Learning French the Fun Way

After months of anticipation and worry, I finally found out in May this year that I was chosen to receive a $2,000 bursary to travel and spend five weeks in Quebec City to participate in a French immersion program. I was so ecstatic I literally began to bounce around the house like a kid on Christmas morning, shouting at the top of my lungs, “I’ve been accepted! I’ve been accepted!”

Taking place each spring and summer nationwide at various educational institutions all across Canada, the program is called Explore and involves anglophone and francophone participants. The idea is to spend five weeks immersed in a second language, while participating in cultural activities with other students from all backgrounds. Students who have completed grade 11 in Canada are eligible to apply for the bursary each year; however there are still an abundance of international students who attend the program. In my case, there were teens from Mexico, Dominican Republic, Italy, United States, Bahamas and Germany, and of course I made many friends from all across Canada, from British Columbia all the way to Newfoundland.

The institution that I studied at was called College Saint-Charles Garnier, although the dormitory that I lived in was at the famous Université Laval, just outside the downtown core of Quebec City. I had a fairly large room equipped with a twin bed, desk, lamp, sink, closet, and large dresser. It was great being able to wash up in my own room, and the washroom and showers were located conveniently across from my room allowing me to quickly run over and snag the best shower in the mornings, which was tough to accomplish considering there were six showers to a floor of about 40 teenage girls.

In a typical week, students attended classes (which we were placed in according to a language assessment we took) from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm Monday to Friday. We participated in an “atelier” of our choice, which included various interests like cuisine, photography, theatre and multicultural dance, going on field trips to tourist spots in Quebec City and other such activities to supplement the second language.

Quebec City was beautiful; the 400-year-old architecture was enough to convince you that you were in Europe. Hopping on the bus to Vieux-Quebec (Old Quebec/downtown) was something most of the participants did a few times a week, to either shop or grab a bite to eat away from the cafeteria food we were served all day everyday. Downtown was filled with cute boutiques, as well as restaurants serving traditional Quebec cuisine, such as the infamous calorie-laden poutine, crepes and delicious pastries.

My time in Quebec City was wonderful – a unique opportunity to be able to travel independently and study on my own and make many new friends. My French improved, and most activities were organized well. Of course, there were days where I would have paid money to fly home due to the absolutely horrible weather this particular summer in Quebec (think lightning, showers and cold), and the disgusting cafeteria food, but in the end I would definitely recommend the program to other students who are looking for a unique experience, and would like to improve their French language … because la vie est courte! (Life is short!)