Teaching in French in Ontario

Ontario is the province with the largest number of Francophones outside of Quebec and as such, provides many avenues for people interested in learning and teaching French. In Ontario, French teachers are in demand for both English- and French-language schools.

How Ontario students learn French

All students in Ontario learn French. Students can learn French at a French-language school or as a second language at an English-language school. At a French-language school, all subjects are taught in French and schools are expected to give students a solid foundation in Francophone culture. At an English- language school, students can learn French as a subject (core), or choose extended French or French immersion

Quick facts about learning French in Ontario:

  • Ontario’s publicly funded education system has:
    • 12 French-language school boards with more than 450 French-language schools
    • 60 English-language school boards with more than 4,400 schools that offer French as a Second Language Programs
  • Students in English-language schools are required to study French as a second language (FSL) from Grades 4 to 8 and earn at least one credit in FSL in secondary school.

We have information to help you start your teacher education or find a job: Teaching in French in Ontario. (PDF, 423 Kb)

Want to become a French teacher in Ontario?

Teaching French at a French-language school

If you want to teach French at a French-language school, you will need an undergraduate degree from a university or college, e.g., a BSc. or BA, and then you will need to complete a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree which qualifies you to teach at a K-12 school.

French-language teacher education (BEd) is offered at two universities in Ontario: Laurentian University in Sudbury and the University of Ottawa, which also offers programs in Toronto and Windsor.

Apply to a teacher education program through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre. It is a non-profit centralized service for students applying to Ontario faculties of education.

If you are already a qualified French-language teacher, you can find jobs through the Jobs in Education website.

Teaching French as a Second Language at an English-language School

If you want to become a French as a second language teacher, you will need an undergraduate degree from a university or college, e.g., a BSc or BA, and then you will need to complete a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree which qualifies you to teach at a K-12 school.

French as a second language teacher education (BEd) is offered at eight universities in Ontario:

  • Brock University in St Catharines
  • Glendon Campus at York University
  • Nipissing University in North Bay
  • The Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at the University of Toronto
  • University of Ottawa
  • Queen’s in Kingston
  • Trent University in Peterborough
  • University of Western Ontario in London

Apply to a teacher education program: through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre. It is a non-profit centralized service for students applying to Ontario faculties of education.

If you are already a qualified teacher in Ontario

If you are proficient in French you may obtain qualifications to teach French as a Second Language. Additional Qualification (AQ) courses allow teachers to add another division or subject area to what they are already qualified to teach.

More information can be found on these courses through the Ontario College of Teachers.

If you are already a qualified teacher, you can find job opportunities through the Jobs in Education website.

If you are a French teacher trained outside of Canada and would like to teach French in Ontario

If you wish to become certified to teach in Ontario and you completed a teacher education program outside of Canada, the Ontario College of Teachers provides the necessary information that will assist you with your application.

If you are a Canadian certified teacher trained outside of Ontario

With a few exceptions, certified teachers from anywhere in Canada can be recognized in Ontario, without any additional training, experience, or assessments.

Learn more about receiving a Certificate of Qualification and Registration at the Ontario College of Teachers

You can find additional information on teacher education programs and certification

French teachers have a wide range of opportunities

Job prospects for French-language teachers are very promising in Ontario. According to the 2016 Transition to Teaching survey, three out of four first-year French-language graduates were working full time in 2016. More than 8,000 teachers were hired in Ontario last year, with more than 600 hired in French-language boards. In 2016, the average teacher salary was amongst the highest in Canada.

French-language teachers who are interested in advancing their career have many opportunities at French-language schools. They can move into specialty areas, e.g. by becoming a math specialist or a curriculum consultant, or they could move into administration and become a principal.

The Transition to Teaching (PDF, 1.07 Mb) survey provides the most current information about employment prospects for French language teaching graduates.

French-language and French as a Second Language education in Ontario


Professional Development for French as a Second Language FSL Teachers

Bursaries and additional learning opportunities are available annually for FSL teachers currently employed in Ontario English-language school board. These bursaries enable them to participate in summer immersion programs to improve their French oral linguistic competence and acquire deeper knowledge of Canadian French culture.

These opportunities include:

  • Projet à Québec: A summer language program in Quebec administered by the Ontario Modern Language Teacher Association (OMLTA) for FSL teachers to enhance their language abilities and second language instructional skills.
    https://www.omlta.org/
  • Summer University for FSL teachers: The University of Ottawa through its Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute offers a summer program tailored to support the specific needs of FSL teachers.
    http://olbi.uottawa.ca/etefls
  • Western University’s Trois-Pistoles French Immersion School: This French teachers’ Program is offered during the summer and provides the opportunity for teachers to learn and live in a 100% francophone environment.
    www.frenchimmersion.uwo.ca