Newcomers ready to pay to practice their French

Photo: Sengchoy Inthachack Getty Images Thousands of students in French-language training saw their classes cancelled this fall in Quebec’s school service centres in the wake of new budgetary rules imposed by the government.

After having to cancel the majority of these classes, a Quebec City French-language training centre decided to offer paid French-language workshops to students who continued to knock on its door.

The Centre d’éducation des adultes Le Phénix in Quebec City cancelled most of its classes at the end of October. In total, 449 students were affected and only 194 are continuing their training part-time.

On November 14, the Centre announced on its social media the launch of the “Je vis en français” workshops. An activity that takes place in the evening and is officially aimed at the general public.

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It costs $136 to participate in the equivalent of 16 hours of workshops. These are intended to allow students to “maintain” their “acquired” French, explains the spokesperson for the Centre de services scolaire des Découvreurs, Marie-Ève ​​Malouin. “We hope that this local initiative will allow students to consolidate their skills in French and facilitate their integration into our community,” she indicated in a written response.

To date, 20 people have registered. And this is even though these courses will not allow them to reach recognized levels of French.

Le Phénix is ​​not authorized to offer real francization courses. Under the new Act respecting the official and common language of Quebec, French (formerly Bill 96), all courses must go through Francisation Québec.

In its announcement, Le Phénix says it is offering these workshops “in response to the growing demand for services aimed at cultural and community integration.”

Thousands of students in francization saw their courses cancelled this fall in Quebec school service centres in the wake of the new budget rules imposed by the government.

The Collectif francisation, which brings together teachers opposed to the changes announced by Quebec, claims that nearly 10,000 students have suffered the consequences.

The Ministry of Immigration and Francisation claims that there are actually 3,850 and that it is offering them new courses in return through the organization Francisation Québec. Of these students, 1,607 have been relocated, or 42%.