As McGill continues to attract top international talent, it’s also working to ensure new arrivals acquire the essential French-language skills that will help them stay – and flourish – in Quebec.
Mon français, offered right on campus, is a French-language program intended for non-francophone international tenure-stream and ranked contract academic staff pursuing permanent residency in Canada; spouses of eligible faculty members are also encouraged to participate. The program has been in operation for more than a decade.
“The aim is to help our professors and their spouses participate fully in life in Quebec,” said Michelle Cubano-Guzman, Faculty Relocation Advisor.
“They will have francophone colleagues, collaborate with francophone institutions and their children will probably study in French. We really want our faculty and their families to integrate into the community, so they can enjoy and participate in all that Quebec has to offer.”
Customized courses
The Mon français program has been part of McGill for over a decade, with hundreds of learners completing the program.
Recently it underwent a redesign, to best balance the needs of participants.
“The new format has been completely customized for them,” said Farida Mobarek-Hadid, a Faculty Lecturer at the School of Continuing Studies who had a hand in designing the program. “We have focused our content on themes that relate to the academic domain, and touch on social and cultural topics, as well.”
Those topics can take learners out of the classroom, and even off campus: Participants have taken a guided tour of the McGill Libraries’ McLennan-Redpath Complex, visited Jean-Talon Market, and attended a presentation at La Grande Bibliothèque.
“Our learners really like this part,” said Mobarek-Hadid. “They are highly motivated to learn or improve their language skills, and they come to class with great interest.”
Stellar results
The program’s participants come from around the world. The class sizes are kept small, to ensure learners have a chance to express themselves.
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Thank you for the excellent intensive French course,” reads one evaluation form. “It really helped me and gave me more confidence in speaking French.”
Upon completing the Mon français program, those pursuing permanent residency are encouraged to take the TEFAQ (Test d’évaluation du français adapté pour le Québec), which is accepted for immigration. The School of Continuing Studies offers a TEFAQ Preparation Course that boasts an exceptionally high pass rate.
“It’s very successful,” confirmed Cubano-Guzman. “We only allow learners to take the TEFAQ prep course once they’ve reached a certain level of proficiency.”
With such stellar results, it’s no wonder Canadian citizens and permanent residents have also sought to participate in the Mon français program.
“There is a waiting list available, and we have been able to accommodate many professors this way; hundreds of professors and spouses have already benefitted,” said Cubano-Guzman. “French is a very important part of their integration, and they are highly motivated to integrate into Quebec society.”
FAQs on the Mon français program
– The program runs from September to March, with extension classes in the spring and summer.
– It uses a hybrid model, blending online learning with in-person classes scheduled during lunch hour.
– The course levels are Beginner, Intermediate 1, and Intermediate 2. The program is designed so that all three may be completed within 24 months.
– Eligible faculty may request special accommodations while enrolled in the program, such as release from one three-credit course, relief of certain service obligations, and/or a one-year deferral to reappointment or tenure consideration.
For more information, contact Michelle Cubano-Guzman at michelle.cubano@mcgill.ca.