(2026) Supporting French Immersion Students with Reading Difficulties and Reading Disabilities
Due to its popularity, the FI student population has become increasingly diverse (Bourgoin, 2014; Garrett & Mady, 2024). Today’s FI classrooms often include students with varied learning needs, including children who struggle to learn to read. Despite considerable research evidence that has established the suitability of FI for struggling readers (Genesee, 2007; Genesee & Erdos, 2019; Grosjean, 2019; Wise, D’Angelo, & Chen, 2016; Wise & Chen, 2015), some people believe that dual-language educational programs like FI are not suitable for students who have difficulties with reading acquisition or those with diagnosed reading disabilities (e.g., dyslexia). It is generally thought that learning two languages simultaneously will exacerbate their learning challenges (Genesee, 2015).
