- Identity
- Written and Oral expression
- Immersion
- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (Learning, Teaching and Assessment 鈥 DELF/DALF)
Catherine Elena Buchanan
Profile
Assistant Director of the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute and Language Teacher III.
2002 - MEd, Second Language Teaching, University of Ottawa;
2000 - BA, (Honours) Second Language Teaching, University of Ottawa.
Room: 70 Laurier Avenue East, Room 114
Office: 613-562-5800 ext. 3475
Work E-mail: [email protected]
Secondary Work E-mail: [email protected]

Fields of interest
Biography
Catherine Elena Buchanan has always had a passion for languages, and it was only natural that she should teach French. After completing a B.A. and an M.Ed. in Second Language Teaching at the University of Ottawa where she was hired in 2000. Since then, she has risen rapidly through the ranks, increasing her responsibilities in teaching, administration, and research. She has played a key role in the development of the French Immersion Program since its inception and continues to do so. Her research interests include academic literacies and linguistic identities. In the classroom, she makes sure to convey the rich and varied world of the Francophonie, whilst passing on her passion for French. For the past five years, she has been the right-hand woman to OLBI鈥檚 director. She has created a vision of change by inspiring all members involved. That's why she was nominated for the president鈥檚 award in leadership.
Ongoing research
- University Immersion
- Identity francophonie
- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (Learning, Teaching and Assessment)
Courses taught
- FLS3751 FLS et l鈥檃rt de s鈥檈xprimer
- FLS3581 Immersion 2 : Production orale et 茅crite
- GEG 2508 - Espaces sous tension
- FLS2741 Mieux lire en FLS
- FLS2521 Lire et 茅crire en fran莽ais langue seconde
Selected publications
Reports
- Buchanan, C. E., (2014). The Influence of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) on French as a Second Language (FSL) Teaching Methodologies in Primary and Secondary Schools in British Columbia and on the Preparation for the Dipl么me d鈥櫭﹖udes en langue fran莽aise (DELF). Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, 40 pages.
Publications
- Buchanan, C. E. (Winter, 2020) What are immersion students? Francophone, Francophile or 鈥淚n between鈥? in Canadian Parents for French Magazine.
- Buchanan, C. E., Knoerr H. & Burger, S. (2020) Training Modalities for Immersion Stakeholders. In H. Knoerr, A. Weinberg & A. Gohard-Radenkovik (Eds.) Immersion at University Level Rethinking Policies, approaches and implementations (227-248). Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press.
- Weinberg, A. & Buchanan, C. E. (2020 Learning Modes and Situations in the R茅gime d鈥檌mmersion en fran莽ais: A Holistic Approach. In H. Knoerr, A. Weinberg & A. Gohard-Radenkovik (Eds.) Immersion at University Level Rethinking Policies, approaches and implementations (151-166). Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press
- Buchanan, C. E. (2018) (Re)Shaping Identities : The impact of higher education immersion on students鈥 sense of identity. In Knoerr, H., Weinberg, A. & Buchanan, C. E. (Eds.). Enjeux actuels de l'immersion universitaire/ Current Issues in University Immersion. (153-174). Montreal: Marquis.
- Buchanan, C. E. (2018) (Trans)former les identit茅s : impact de l鈥檌mmersion universitaire sur la construction identitaire des 茅tudiants. Dans Knoerr, H., Weinberg, A. & Buchanan, C. E. (Eds.) Enjeux actuels de l'immersion universitaire/ Current Issues in University Immersion. (161-182). Montreal: Marquis.
- Weinberg, A. & Buchanan, C. E. (2016). Diversification des modes et lieux d鈥檃pprentissage au sein du R茅gime d鈥檌mmersion fran莽aise : une d茅marche holistique. In H. Knoerr, A. Weinberg & A. Gohard-Radenkovik (Eds.) L鈥檌mmersion fran莽aise 脿 l鈥檜niversit茅 : Politiques et p茅dagogies (pp. 223-245). Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press.
- Buchanan, C. E., Knoerr, H. & Burger, S. (2016). La formation des divers acteurs de l鈥檌mmersion. In H. Knoerr, A. Weinberg & A. Gohard-Radenkovik (Eds.) L鈥檌mmersion fran莽aise 脿 l鈥檜niversit茅 : Politiques et p茅dagogies (pp. 335-368). Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press
- Buchanan, C.E. (2013). L'immersion universitaire en fran莽ais langue seconde au Canada. In E. Yasri-Labrique, P. Gardies, & K. Djordjevic (Eds.). Didactique contrastive: questionnements et applications (pp 76-81). Montpellier, France: 脡ditions Cladole.
Communications
- Buchanan, C. E. (2023, June), Au-del脿 des 茅tiquettes : Construction identitaire chez des 茅tudiants d'un r茅gime d'immersion universitaire. Communication presented at the conference: Plurilinguisme, enseignement-apprentissage, complexit茅 et int茅grit茅 : perspectives 茅pist茅mologiques, didactiques et politiques, Montpellier (France).
- S茅ror J. & Buchanan, C. E. (2023, May) R茅flexions sur les meilleures pratiques pour soutenir le d茅veloppement des litt茅racies universitaires. Communication presented at the conference: Formation langagi猫re sur objectif universitaire : enjeux et d茅fis, Congr猫s de l鈥橝CFAS, Montreal (QC).
- Buchanan, C. E. (2019, November) Francophone, francophile ou 芦entre-deux. Paper presented at the Symposium: Immersion universitaire et son incidence sur les 茅tudiants: 茅tats des lieux 脿 Officiellement 50 ans ! 鈥 Officially 50 !, Gatineau, Quebec.
- Buchanan, C. E. (2017, May) The Influence of the CEFR on FSL Teaching Methodologies in Primary and Secondary Schools in BC and on the Preparation for the DELF. Paper presented at the Laurens (Larry) Vandergrift Memorial Symposium, Canadian Association of Applied Linguistics: Toronto, Ontario.
- Buchanan, C. E. (2016, July) Fran莽ais langue vivante, langue vibrante, langue 脿 d茅couvrir. Paper presented at the Symposium: Le fran莽ais pour et par la diversit茅 et l鈥櫭ヾucation plurilingue et interculturelle, F茅d茅ration Internationale des Professeurs de fran莽ais, Li猫ge, Belgium.
- Buchanan, C. E. (2012, November). How to Present Formal Language in Content - Writing and Speaking in French Immersion. Paper presented at the The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA), St Paul, MN.
- Buchanan, C.E. (2012, October). Le choc de l鈥檌mmersion : 芦 Madame, qu鈥檈st-ce qu鈥檌ls disent ? 禄. Paper presented at the Colloque du R茅seau Latinus, University of Ottawa