French class for immigrants in Quebec — c’est gratuit!

Language Integration Program for Immigrants

As the province would like everyone living here to speak French, Quebec offers free French class for immigrants. Sound good? Well it gets better. To compensate for spending up to 30 hours per week attending the program (not everyone can afford to do this, of course), Quebec offers immigrants a stipend  for being in French class. Although payment motivates students to take the class more seriously, self-starters who have time to study outside of class will probably get the most out of the Programme d’intégration linguistique pour les immigrants. This works out well since so many immigrants are self-starters. [Note: the program has probably changed significantly since the pandemic, please check official channels for more info]

Receiving a stipend was not what led me to sign up for classes. In fact, I first showed up to class without having filled out any paperwork for payments because I wasn’t expecting them. My primary reason to study was a desire to better interact with fellow Montrealers. Obviously it also helps your curriculum vitae (i.e., employment prospects) if you complete this program. Importantly for non-citizens, attending the program shows the provincial government and francophones that you respect their cause of keeping Québécois culture intact. Having a successful job interview conducted in French would certainly be a preferred outcome for both the immigrant and the province.

Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI)

French class for immigrants in Quebec was previously brought to us by le Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion du Québec (MIDI, English: Ministry of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion). On September 4, 2019, this government department was renamed le Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI, English: Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration). If you are somehow unaware of the changing political climate in Quebec, consider the replacement of these two words as your primer on contemporary provincial politics.

If you’re an immigrant to Quebec who wants to sign up but you have doubts about meeting the requirements, don’t fret: access has been broadened (probably due to the 2018 election yielding François Legault / the CAQ). Since July 1, 2019, “Anyone holding an immigration status, regardless of how long they have lived in Québec, can take a free full-time French course and obtain financial assistance offered for participating in this course.” This includes temporary workers, foreign students, and spouses of immigrants.

MIFI’s French class for immigrants in Quebec: What to expect

I chose the full-time classroom course of 25–30 hours per week, which turned out to be ~11 weeks long. A confirmation letter revealed the location, but little else. Full-time classes for Montreal students are held on the central UQAM campus, in the Latin Quarter of the city. If you’re guessing it’s an immersion course, you’re correct: 99% of the dialogue / pedagogic direction is conducted in French. The première week saw a class size of just under 20 students; midway through the 11-week class, a few were no longer present (mostly because the class wouldn’t fit with their schedule outside of school). Higher levels are taught concurrently in other classrooms as students progress.

Make no mistake, this class is not simply a class: students are expected to treat it as a job. Outside appointments need to be set in your calendar such that they don’t interfere with your ability to attend class. Missing exams can end your participation in the program, which is broken into 4 quarters comprising nearly a full year (if you are starting it as a French beginner). You’ll be evaluated throughout the weeks, and you can expect final exams each quarter that correspond to the 4 areas of competency: la production orale, la compréhension orale, la production écrite et la compréhension écrite.

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My placement interview earlier in the year put me in the beginner level class. Basically, none of us were at a level to have any kind of conversation in French. Most but not all students in the program are able to communicate in English, which isn’t surprising when considering that most immigrants are familiar with the language to varying degrees. In rare instances (mostly in the beginner class) a teacher will speak English. This deviation usually occurs for the use of an anglicism, or to make sure crucial information — often related to administrative concerns — is clear.

If we were lucky in our formative years, we studied a foreign language and found it meaningful, maybe even enjoyable. In a rebuttal to the memory of secondary school teachers who for some students made a foreign language seem fruitless and/or tedious, the adult course offered by MIFI is much more agreeable than one might imagine. It’s challenging, but the teachers I’ve experienced are generally [1] good-natured, [2] blessed with a sense of humor, and [3] good at knowing how to keep the class from becoming a chore, which it could easily become in the hands of a mediocre instructor.

 

The morning Metro commute to class

You will bond with your classmates

Numerous nations are represented in the classroom. In the program I’ve met individuals from China, Iran, Syria, Korea, the UAE, Lebanon, Taiwan, the Philippines, India, Columbia, Moldova, Ukraine, Greece, Peru, Vietnam, Tunisia, Eritrea, Nicaragua, Brasil, and Croatia. The youngest was recently a teen, and the eldest a senior. Nearly all have been here for less than a year. In my first quarter I was the veteran in this respect, having been in Quebec/Canada for nearly 2 years (Americans get away with murder). Most of the younger students are not yet married, but these individuals represent a minority of the class. The occupations / career choices of my classmates are as diverse as the nationalities they represent. While I’d like to share photos showing how we bonded after just one quarter, I shall respect their privacy by not doing so.

Beyond A Classroom

“Francisation and Integration” includes more than just understanding the official language of Quebec. A broader knowledge of culture and context is invaluable when living in Canada’s best province. One highlight of the course is the push for students to experience the culture and history that makes Quebec a nation within a nation. This includes a study of four periods in the province’s history, broken into four two-hour classes. As nearly every student hails from outside of North America, traditions of Quebec holidays (like Action de grâce, Halloween, and Noël) are introduced in class and may be elaborated upon at events.

Students go on small trips in groups (by foot or on the subway) to see what Montreal has to offer. History in the form of buildings, especially in Old Montreal. The RÉSO (Underground City) and Jean-Talon Market. The Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (National Library and Archives of Quebec), which can be a place for students to study, learn, and borrow media. You’ll be introduced to a few of the city’s 19 arrondissements (boroughs); even for someone like me who already knows many aspects of the city, these field trips were illuminating.

 

Page from the orientation brochure showing activities for one quarter of classes. These activities improve learning in part by approaching integration from different angles.

Francisation = Frenchification

Immigrants in MIFI’s French classes are participating in “francisation”, which translates in English to “Frenchification”. I like the idea of being Frenchified, and I can’t see a downside. We are asked not to speak English in the classroom, which is not difficult to comply with. It looks like the purpose of the classes has become even more codified with the June 16, 2019 passage of Bill n°9 : An Act to increase Québec’s socio-economic prosperity and adequately meet labour market needs through successful immigrant integration. Here are some highlights from it:

“(3) to offer immigrants a personalized support pathway, in particular by providing them with support in their immigration process and steps to learn French and integrate and by informing them about democratic values and the Québec values expressed by the Charter of human rights and freedoms (chapter C-12), the importance of the French language, Québec culture and the vitality of the regions;

(10) to promote immigration’s contribution to Québec’s prosperity, to the preservation and vitality of French—the common language knowledge of which is the key to successful participation in community life—to the vitality of the regions and to Québec’s international influence.”