Merci, "thank you" in French

French Language

Parlez-vous français?

French is one of the two official languages of Canada, and is spoken by close to 275 million people worldwide. It’s also an official language of the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO and the International Olympic Committee.

At Continuing Studies, you can learn French in a friendly, supportive atmosphere. Our French language programs offer:

  • up-to-date materials and techniques
  • daytime and evening course options (if enrolment permits)
  • one or two classes per week, for two or three hours, depending on your level and the program you choose
  • easy transition between programs and levels

We offer French language courses and programs for every skill level, from casual beginners to people seeking French language for professional development. All French language courses offered by Continuing Studies are subject to enrollment. Please register early and invite a friend to join you!

OFFERING Comprehensive French French Language Conversation Classes La Maison française
LEVELS Levels 1 – 4 (Introductory to Advanced) Levels 1 – 4 (Introductory to Advanced) Levels 1 – 4 (Introductory to Advanced)
CLASSES PER WEEK Twice per week for 2 hrs x 13 weeks Once per week for 2 hrs x 10 weeks Five times per week for 4 hrs x 5 weeks 
OFFERED September and January September, January and April July
PRIMARY FOCUS Listening, speaking, reading and writing Conversation skills Listening, speaking, reading and writing
EXAM & GRADED ASSIGNMENTS      
CREDENTIAL Certificate – upon successful completion of each level   Certificate – upon successful completion 
BEST SUITED FOR Anyone wanting to confidently and competently develop fluency in French. Anyone wanting to learn and practice their spoken French in a casual but dynamic setting. Anyone wanting to quickly learn French in an immersive setting including classroom instruction, activities and workshops.
MORE DETAILS View Series View Series View Program

Are you a French immersion teacher? If you are looking for training options for French immersion teachers, visit the Teacher Professional Development page.

 

Courses open for registration

Comprehensive French

These non-credit courses are open to adults at all levels of proficiency. They are designed to meet the needs of a wide audience from working professionals, to lifelong learners, to people who are new to Canada, to parents with children in French immersion—anyone wanting to confidently and competently develop fluency in French.
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French Immersion Teacher Pro-D

French Immersion teachers in BC face unique challenges. The French Immersion Teacher Professional Development series transforms practice through workshops dedicated to the unique needs of in-service immersion teachers.
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French Language Conversation Classes

French Language Conversation Classes (FLCC) is a club you’ll be glad you joined! You’ll meet new people who want to learn a new language in a fun, stimulating and relaxed atmosphere, among friends.
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Courses open for registration

French Immersion Teacher Mentorship

French Immersion teachers in BC face unique challenges. The French Immersion Teacher Mentorship program transforms practice through mentorship, to create a more engaged and confident workforce.
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General Studies

This flexible certificate program allows you to customize a course of study to meet your specific learning goals.
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La Maison française

La Maison française is an intensive, non-credit, French immersion program that's offered virtually in the summer. It is open to Canadian and international students and is intended for learners 18 years and up, at all levels of proficiency, from total beginner to advanced.
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Embracing the Flow of Life

If optimism was a person, it would be program coordinator Philippe Provencher. He goes with the flow of life and believes everything works out as it’s supposed to.

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Hoping for the bus: language lets us see the world differently

For instructor Annie Poirier, travelling is also about connecting with new people, something that learning a language has the power to unlock. When I travel, I can talk with everybody. In French, in English [or] in Spanish. This ability, she says, makes it easier for her to make friends.

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Five surprising benefits of learning a new language

There are lots of reasons for people to want to learn a new language, but science is also discovering some new, rather surprising benefits of being bilingual!

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A 30-year French language journey

Jan Henry is a recent graduate of the French Language Diploma Program. Her journey began in 1988 and, with many life experiences in between, managed to return and graduate from the program in 2018!

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Surfing through a happy life

Lauren joined the Division of Continuing Studies a year ago as our French and World Languages Program Coordinator, and when asked what she's enjoyed most about her job, she said "It's difficult to pick just one thing… I work with such smart, innovative people and good souls in the division, and right from the start I really felt like the leadership team, staff and instructors were on my side.

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French Language grad helps patients in West Africa

Michelle Pieke is a Canadian physiotherapist working in a leprosy clinic in West Africa. Find out how taking the French Language Diploma Program (FLDP) helped her get there.

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A legacy of optimism

Known for his quick wit, and his love of language and music, Didier Bergeret was one of the kindest, most compassionate souls you would ever have the pleasure to meet. You couldn’t help but be drawn to his selfless nature and big boisterous personality, one that always seemed to fall on the side of optimism.

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Danielle Hall

After six years of university—never mind the 13 years I spent as a French immersion student in the Saanich school district—I had completed my teaching certificate and was starting the career I had dreamed of. I knew I was fully equipped to teach students at the elementary level, but when I thought of teaching students in the French immersion program, something was missing.

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Continuing Studies Registration
Tel 250-472-4747
Email uvcsreg@uvic.ca