Explore – A Summer Student Program of Language and Travel

What is Explore?

Explore is a program for Canadian students to learn French in an immersive environment in Canada.

When you apply you choose to do the program in either May/June or July/August and pick three of the many universities that offer the program so that you can tailor your likes to the universities you want to go to.

Some of these universities will even give you university credit. When you are accepted, the Canadian government will pay for most of the tuition and housing fees (you can stay on campus or with a host family) and will help pay for your travel if you live far away.

What do you do at Explore?

You spend five weeks at the university where you get placed. Universities in every single province in the country participate, including UVic.

You take classes, travel the area, and participate in different events. You can go in with advanced French or no French at all. It doesn’t matter as long as you go in with a mindset ready to learn.

Why I did Explore:

I had always heard about Explore from friends who had done it. I wanted to improve my language skills so I thought, why not? I’d be getting a university credit and it’d be a lot of fun. I got into my first choice, the Université de Québec à Trois Rivière.

What was my Explore experience like?

My roommates and me

I lived with three others in a residence apartment. They became my closest friends during that time. We took a test on the first day and got placed in the classes based on our level.

Monday to Friday we had grammar classes in the morning. And then in the afternoon, we had a conversation class and a class of our choice. I took photography, but they also had art, music, theatre, journaling, radio hosting, etc.

In the evenings and on Sundays there were activities such as movie nights, board games, soccer, zip-lining, hikes, going to a sugar shack, museum tours, and more.

The University was a short ride to downtown where we explored the architecture of the third oldest city in Quebec and some fairs that the town held in the summer. On Saturdays were day trips. We went to Quebec City, Montreal, and other places around Trois Rivière.

Why you should sign up for Explore next summer:

My class

You can learn French with other people at your level while also getting to experience incredible opportunities.

You’ll make lifelong friends. It is partially funded by the Canadian government.

And you’ll create memories that’ll make you want to go back and do it all over again the next summer!