Canada: Chicoutimi Semester

Program Overview

Chicoutimi is located in the heart of the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean area which is renowned for its spectacular fjords and its interior sea, the Lake St-Jean. Chicoutimi offers museums, restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries along with varied natural attractions. Chicoutimi, with its 70,000 inhabitants, is recognized as a very beautiful city nationwide, both modern and safe. The Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region is the most francophone region in America where almost 300,000 people speak French and live their daily lives in French, everywhere and at all times!

 


Academic Profile

University of Quebec in Chicoutimi

All programs at the École de Langue Français at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi provide a complete French immersion experience, where students truly "live French." At the start of the program, an oral and written placement test is given to all program participants to ensure that every student enrolls in the class that best matches their French language skills. To ensure that every student obtains the maximum possible benefit from the immersion program, students are expected to speak French at all times on- and off-campus. Making this experience fun and enjoyable for all students inside and outside of the classroom is the school's priority. All programs are complemented by a wide range of social and cultural workshops, guided outdoor recreation, excursions to Quebec City and the beautiful Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region. The minimum age for participants is 18 years of age.

Course Offerings

The semester immersion program offers French language study from introductory to advanced levels. Courses at each level analyze the French language from the perspective of syntax, phonetics, and communicative competence. The program is offered in six- and twelve-week sessions during the year. Students earn 6 credits for the six-week session, 12 credits for the twelve-week session and 9 credits for the French and Intership program; there are 20 hours of classroom instruction per week.

 


Activities and Opportunities

Student Life

Students have the choice of living with a French-speaking family or in dormitories (if space is availalbe) during the immersion program. Lodging with a host francophone family is part of the UQAC philosophy. Daily life with a host family allows students to reinforce the learning of the French language achieved in the classroom and from extracurricular activities. If living in a homestay situation, morning and evening meals are shared with the family, while lunch is served at the universities cafeteria. There is a wide range of cultural, social, tourist and sporting activities available in and around Chicoutimi, including theater, folk dance, singing groups, and nature explorations.

Alumni Feedback

"I got to go whale watching in the St Lawrence River and hiked all over the place. I also went snow camping. The region was outstandingly beautiful. If you like clear skies, evergreens water and rocks, this is the place for you to go."
- Osualdo Ramirez Villafane

"The program was wonderful. All of the faculty and staff at UQAC were wonderful. They really cared about our success and well-being. They took care of us like family."
- Bonnie Lynn Smoude

"I was highly enlightened by this experience and continue to savor its memories and impact."
- Kyle Van Rueden

"Thanks for giving me the opportunity to experience Quebec culture and practice my French. Keep up the good work!!!"
- Joice Riedel

"It was most definitely the most enriching experience I have ever had other than at church. I would recommend it to anyone who wanted to learn French. It was amazing to watch people who couldn't even say 'bon jour' when they arrived improve tremendously. At the end of the program, they were more than able to carry on interesting conversations with any native French speaker."
- Cindy-Ann Squires

"Doing this immersion was a wonderful experience for me. I had a great time, made lots of friends, and progressed immensely in the language."
- Amanda Zarnowski

 


Chicoutimi, Canada Semester Program Details

Duration

Fall 2012
12-week: August 28 - November 23  2012
6-week(1): August 28 – October 5,  2012
6-week(2): October  15 – November 23  2012
French and Internship: August 28  - November 23  2012

Winter 2013
12-week: January – April  2013
6-week(1): January – February  2013
6-week(2) : March  – April  2013
French and Internship: January - April 2013
Specific dates will be finalised at a later time

Application Deadline(s)

Fall: June 1
Winter: October 15

Late applications will be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Financial Aid

A College Consortium for International Studies Scholarship (CCIS) is available to students from member institutions. CCIS students should check with their study abroad advisor for applicable campus deadlines.

Eligibility Requirements

The minimum age for participation is 18 years of age.

Language

French

Costs

6-week, Intensive Language (6 credits): $5,685

12-week, Intensive Language(12 credits): $9,430

12-week, French and Internship (9 credits): $16,280

Costs Included

Instructional costs abroad, instructional materials, health insurance coverage, fees, and orientation

Costs Not Included

Airfare (approx. $800-$1,200), personal costs (approx. $1,000-$1,500), optional excursions,

Homestay with French-speaking family (approximately $200/week, includes two meals/day)

All costs, fees, and dates are subject to change without notification. Please contact the appropriate individual to verify all costs, fees, and dates for this program.

Related Links

 


Your Adventure in Canada Begins Here

Submit Application Materials To:

Janice M. Thomas, Ph.D.
Director

International Education Center
Brookdale Community College
765 Newman Springs Road
Lincroft, NJ 07738
732-224-2799
732-224-2980 (Fax)
Email: international@brookdalecc.edu
http://international.brookdalecc.edu

How do I apply?

Step 1.
Submit the following documents to CCIS/Brookdale by June 1/October 15

Note: Start the CCIS Study Abroad application process by downloading the forms. To download, right click on the application or recommendation form and click "save as", then save the form to your desktop or downloads. Once you have completed your form, SAVE IT FIRST!!!! DO NOT CLICK "SUBMIT" until you have SAVED your form or the recipient will receive a BLANK form. Once you have saved it, click "submit" and THEN email your completed form as an attachment to the contact email address associated with the program in which you are applying. If for some reason you do not see the email address pop up when you click "submit", then email the application to the program sponsor listed here on this page.

YOU MUST NOTIFY YOUR HOME INSTITUTIONS' STUDY ABROAD OFFICE OR ADVISOR OF YOUR INTENTIONS AND ALSO PROVIDE THEM WITH A COPY OF YOUR APPLICATION. 

  1. CCIS Online Application & Instructions
  2. CCIS Online Student Recommendation(submit 2)
  3. Official Transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended
  4. Legible Copy of the biographical page of your passport
  5. Statement of Purpose
  6. Application Fee $35.00 made payable to Brookdale Community College

Step 2.
CCIS/Brookdale will review your application. If accepted, you will pay a non-refundable deposit to reserve your space in the program. The deposit in the amounts below are deducted from your program fee.
Host-family Housing Deposit - $275.00

Step 3.
Upon receipt of your deposit, you will be contacted by the École de Langue Français (ELF) and directed to a weblink to complete  ELF's on-line registration.

Note: Do not begin the ELF on-line registration until you have received specific instructions from CCIS/ELF to do so.

All costs, fees, and dates are subject to change without notification. Please contact the appropriate individual to verify all costs, fees, and dates for this program.