1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«My aim in this study, therefore, is two-fold: to look at the phenomenon of how linguistically exogamous parents experience choosing between French and English-language instruction in the Quebec context and to gain a better qualitative understanding of its “universal essence”.» (p. 40)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«[D]o these parents [“mixed-language” or linguistically exogamous couples] decide whether to send their children to French or English school? What are the major factors that influence the decision? How do these families experience the outcomes of the decision?» (p. 3)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
L’échantillon comporte sept participants, il s’agit de parents issus de quatre couples où l’un des conjoints est anglophone et l’autre francophone vivant au Québec.

Instruments :
Guide d’entretien semi-directif

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

«All couples interviewed, regardless of their children’s language of instruction, expressed a desire for their children to be French-English bilingual. The idea that being bilingual “opens doors” – i.e. increases a person’s marketability by making finding a job easier – appeared to be one reason for this desire. Beyond the question of marketability, however, the couples interviewed seemed to want their children to “fit in” and “be accepted”, especially by members of the French-speaking population of Quebec, and being bilingual, it seems, is one way in which to achieve said “acceptance”. The idea that being bilingual “is a gift”; “is beautiful”; “est une richesse” and that there “is no reason to not be bilingual”, especially in the Quebec context, were also ideas that came out of the interviews.» (p. 63)