Bilingualism s defenders are quick to cite immersion s popularity as proof that Canada s language policy is a success. In the words of a government website, French immersion is the glamour story of the last 30 years of second-language education in Canada . . . However, just as bilingualism wasn t accepted by all Canadians, French immersion has always had critics who questioned the program s glowing reviews. And there s increasing evidence the naysayers are right. The reasons for immersion s decline are revealing.
Research shows immersion students don t really speak adult French well.
Acquiring fluency is simply more difficult than policy makers assume. In addition, the National Post cited other studies that spell out the failure of most graduates to make substantial use of their French. This, I think, is the key. Immersion s popularity is in decline because of demographics. Outside of Quebec and a few adjacent regions, French is on the verge of extinction .