As always you provide me with insightful comments… I really take them seriously because you are a professional and you are a dedicated language teacher.

Here, I doubt there are any national standards regarding proficiency in the second language (unfortunately)… actually the only ones I do trust are universities because their standards are excellent.

As for the private language schools, most of them are not even accredited! Actually anyone from anywhere can decide to open and run a language school! It’s scary, it is the least I can say!… The few ones that are accredited are not worth much better, because the requirements are next to none! Once again, they are not asked to show any program they’re using (good thing for them since they have none!).

The only standards I do know are the ones established by the Public Service Commission of Canada (and only for their employees)… and, once again, they’re questionable! A “C” level, for instance, is supposed to be functional but the evaluation standards are much too high (indeed they meet the standards of bilingual)… In my book, anyone who can pass the level C tests is fluent in French… no question about it!

“Fluent in 8 weeks”? They’re actually generous ! I’ve seen much worse: for instance, this guy claiming it is not necessary to attend FSL classes since he came up with a $10 booklet that provides you with everything you need to become fluent on your own! I have over 1,000 pages divided into 6 books! Do I need to go back to school and re-learn the basics of FSL teaching???

You’re right I should write a post (or many) on those expensive internet language providers. I’d love you to provide me with some links (blogs or schools you actually visited)… then go on my website and on “La Dame Dragon” page, you’ll find my business email… it is the only account I do log in daily!

Thanks again for your great commentary on this piece!!!

And another thing is the term “fluent.” How is language ability assessed in Canada? Here, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) developed the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. We talk of proficiency levels on a pretty specific continuum . . . Novice Low, Novice Mid, Novice High, etc. All of our education standards and benchmarks are based on these national standards. So even though I am often teaching and writing about fun, little activities, the METHOD and OBJECTIVES are always there, because I’m a trained teacher and I take the outcome/assessment piece seriously. Though I’m not a certified in the OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) I have received training in the modified oral interview used with children.

I worry about other language bloggers (present company excluded, of course), internet/cd language programs, and now these language schools that you write about. Promises of “fluency” (easy, convenient, “fluency”) with no actual substance.

Keep tackling these serious topics in your blog. I look forward to internet users turning to your advice as an authority on second language learning. Thanks for another interesting post