Originally published in TEACH Magazine, 50th Anniversary of the Official Languages Act Special Issue, 2019
By Carolyn Gruske
As the demand for programming and coding instruction increases, teachers are faced with decisions about the best languages to teach: is it better to focus on languages that are becoming more popular like Python or Ruby, or are students better served by learning some traditional fundamentals like SQL or C++? There are, however other languages that Comtech teachers should consider including in their lessons: Canada’s two official languages, especially given this year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Official Languages Act.
That’s not to say students should be learning grammar rules during computer classes. What they should be exposed to is the idea that it’s important to program with multiple languages in mind.
Carolyn Gruske is an award-winning reporter and magazine editor. She often writes about the intersection of business, technology, and the law, but she also has a deep interest in educational topics.
