Easy Languages

Program

How does it work?

This programme is available to motivated students aged 15 to 17 who wish to spend one semester or one year in a Canadian high school (secondary education) and share in the daily life of an Canadian host family. Our partner offers a diverse curriculum of courses adapted to the levels of participants. Our students enjoy full access to all of the school's sports, clubs, and associations.

This experience allows participants to discover all aspects of Canadian life, to learn how they live, think, work, and relax. It's also a chance to get to know the country's school system and learn about the history behind local traditions. It's a personal learning experience which can be enriching both personally and culturally, as well as developing strong links between the students who stay and the families and friends they encounter.

This programme does not allow participants to choose their precise destination, instead they can be placed anywhere within the chosen region (to choose a destination, consult our other High School in Canada programmes). It's our partner who is in charge of placing students in the school which suits them best, according to availability. High schools are chosen based on their academic and social attributes, and offer a diverse choice of courses adapted to participants' levels.

Destination

Canada, the second largest country in the world by surface area, is one of the world's geographical marvels. It stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic ocean and shares its borders with Alaska in the north-east and the US to the south. This country is home to almost every climate on earth, from the wind-swept tundra of the North Territories to the temperate rain forests and mountains of British Columbia. Canada is home to the world’s largest freshwater lakes and vast expanses of pine forests. Canada is a bilingual nation and English French are equally official languages.

Our partner schools are situated in the easy of the country, in the region of Newfoundland and Labrador (Atlantic coast) and in the west, in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, in the south of the country.

Schools

The Canadian education system

Canadian children study for a minimum of 12 years (Primary school + Secondary school). This programme offers international students the chance to study at a local high school. Junior high school covers the first 3 years of secondary school (7 to 9th grade), while these high schools cover the last four years of secondary studies - grades 9 - 12.

In many Canadian schools, the choice of subjects is vast: psychology, sociology, literature, drama, pottery, journalism, architecture, speech, media, informatics... it's a unique chance to discover new subjects, or to progress in an area you already know. Some classes last just one semester, so students will have the chance to change subjects part way through the year.

Choice is also important for cultural, sportive, and social activities: football, baseball, tennis, swimming, athletics, basketball, volleyball, charity club, student council, band, cheer-leading, debating club, speech club, year book committee... This school will be a unique chance to explore unknown subjects and activities. But it will also be that dream opportunity to dive into Canadian life and get to know local people your age.

The Canadian academic year is divided into three terms. As an international student, you can enrol in a class for one semester (in August or January) or a full academic year.

The schools are managed from a provincial level in Canada, which means there may be big differences in terms of facilities and how they operate from once province to another, sometimes even from one district to another. Pupils generally spend 190 days per year in school, from the end of August to the end of June.

Provinces

You can choose one province from one of the following destinations. Consult the provinces which interest you here.

In the east: Atlantic Canada

• Nova Scotia: Enjoy some of the great things which this coastal state offers. The climate is much warmer here than in the rest of the country, and the culture is enriched by the numerous communities which live there: Indians, French, Scottish, Irish, and even Africans. Students can be placed in one of the 15 secondary schools in the city of Halifax.
  
  
• Isle of Prince Edward: This province is composed of several isles, which is home to 140,000 inhabitants. The countryside is both maritime and verdant, and mostly rural, with a few cities. The province is mostly English-speaking.
  
  
• New-Brunswick: This province is bilingual, and its countryside is both coastal (one of its borders is the Atlantic Ocean) and mountanous, and its climate is continental. Its culture has been heavily influenced by aboriginal civilizations, and then by the waves of subsequent francophone and anglophone immigrations

In the west: Western Canada

• Saskatchewan: Regina, the capital of this province, is a typical city of the region, which offers all kinds of cultural, sportive, and leisure activities to its million inhabitants.
  
  
• Manitoba: The capital of this state is Winnipeg, and this city has been known for being the historic centre of exchange for its first settlers, before being colonised by the French during the 18th century. The numerous lakes of this region, such as Lake Winnipeg, are one of the main attractions of this province.

Details

Canadian Host Families

Accommodation in an Canadian host family allows students to discover the Canadian way of life and to practice the language with native speakers. These families choose to host overseas students because they want to share in their way of life and culture, and they want to learn more about the students they host and where they come from. After being selected after an interview and sufficient references, they themselves play an active role in the selection of students they host.

The accommodation offered is in a single room and includes full board. If necessary, the fees of transport to school are also included. The families collect the students from, and drop them off at, the airport.

This is an ideal way for students to have regular communication with native English speakers, accelerating the learning process.

The local correspondent

The local correspondent is an experienced member of staff who knows the host families and stays in regular contact with the students and their Canadian host parents throughout their stay: They regularly organise meetings and ensure that the student's visit is running smoothly as much at home as at the school. As they are there to react immediately to any problems, they keep in prioritised contact with the students.

The local correspondents have been working with our partner organisation for years; they know exactly how to respond rapidly and effectively in times of need.

Medical insurance and assistance

Throughout their stay, students enjoy complete cover, as included in their enrolment package.

Practical Info

Conditions of participation

• Must be aged between 15 and 17 at time of departure (cannot turn 18 during programme)
• Must have a good level of English (a SLEP test is to be taken at our office)
• Must have attained good school results the last 2 years
• Must have the will to make new friends and to share in the daily life of a host family
• Must be able to justify motivation, maturity, and adaptability
  
  

Terms of enrolment

If you fulfil the participation conditions, then you should enrol as soon as possible.

You will then receive a preliminary confirmation and we will contact you for a telephone interview, during which we will evaluate your level of English. If your level seems adequate, we will invite you to pay an advance of 1000 € in order to confirm your enrolment and initiate the process.

Then we will ask you to take part in a second, more thorough interview in our offices in Paris or Brussels.

A fee of 70 € is payable on the day of this interview at the latest if an advance has not yet been paid. This fee is non-refundable and is deductible from the final balance in case of a definitive enrolment.

If the interview is favourable, we will then send you by post a folder to complete. This will require: letters of recommendation from your teachers, vaccination certificates, a letter addressed to your host family, and other documents necessary for the consideration of your application to Canada.

Enrolment deadlines

The deadline for submitting the abovementioned folder is:

• 1st of March if you are leaving in August
• 1st of October if you are leaving in January

Contact us for more information on the terms of enrolment.

Prices & Dates

Dates 2012

• Academic year: from August to June
• Semester: from August to January or from January to June
  
  

The prices of the programme include:

• Enrolment and placement in our partner school
• Selection of and placement in a host family
• Travel to/from Canada
  
• Detailed and personalised information on all of the aspects of your trip
• Advance interview
• Accommodation, meals, and laundry, as if a member of the host family
• Personal assistance, constant support, and tutor's advice during your stay
• Regular contact and evaluation reports
• Class materials
• Transfers and public transport
• All enrolment, administrative, and candidature exam fees.
  
  

They do not include:

• Possible medical insurance
• Possible excursions
• Possible visa fees
• Class materials
• Pocket money