoting and protecting the interests of the Franco-Ontarian community for generations to come.
Richard Clément, Director of OLBI and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts, hosted the official announcement ceremony, which has been held on Franco-Ontarian Day. OLBI is proud to have played a key role in this event, alongside President Allan Rock. What a big step for the future of the French fact at uOttawa!
Destination Clic 2015

On July 14, the University of Ottawa said goodbye to our Destination Clic students after hosting them for three weeks of French training! These francophile teenagers were given the opportunity to use their French both in the classroom and out and about the city.
Second Conference of the International Association of Language Commissioners (IALC)

On May 20-21, 2015 OLBI hosted the second IALC conference, featuring a number of accredited speakers and researchers from Spain, India, and all over the world.
GRILT (Interdisciplinary Research Group in Languages & Technologies) SYMPOSIUM – MAY 1, 2015

Within the framework of GRILT activities supported by the Research Chair in CALL a Conference, presentations and a round table are scheduled!
OLBI at the World Congress for Modern Languages (WCML) in Niagara Falls

Last March, OLBI went to Niagara Falls in order to participate in the World Congress for Modern Languages. We had the opportunity to promote our program of Summer University for FLS/FSL teachers which will be on July 6 to 17 and our Master of Arts in Bilingualism Studies.
Discovering online resources for teaching and learning French

Are you curious to know the origin of the words « bonbon » and « pastille »? Would you like to know which goddess the word « céréale » comes from? What was the first name of "pomme de terre”? Did you know that the words « poubelle », « sandwich », « watt », « Celsius » and « Fahrenheit » come from the names of their respective inventors?
To learn the answers to these questions and make new discoveries concerning the language of Voltaire, consult the following websites and PDFs.
Successful Book Launch

The book launch of “50 years of Official Bilingualism: Challenges, Analyses and Testimonies” was held on Wednesday, February 25. It is co-authored by OLBI’s Director, Richard Clément and Pierre Foucher, Full professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Ottawa. This work takes a retrospective look into the progress made since the final report of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, some fifty years ago, and on the challenges that we still face today.
The University of Ottawa to manage the new Language Rights Support Program - DailyExchange

The University of Ottawa has been named the managing institution for the new Language Rights Support Program (LRSP). The Minister of Canadian Heritage, James Moore, made the announcement yesterday morning.
A Noteworthy Recipient of the Order of Ontario

The Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI) of the University of Ottawa is proud to announce that Dr. Sylvie A. Lamoureux, Associate Professor, has been appointed to the Order of Ontario.
Workshop on Transana Qualitative Data Analysis

CCERBAL is offering its researchers (members, affiliated researchers and students) advanced training on methods and technologies to advance their research in second languages.
Minister Moore Announces that University of Ottawa Will Administer New Language Rights Support Program - Marketwire

In his opening address to the symposium entitled "40 Years of Official Languages in Canada: Our History and the Path Ahead," the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, announced that the University of Ottawa has been chosen by the Government of Canada to administer the new Language Rights Support Program (LRSP).
Université d'Ottawa - Pour une culture de service - Le Devoir (in French only)

Améliorer la qualité de l'expérience étudiante, développer davantage la stratégie internationale et offrir aux membres de la communauté universitaire des occasions de se mettre au service de leur communauté, de leur pays ou du monde: voilà les trois grandes priorités d'Allan Rock, recteur et vice-chancelier de l'Université d'Ottawa, l'établissement qui accueille cette année le congrès de l'Acfas.
University of Ottawa hosting symposium on language acquisition through immersion - Daily Exchange

OTTAWA — On April 30 and May 1, 2009, the University of Ottawa's Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI) is hosting the second annual symposium of its Canadian Centre for Studies and Research on Bilingualism and Language Planning (CCERBAL), titled Language Immersion as Formal and Informal Learning: New Perspectives for Research and Public Policy.
Le nouveau programme est accessible - Le Droit (in French only)

Le nouveau Programme d'appui aux droits linguistiques (PDAL) est désormais accessible à tous ceux qui désirent obtenir du financement dans une cause linguistique.
University of Ottawa to offer graduate program in bilingualism studies - Ottawa Citizen (English only)

A master’s in bilingualism studies program is to start at the University of Ottawa in September as part of an ongoing push to promote “bilingualism and francophone communities.”
La journée internationale de la Francophonie commémorée sur le campus - Rotonde (in French only)

e 20 mars, de 11 h à 14 h, un évènement a été présenté par le Carrefour francophone en collaboration avec l’Institut des langues officielles et du bilinguisme (ILOB), afin de célébrer la Journée internationale de la Francophonie.
Des solutions « simples » à des défis de taille - Rotonde (in French only)

Malgré ces défis de taille, le Forum a permis de cibler des solutions prometteuses. L’événement a réuni universitaires, intervenants et étudiants pour discuter d’enjeux prioritaires en matière de services en français dans le système judiciaire de l’Ontario.
First cohort of Brazilian students starts intensive French program

The Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI) and the International Office are pleased to welcome a group of francophile Brazilian students this fall.

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