McGill is working to ensure the talent it continues to attract will acquire the French-language skills needed to stay – and flourish – in Quebec. To that end, it has been offering free French classes to select graduate students, in a program celebrating its first anniversary.
Spearheaded by Josephine Nalbantoglu, Associate Dean (Graduate Education) and Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, in collaboration with the School of Continuing Studies, the program is open to select graduate students, including those who’ve won awards from the Fonds de Recherche du Québec. The University funds their enrolment in the Certificate of Proficiency – French for Professional Communication program.
“The student response has been enthusiastic,” said Alycia Bartczak, an Outreach Officer in Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. “I would definitely consider it a success.”
After only three semesters, 353 students have completed a total of 550 courses.
High praise from students
One of the students in the program is Shar-Lee Amori, a PhD candidate in Urban Planning, Policy and Design.
After completing four courses, her French has “improved significantly,” she said. She’s taking two more this fall.
“I have always wanted to learn French; it’s one of the foundational reasons I chose to study at McGill,” said Amori, who holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of the West Indies in Jamaica.
Amori said she enrolled in the French program to help her integrate into Quebec society, and the classes have helped her do just that.
“To truly leverage many of the opportunities that come with studying in Quebec – work, social life, volunteerism – having some level of fluency will be essential, and thus far I find the structure of perfectly suited for that,” she said.
Nicole Chan, a doctoral student at the Schulich School of Music, also spoke highly of the program. She grew up speaking English, Mandarin and Cantonese in Hong Kong; learned Danish while studying in Denmark, speaks Shanghainese with her grandparents, and studied French, Italian and German to strengthen her opera performances.
“I knew French was quite important here, but it was only when I arrived that I realized how many people spoke French, and how much this province is immersed in the French language and culture,” said Chan. “The courses have been really useful to immerse me in the culture outside McGill.”
Chan has completed two courses so far. She reserved special praise for Manon Gadbois, one of her teachers.
“She’s super caring and kind, and she’s so enthusiastic in class. She even brought students to come watch my doctoral recital, and it meant a lot to see them in the audience.”
Motivated to learn
Amori and Chan’s feedback is music to the ears of Nalbantoglu. Her aim in launching the program was to increase students’ success in their future careers and access to job opportunities.
“I am so proud of our PhD students, who’ve all been highly successful in Fonds de Recherche du Québec competitions,” said Nalbantoglu. “These free French courses are our way of rewarding them for their hard work and helping them to excel in their professional lives here in Quebec.
“When we asked the students themselves if they were interested in studying French, the response was overwhelmingly positive, and hundreds of McGill’s top PhDs signed up. Now our plan is to build on the interest in French and expand the program to keep up with demand. This is a win-win for the students, for McGill, and for Quebec.”
The project kicked off in the fall of 2023 with 82 students. Access to funding and classroom space has fluctuated since then, but thanks to participants’ positive word-of-mouth, student demand keeps growing: 296 students are taking classes this fall, and there’s now a waitlist.
“They are highly motivated to learn French, to integrate into the community, and to stay and work in Quebec after their studies,” said Gadbois, Faculty Lecturer and Academic Program Coordinator at the School of Continuing Studies. Gadbois has contributed to setting up this initiative.
Flourishing in Quebec
Everyone is eager to see the project continue.
“I am proud of our successful collaboration with GPS on this innovative project,” said Carola Weil, Dean of the School of Continuing Studies. “By delivering a free French language program for professional communication, we are not only enhancing McGill University students’ language skills but also strengthening their abilities to contribute to the local economy.
“This initiative is a testament to what we can achieve together to advance McGill graduates’ career paths as well as Quebec’s global reputation in research and advanced education.”
Graduate students interested in this initiative are invited to contact frenchforgrads.gps@mcgill.ca.