Professional Development to Support French as a Second Language Teachers: Preparation to Advance Students’ Reading Skills

This study examines the impact of four full-day professional development sessions on French as a second language teachers’ confidence to use strategies to support their students’ reading development. Situated in Ontario, Canada where the science of reading has become a topic of focus influencing the development of new English language curriculum, the French as a second language teachers in this study requested such a focus for their professional development. The teachers completed a pre- and post-questionnaire that included a focus on the science of reading and transfer between languages. They also participated in post-professional development semi-structured interviews. The results showed that teachers gained confidence in supporting their students’ reading development and in particular using science of reading approaches.