Student Stories
Looking for some inspiration in your French studies?
A few students share their perspectives on the importance of French in their lives, as well as some neat experiences they’ve had because of their decision to continue speaking and learning French.
French?… Ewww!
By Imen Nimour
Student at Glendon College of York University
I went to a francophone school my entire life. Yup, that means all my
courses were in French – except English of course! And yet, my
classmates and I always thought English was the language to speak and
not French.
You wouldn’t ever hear us speak French – at least not willingly.
Teachers always told us to speak French and some even made an effort to
sit us down and explain why it was so important. Most of the time, it
went in one ear and out the other.
Here I am now, in my second year of university and completely agreeing
with my teachers and wishing I had listened to them. Being a
Francophone has opened up so many doors for me! I can’t thank my parents
enough for the opportunity they gave me by putting me in a French
school at young age.
I’ve had the opportunity to meet great people because there was no
language barrier between us; I’ve discovered great music, literature,
movies and various cultures from countless different regions of the
world.
Movies like “Bon cop, Bad Cop”, singers like Diams, Enrico Macias or
Celine Dion and the literature of Albert Camus or Youssef Rzouga. It’s
too bad that it took me so long to realize how fortunate I am to be
polyglot. But hey! -Better late than never, that’s what I say!
At the risk of sounding like my teachers and yours, I encourage all of
you to practice your French even if you still don’t understand to what
extent it will be useful to you in the future.
---
Decisions, decisions... a word to the indecisive regarding French studies
By Stephanie Sessa
Student at Glendon College of York University
Every choice we make in life becomes either a great learning process
or a “never doing that again!” experience. Being a tutor for French
Immersion and Core French students, I regularly see one question being
contemplated over and over.
That question, you might be wondering? “Should I continue French
studies?” For those undecided, let me see if I can help you out...
Having experience in French studies, there is no “opportunité” like the
“French-opportunité”. French, as some see it, is not scary or “uncool”,
and it definitely is far from boring.
On the contrary, what is scary, is travelling to a beautiful place
in Europe and being lost because your one default language has failed
to help you get directions.
What’s actually “uncool” is missing out on your favourite show while
you’re on a trip to Montreal or Quebec because the T.V. even speaks
French!
And boring... Well, just the fact that the world around you needs to be
only one language for you to have fun in, isn’t that boring?
So think about it because choosing to continue French just might be that
one decision that’ll give you your best memories open up a lifetime of
opportunity!
Need more reasons on why to keep up with your French?
Click here!
---
Perks of the French language
By Zahra Bhatoo
Student French Studies at Glendon College of York University
French is one of the most famous and spoken languages in the world. Who
would not like to know more than one language? You might not agree with
me right now, but it will definitely make your life more interesting!
Being in the airline industry, being bilingual is a requirement. Getting
the extra cent is definitely a perk, but the best part of my job is
when you have celebrities who decide to speak French with you so that
they are not easily recognized. But, what if you spoke French? You
would be able to have a conversation with them that none of the others
could.
What if this were you meeting a celebrity like Bradley Cooper or
Evangeline Lilly? Wouldn’t you wish to be one of the only people to be
able to communicate with them? If they can learn the language, then why
not you?
Listen to Bradley Cooper speaking French here!
ou
Listen to Evangeline Lilly speaking French here!
---
I hope you'll have the time of your life!
by Juliana Brudny
Student at Glendon College of York University
I have a secret to tell you. Especially you, Core French kids, who dread
French verbs and grammar tests. I think French is amazing, and I love
the language and the culture, all thanks to the Explore Program.
Five weeks spent in Trois Pistoles, Quebec in the spring of 2010 are something I can confidently call, “the time of my life”.
Yes, you take a French course, but it’s in the morning, and your day is
so packed with activities that you’re never under “school stress”.
Let’s not forget the “atelier”, a two hour program in music, art,
theatre, sports, communications and more, that helps you put your French
to work and learn through tactile methods rather than scholarly ones.
Poutine? Try the best poutine in Canada, with cheese curds that squeak!
Campfires, guitars, amazing people, and of course, the St. Lawrence
River, and the most beautiful sunsets in the world (as said by National
Geographic). The locals were amazing, and always helpful with directions
and all, the host family kids taught us the “cool way to say stuff”.
We didn’t even notice our French improving, but quite a few of us left
Trois Pistoles speaking French with ease. I made friends from all over
the nation, and can now backpack across Canada, always have a place to
stay, and the ability to communicate in both English and French.
Thanks, Explore Program! If you would like to apply for the Explore
program, visit the following link (deadline is February 28th annually):
www.jexplore.ca