Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Manner of Speaking]

Can anybody recommend a good, INEXPENSIVE location or university programme for learning French in Canada? I have looked into Universite Ste Anne in Nova Scotia, and I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with regular French or French immersion programmes for adults elsewhere in Canada. Thanks in advance!

MOS

PS - or another country, cheaper than Canada.

[Big_Bird]

[supernaut]

[ajgeddes]

If you are Canadian, you can do no better than the government sponsored program. It is 5 or 6 weeks and your tuition and residence room are all paid for, including 3 meals a day. You will need more money for extras and for more food, but so much of it is covered for you. They say you need about $500 of your own for the 5 weeks. I did it at UQTR in 2002 and it was fantastic. You really are in a French environment and if they catch you speaking anything but French you get in trouble and eventually sent home. They give out red cards and if you get 3, you go home. I got 2 in the last week. Anyways, here is the link.

http://www.myexplore.ca/english/index.html

I don't know if this is the proper website, but maybe it is. If you aren't Canadian you can also attend, you just have to pay for it.

[Lao Wai]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Concordia University sponsors (or did in 1999 / 2000) what's basically a French hagwon (unigwon?) that cheap and has (had) really good teachers. It's perfect for part-time study.

[mithridates]

One homeless guy in Vancouver apparently came from Montreal to learn English. He sat on the street every day and bantered with people while he asked for money and eventually became fluent. That's probably the cheapest way.
Since the op was about the Maritimes, don't forget that the French islands of St. Pierre et Miquelon (think I spelled the second one right) are only a few km off the coast of Newfoundland and often gets used for French immersion because it's much closer than Quebec.

In general though, when deciding on what kind of immersion program to use it's best if you can ascertain what level you're at, and how much time you'll need to become fluent. If the program is too short then you'll be spending money on material and other courses after you get back in order not to forget what you've learned, so even if it might cost a bit more (both financially and personally if you have attachments where you are) it's better to choose a longer program where you can come back with your skills at a level where all you need to do is watch tv and talk to friends on the phone to maintain it. Kind of like takeoff speed for a plane - once you reach that speed and take off you can maintain altitude with not that much effort.

[Adventurer]

I would imagine the Universite de Montreal has a good programme. I would recommend the Universite de Montreal. They are one of the best universities in Quebec. And, yes, they have a program catering to foreigners or Canadians want to improve their French or start from scratch.

[cosmicgirlie]

Where do all the government folks learn french--you know the ones from the west who can't speak french. I'm sure they get a crash course in some small town in Quebec....do you have any contacts in the govt? They could point you to where they get their french lessons.

[bosintang]

I did the St. Anne's program a long time ago, and I'd love to do it again or another similar program again someday. It was well worth the money.

[livinginkunsan]

U de M in Moncton (New Brunswick) offers summer intensive programs taught by their University professors.

[supernaut]

[Manner of Speaking]

Thanks everyone!

[peppermint]

[Hollywoodaction]