The Explore program lets students learn French in places like Gaspé in Quebec, to be immersed in a French-speaking environment. (FILE PHOTO)
Voulez-vous explorer le francais?
Explore program looking for Nunavut students to learn French across Canada
If you’re a student looking to improve your French, the Canadian government wants to help you travel to learn.
The federal government’s Explore program is looking for full-time Grade 11, 12 and post-secondary students from Nunavut.
This five-week intensive French immersion program is offered in the spring or the summer. There are options for various cities across the country, from British Columbia to Nova Scotia.
A $2,800 bursary, awarded by random draw and given directly to the educational institution, is available to cover tuition, learning materials, meals, accommodations and workshops.
Additionally, Nunavut students can have their travel fees reimbursed and receive five credits for participating in the Explore program, says Nunavut’s Department of Education.
As well, a shorter three-week pilot program will be offered this summer for students aged 13-15.
Interested students can learn more about the Explore program by contacting Nunavut’s territorial coordinator, Josianne Beaumont, at 867-975-5652 or email jbeaumont@gov.nu.ca.
The application is available on the Explore website. The deadline to apply is Feb. 15.
Je pense que c’est injuste qu’un tel programme fédéral existe pour ceux qui veulent apprendre le français, mais pas pour ceux qui veulent apprendre l’inuktitut. Vu que l’inuktitut est la language autochtone avec le plus de chances de survivre et qui couvre environ 35 % de la superficie terrestre du Canada, on devrait avoir trois languages officielles au Canada: l’inuktitut, l’anglais et le français.