The best places to learn French in the province of Quebec
If you would like to learn a second or third language, how about French? French is the second most studied language in the world and is becoming increasingly popular among students.
Why study French?
There are many reasons, but we have summarised the main ones below:
- It is the fifth most spoken language in the world.
- It is the third most used language on the internet.
- It increases you job opportunities.
- It allows you to communicate better when you travel to a French-speaking country. They are more than 50, so speaking French is a great advantage.
- It is one of the official languages of international bodies such as the United Nations (UN), UNESCO, the European Union, etc.
- For your own personal fulfilment.
If you are already convinced that you want to learn French, have you considered that the best place to learn French, is a French-speaking country? Although the answer may seem obvious, you don’t necessarily need to study in France to learn French.
Where teaching languages is concerned, Canada is one of the world leaders, not only in the case of English, but also French. French is the native language in the majority of Quebec. Undoubtedly, it is the perfect place to choose if you want to learn French and live with people from a different culture. If you are eager to visit this destination, and your nationality is eligible, please remember to obtain your electronic travel permit – ETA Visa – beforehand.
Why the province of Quebec?
As one of the most renowned French-speaking areas of the American continent, the province of Quebec has everything you need for it to be a fantastic place to immerse yourself in French. Firstly, its history of French and English colonisation means that it immediately became a multicultural region open to other cultures. As a result, practicing French with locals or residents will be easier than in other French-speaking countries.
There are many academies and language schools in the province which offer opportunities for overseas students. They are reasonable priced and you can get to know people from other cultures.
The French taught in these schools is standard French so you don’t need to worry about being taught Quebec French. This will make the learning experience much richer for you since it will allow you to have an idea of the language’s origins.
Moreover, you have the advantage of being able to work part-time while you are studying, without needing a work permit.
In which cities do I have more opportunities to learn and practice French?
The majority of the urban population in Quebec is concentrated in the cities of Montreal and Quebec. To learn French quickly, you must avoid the English-speaking communities to the west of Montreal Island, since there are very few courses on offer there. However, both cities are very different:
Montreal
Montreal is the biggest French-speaking city in America. After Paris, it is one of the cities with the largest offer of French courses and programmes. Situated between the San Lorenzo River and the Riviere des Prairies, Montreal is a cosmopolitan and commercial city, which is the biggest in the province and enjoys the best quality of life.
The city of Quebec
It is the capital of Quebec and is one of the oldest and most preserved cities in the New World. It is situated on the banks of the San Lorenzo River. Its walled historical centre in the old part of the city or the “Vieux Québec”, was totally built in French style and nowadays it is a World Heritage Site. Also, in the highest part of Vieux Québec you can find the famous castle, “Château Frontenac”, which is perched above Cap Diamant.
Unlike Montreal, more than 95% of the population is French-speaking, so you will be able to experience complete immersion into the culture.