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English a barrier

In a twist on the usual assumption that speaking and understanding English is a bonus, English-speaking families in Canada’s Quebec Province are concerned that their children will be disadvantaged, 

In particular, almost 50% worry that their child won’t be understood at daycare and won’t understand what is being said to them there. Further, the parents have issues themselves around being understood and understanding what staff might be telling them about their children.

According to CTV News, the Quebec Community Health and Social Services Network (CHSSN) surveyed nearly 1,800 English-speaking parents in the province and found that 62% had difficulty finding early childhood services available in English, 67% had a hard time finding daycare with English-speaking staff and 80% had trouble finding specialist services in English for their child.

CHSSN Executive Director Jennifer Johnson told CTV News that English-speaking families are disadvantaged in other ways too: “Census information tells us we have higher levels of unemployment, higher levels of people living below the lower income cut-off [and] we have higher levels of single-parent families.”

It seems in this case, English is not so good.

Image courtesy of Pixabay
Liz Granirer
Liz Granirer
Liz has been a journalist for many years. She is currently editor of EL Gazette and has previously edited the magazines Young Performer, StepForward and Accounting Technician; been deputy editor on Right Start magazine; chief sub editor on Country Homes & Interiors; and sub editor on easyJet Traveller, Lonely Planet and Family Traveller magazines, along with a number of others.
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