French Immersion Experience

So although it's been six weeks I've still been thinking about immersion at Sainte-Anne. It was really unlike anything I've done before and turned French from dry memorization of verb tables into something that was amazing to learn more about every day.

Our only books I had for the immersion program were Bescherelle: Complete Guide to Conjugating 12000 French Verbs, and Le Mini Visuel, Le Robert &; Collins poche anglais and it was more than enough. the Bescherelle is hands down the best French conjugation guide, the mini visuel is an all-encompassing visual dictionary, and the Robert and Collins has most words you'd be using day to day and is a good begginers book well below the price of an unabridged edition required at the university level. The Bescherelle and the Robert and Collins were both personally recommended by our professor and Le Mini Visuel is more than worth it. The only thing I regret is not picking up Le Robert Micro 2008: Dictionnaire d'apprentissage de la langue française, a French only dictionary as naturally, it's best to find the definition in French.

There really is nothing that compares to full immersion... no real way to explain how much better it is in increasing comprehension, confidence, and thinking in another language than immersion. I would recommend it to everybody, even those not learning French in university, because it has fundamentally altered my way of approaching French and has made me interested and committed to learning the language more than anything else. Because of the program I've been seriously considering moving to Montreal to work and continue studying French part-time at Université de Montréal after I graduate from Mount Allison. I'll write again soon. For now enjoy this:

French Immersion at Sainte-Anne Videos

Here's a few videos from throughout the French immersion program at Sainte-Anne:


Café-théâtre @ Université Sainte-Anne





Le café théâtre des étudiants

HealerCody | June 03, 2010
Le café théâtre des étudiants
Sketch: 10 Choses à ne pas faire au Château

Numéro 1 -- "Se conduire comme on est ivre et débutant 1 pour draguer quelqu'un d'autre qui est vraiment ivre."

Ce video est pendant l'immersion français à l'université Sainte-Anne la session de printemps 2010.

Soyez gentil, le français est ma langue seconde. Débutant 1 est le premier niveau du français au programme d'immersion à l'Université Sainte-Anne. La blague s'agit de ça.

Radio Radio @ Université Sainte-Anne

Français Langue Seconde- Intermédiaire 2 à l'Université Sainte-Anne

At Université Sainte-Anne, there are eight levels of French immersion for the spring and summer immersion sessions. After the entrance exam everybody is placed in one of eight levels: Débutant I, Débutant II, Intermédiaire I, Intermédiaire II, Intermédiaire III, Avancé I, Avancé II, and Perfectionnement I. I was placed in Intermédiaire 2 (cote du cours: FRLS 1816).

In that class, the main focus was on all of the all of the details of conjugating passe compose and imparfait and when to use each. We perfected the usage of pronouns including stressed pronouns. We also were practiced the plus-que-parfait. The class focused on depth of knowledge as opposed to skimming over a large breadth of knowledge. Here's the official list from the plan de cours:

Objectifs spécifiquies


À la fin du cours, l'etudiant sera capable de:
-exprimer des faits passés a l'oral et à l'écrit en employant le passé composé et l'imparfait
-employer le plus-que-parfair pour exprimer des actions antérieures dans le passé
-employer les promnoms compléments correctement dans la communication orale et écrite
-exprimer son opinion
-lire et comprendre des textes simples<
-organiser et presenter un eposé oral
-employer des expressions idiomatiques appropriées
-employer un vocabulaire varié

French Immersion at Université Sainte-Anne- Français langue seconde à l'Université Sainte-Anne

Below is a little bit of background information about the University for those unfamiliar with Sainte-Anne. From the Université Sainte-Anne Facebook page.

Université Sainte-Anne has a regular, year-round French immersion program, the only such program east of Québec. My next posting will about french immersion classes at the school, specifically niveau 3/Français langue seconde- intermédiaire 2.

Reconnue pour la qualité de son enseignement et de ses diplômés, l'Université Sainte-Anne est l'institution de premier choix pour les Acadiens, les autres francophones et les anglophones désirant faire des études post-secondaires en français, ainsi que pour ceux qui désirent poursuivre leur apprentissage de la langue française.. Mission L'Université Sainte-Anne mise sur une approche personnalisée pour offrir un enseignement de qualité en français à ses étudiants acadiens, francophones et anglophones. Elle offre à ses étudiants un environnement qui facilite leur épanouissement personnel et professionnel, et les prépare aussi bien à des études supérieures qu'au marché du travail. Le français à l'Université Sainte-Anne. L'Université Sainte-Anne offre aux Acadiens et aux étudiants de toute origine l'occasion de poursuivre leurs études post-secondaires dans un contexte qui favorise chez eux le perfectionnement de la langue française.


À l'Université Sainte-Anne, les cours, à l'exception des cours d'anglais et de certains cours offerts à l'éducation permanente, sont offerts en français et les manuels sont, le plus souvent possible, en français. La langue officielle de travail est le français pour les administrateurs, les professeurs, les étudiants et les membres du personnel de soutien.


Tous les étudiants de l'Université Sainte-Anne doivent tenir compte du fait que la langue d'usage est le français sur les campus et que seul un engagement personnel à respecter cette politique garantit et protège le caractère francophone de l'institution

This too shall pass (Rube Goldberg Machine version) - OK GO

I wrote earlier about the quote "This too shall pass", it turns out OK GO wrote a song with that title. It's a great song with an interesting video:

Immersion française à l'Université Sainte-Anne à Pointe-de-l'Église- Musique Française

(A continuation of earlier posts about French Immersion at Université Sainte-Anne.)

Over the five weeks of no English music I had to listen find some good music to which to listen. Here were my top six artists over the five-week program:

Coeur de Pirate - Comme des enfants

Amylie- Mes oreilles

Stromae - Alors on danse

Yelle- Je veux te voir

Radio Radio- Jacuzzi

and there's no youtube videos...but I must include the music of Luc Tardiff who is also a great manager of all the facilitators at Sainte-Anne who played a great concert for us during the program.

Photos of Université Sainte-Anne and Environs

Here's some for now...more info and photos to come...

Post office

Off-campus attractions...

French school playground. "Use at your own risk after class hours"

Chez l'ami...nice little ice cream shop...not much else in town.

Different themed trail sections.

And a few from a friend:

French Immersion at Université Sainte-Anne

(Université Sainte-Anne as photographed from Église Sainte-Marie, the largest wooden church in North America)

I just completed an intensive five-week French immersion program at Université Sainte-Anne at their main campus in Pointe-de-l'Église, Nova Scotia. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. The administrative staff, facilitators, and professors were among the most helpful and supportive I've ever met. The class, Français langue seconde - Intermédiaire 2, was without a doubt the best french class I've ever taken. Sometimes unclear and complicated grammar rules were explained with ease and I was able to understand concepts better in than I had even in French classes taught in English. The French-only rule was pretty strictly enforced which helped ensure a full-immersion experience. I met a lot of pretty great people from across Canada and the United States some of whom I hope to keep in touch with from years to come.

I was able to attend the 5 Week French Immersion program thanks to a bursary from The Council of Ministers of Education. The Council, along with the provinces award bursaries to Canadians in order to study French or English (for francophones) throughout the country. The only requirements are that you must

be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (those studying in Canada on student visas are not eligible);
have completed at least grade 11 (secondary 5 in Quebec) or be at the postsecondary level by the time your Explore course begins; and
have been a full-time student for at least one term during the current school year.


More information is available at the Explore website. If you do not receive a bursary you can pay the regular fees to attend. There were quite a few Americans at Sainte-Anne who either paid or received bursaries from other sources.


I will be writing again soon with descriptions of the class, and out of class experience (with pictures), hardships, and maybe even a little French (with translation). For now, for your convenience below is the information direct from Université Sainte Anne. I recommend immersion in general and Sainte-Anne specifically to anyone who is looking to really learn a language. There is no better way to really habituate yourself to a language then being forced to use it 24/7 and Sainte-Anne offered a great environment for full-immersion and offered interesting socio-cultural activities every week.

Immersion School: 5-week spring and summer sessions

2010 Spring session: May 16 to June 192010 Summer session: July 4 to August 7

Description

University students and adults who wish to perfect their French can benefit from our 5-week French immersion session in the spring. The schedule is very similar to the summer session. Students from across Canada, the United States and overseas, come to study and have fun during our summer session.

A well trained professional staff of teachers and counsellors ensure that your stay is a pleasant one. Activities range from theme nights, excursions and whale-watching expeditions, to canoeing and golf—all in French of course. Students attend 6 credit-hour courses in the morning, have a workshop in the afternoon, and activities are planned for the remainder of the day and the weekend.

There is no time for boredom, and fun is guaranteed to be had by all who participate. Students must be at least 15 years of age to enrol in this program. Many adults participate in this program and are housed in separate residences.

What will my day look like

Mornings are devoted to two formal classes.
A mandatory workshop is held in the afternoon (workshop choices include outdoors activities, choir, dance, video, art, etc.). After the workshops, sports activities are organised for the residences.
There is a different social activity organised each night, ranging from musical groups performing on campus for our students to casino night, from the “Café théâtre" to our own special version of popular game shows.
During the weekends, various trips to the beach, whale watching, canoeing and trekking are organised.

French only rule

At the official opening of the session, you are asked to sign a pledge agreeing to speak French at all times during the program. As soon as the pledge is signed, the use of French is mandatory at all times. If a student is caught speaking English they will receive a warning. The third warning results in expulsion from the program.

Accommodations

All students live in residence on campus and take their meals at the University cafeteria. A room will automatically be reserved for you in residence. If you wish to arrive a day earlier than specified, you must let us know so we can ensure that your room will be ready.

Note: Students are placed in residence according to their age.

Placement tests

The program curriculum provides instruction at 8 levels of linguistic competence.
The appropriate level is determined by an oral and written test given on the first Monday of each session.

The 8 levels of linguistic competence:

Beginner 1 Beginner 2

Intermediate 1 Intermediate 2 Intermediate 3

Advanced 1 Advanced 2 Very Advanced

Credits

Students may transfer credits for courses successfully completed to other universities or high schools.
These credit transfers, however, depend on the individual institution and the choice of programs.

Certificate

Students who successfully complete the 5-week spring or summer sessions will receive a certificate indicating their completed level of competency in French in addition to their transcript of marks.

Fees

Click here

Bursaries

The bursary is available to Canadian citizens and landed immigrants who are in grade 11 or 12 or who are enrolled as full-time post-secondary students in the 2008-2009 academic year.

• The Explore Program offer bursaries to students wishing to improve their knowledge of French. It covers all tuition fees, room, meals and socio-cultural activities for the duration of the 5-week programs (travel expenses and the $150 enrolment fee are not covered by the bursary).

• Application forms are available at www.myexplore.ca

• Applications must be postmarked no later than February 28, 2009, and mailed directly to the provincial coordinator of the province in which you are applying for a bursary.

How do I apply to the program itself

1. Complete the registration form (please indicate which program you are applying for) and mail it directly to Université Sainte-Anne.

2. Send the $150 enrolment fee ($150 US funds for foreign students) with your registration. Reception of the deposit will automatically reserve a place for you in the program.

3.We accept VISA or Mastercard; cheques or money orders should be made payable to Université Sainte-Anne.

4. Full refund will be made if you withdraw four weeks before either session.

5. Students leaving while the session is in progress lose the $150 enrolment fee and will be charged an extra seven days from the date of departure.

End of the semester...exams and summer plans (Summer Immersion at Université Sainte-Anne)

There comes a time in University where life is hectic and you don't have a lot of time to sit down and write about it. That time happens to be late March and early April. Last class is Friday and exams begin on Monday. Just about now it's hard to find free room at the library and there aren't many parties (even on south side). By now housing for next year has been decided: leases have been signed, rooms have been chosen and now there is one less excuse to procrastinate studying for finals. The weather has improved...although today its overcast and drizzling...in a way that reminds me of living on the West coast.

I'll leave you with advantage of being Canadian: government subsidies. By virtue of going to University and sending in an application, I've been offered (and have accepted) a bursary for a 5-week French immersion program at Université Sainte-Anne in Pointe-de-l'Église/Church Point, Nova Scotia. The University is the only French language University in the province, and one of two in the Maritimes (the other being Université de Moncton). If you've taken Maritime History you might know that Saint-Anne was created to educate Acadians and  that Church Point, Louisiana, in the heart Cajun country was named after Pointe-de-l'Église by Acadians who were violently deported from Nova Scotia during the Great Expulsion (Canadian history isn't all rainbows and lollipops) who eventually made it to that part of North America.

What is now the Explore Program was created after the passage of the Official Languages Act to promote student knowledge of both French and English. In effect, the government pays Universities and families throughout the country to help students learn the other official language. The details so a''re are provided below. If you're also going feel free to comment below or join the Facebook group.

Description
University students and adults who wish to perfect their French can benefit from our 5-week French immersion session in the spring. The schedule is very similar to the summer session. Students from across Canada, the United States and overseas, come to study and have fun during our summer session.

A well trained professional staff of teachers and counsellors ensure that your stay is a pleasant one. Activities range from theme nights, excursions and whale-watching expeditions, to canoeing and golf—all in French of course. Students attend 6 credit-hour courses in the morning, have a workshop in the afternoon, and activities are planned for the remainder of the day and the weekend.

There is no time for boredom, and fun is guaranteed to be had by all who participate. Students must be at least 15 years of age to enrol in this program. Many adults participate in this program and are housed in separate residences.


What will my day look like
Mornings are devoted to two formal classes.
A mandatory workshop is held in the afternoon (workshop choices include outdoors activities, choir, dance, video, art, etc.). After the workshops, sports activities are organised for the residences.
There is a different social activity organised each night, ranging from musical groups performing on campus for our students to casino night, from the “Café théâtre" to our own special version of popular game shows.
During the weekends, various trips to the beach, whale watching, canoeing and trekking are organised.


French only rule
At the official opening of the session, you are asked to sign a pledge agreeing to speak French at all times during the program. As soon as the pledge is signed, the use of French is mandatory at all times. If a student is caught speaking English they will receive a warning. The third warning results in expulsion from the program.

Accommodations
All students live in residence on campus and take their meals at the University cafeteria. A room will automatically be reserved for you in residence. If you wish to arrive a day earlier than specified, you must let us know so we can ensure that your room will be ready.

Note: Students are placed in residence according to their age.


Placement tests
The program curriculum provides instruction at 8 levels of linguistic competence.
The appropriate level is determined by an oral and written test given on the first Monday of each session.

The 8 levels of linguistic competence:

Beginner 1
Beginner 2 Intermediate 1
Intermediate 2
Intermediate 3 Advanced 1
Advanced 2
Very Advanced


Credits
Students may transfer credits for courses successfully completed to other universities or high schools.
These credit transfers, however, depend on the individual institution and the choice of programs.


Certificate
Students who successfully complete the 5-week spring or summer sessions will receive a certificate indicating their completed level of competency in French in addition to their transcript of marks.