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Post by WillTravel on Apr 12, 2008 12:31:54 GMT -5
The Canadian government has various programs to encourage people to learn French, and my daughter got to take advantage of one of them. She's going in late June, to Trois-Rivières for this program: www.formation-mauricie.ca/ecfrancais/accueil.aspThey get five weeks free room and board. They have to pledge not to speak English, except for two 10-minute calls per week. She has at least one friend that's going with her. I did have to pay for her plane ticket, or actually I used Aeroplan miles to book it but I still had some fees. Otherwise, the ticket between Vancouver and Montreal would have been $950 for the dates she needed, which is more than I've ever paid for a ticket to Europe. She is also lucky enough that she and her friend will get an extra two days in Montreal at the start (I'm paying for her share of the hostel). Has anyone ever done a full immersion program? I think it could be fun and interesting, but my brain would start to hurt. |
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Post by pointofnoreturn on Apr 12, 2008 21:10:28 GMT -5
A friend's sister did this - but maybe in a different aspect. She's from Vancouver and did an immersion program where she went to a French high school in Quebec for a semester (although she stayed for another semester). It worked out really well and although it took time for her to adjust to the setting, she learned a lot.
A positive thing about the program was that she was placed in an area where there was a slightly higher proportion of English-speaking Quebec residents rather than an all-French speaking town/city.
I don't know very much about the program but it's certainly an asset to anyone, I would assume.
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Post by WillTravel on Apr 13, 2008 7:52:29 GMT -5
WestJet has a reputation of being a budget airline, but mostly it is just the same price as Air Canada. There's a charter airline called Sunwing with infrequent service, and it would have been $660 total, but the dates weren't right.
PONR, I think the reason they stick the kids in Trois-Rivières is so they'll be forced even more to speak French. I am curious how she finds it not being able to speak English, given how chatty she is.
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Post by Eagle on Apr 13, 2008 12:44:28 GMT -5
W.T., sounds like it will be a great opportunity for her to learn French from native speakers! The fact that she has a friend going with her will be a big help, as they'll be able to "support" each other.
You're right about WestJet prices not being much different. They often seem to have seat sales, but Air Canada always seems to match them. Your post has reminded me that perhaps I should look into the Aeroplan program. Not really sure if it will benefit me, but I've been flying Air Canada more often lately (for some reason?), so perhaps it might be good to have? I'll be using them again this week for a Kelowna - Rome flight, so probably could have racked-up a few points! BTW, A.C. had a seat sale a few weeks ago - Toronto to Rome for Cdn$229 (one way, of course).
Cheers!
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Post by WillTravel on Apr 13, 2008 13:09:34 GMT -5
Eagle, I'd definitely suggest you get an Aeroplan number. You might be able to still claim the past flights you took. And you can definitely get credit for upcoming flights. Just get the number now, and then call to get it attached to your reservation.
I never expected the Aeroplan miles to amount to much, but over the years they all added up, and obviously it saved a lot of money.
I didn't realize you were leaving this week for Rome! Wow.
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Post by madamtrashheap on Apr 13, 2008 19:59:27 GMT -5
Has anyone ever done a full immersion program? I think it could be fun and interesting, but my brain would start to hurt. , I did a full immersion programme in Germany and highly recommend them. Great way to learn another language and wait until your daughter tells you of the first time she dreams in French - it's weird, but in a good way! Your brain does hurt and she'll find that she's tired from thinking in two different languages, but soon she'll be thinking in French when she's speaking it so that's a bonus. It's a great opportunity and it's great to hear she's taking it up (with encouragement from you of course!). I can't believe air travel between Vancouver and Montreal is more than a tkt to Europe - yikes! Lucky for air-miles! |
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Post by Eagle on Apr 13, 2008 20:31:05 GMT -5
WillTravel, I had a brief look at the AeroPlan web site, but after reading through the Terms & Conditions, How to Redeem, Expiry dates, Top Tier conditions, etc., etc, MY head started to hurt! I'll go over it again when I have more time, or perhaps give them a call. I find I can often get things done more quickly by speaking to a "live" representative.
Yes, my departure date is fast approaching! I had intended to post a note (I suppose the Calender section would be the most appropriate?), but that was one of those details that got lost in the confusion. I'll try and post a bit of description tomorrow.
Although I've been travelling in the "fall shoulder season" the past few years, my employment circumstances are a bit chaotic at the moment, so I figured if I want to get to Europe this year I had better do it now!
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Post by pointofnoreturn on Apr 13, 2008 21:15:37 GMT -5
I've been a member of Aeroplan for a few years now... they've changed the rules so many times and quite a few programs were dropped (i.e. Future Shop) from their partners list so it's not really worth investing in anymore. After redeeming a few things, I only have just under 4000 miles left, hardly enough for a decent reward. I converted to Air Miles because the pay off is better (more rewards, more miles, more opportunities to get bonuses). But if you're flying Air Canada quite often, it's worth joining  |
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Post by WillTravel on Apr 13, 2008 22:31:12 GMT -5
Eagle, I wouldn't worry about all the rules. Just get the number, attach it to your latest reservation, and then decide to either use or save the miles you get from your latest trip. Or, if you don't want Aeroplan, then get a United Mileage Plus number and attach it to your reservation. Because both are members of Star Alliance, you can claim the mileage on either program. (There are several other Star Alliance programs you could join also, but either Aeroplan or United Mileage Plus is most useful to BC residents, in my opinion.) It won't do any harm, and you never know if it might come in handy.
Air Miles are good too. I just have the blue card and try to remember to use it for the right purchases. But I haven't collected any via flying (although I think you maybe can with WestJet?). I haven't checked lately to see how many I have (wouldn't be nice if it were enough for a flight, but probably not).
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Post by jennifer on Apr 16, 2008 18:47:10 GMT -5
great project for her
you should have written to me, id have let them stay at my place in Laval, right beside Montreal with easy transit. I have an extra room so it would have been my pleasure. If she wants to come back to Montreal during her stay, just let me know
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Post by WillTravel on Apr 16, 2008 20:41:39 GMT -5
Jennifer, that's very kind of you to offer. I doubt they'll be allowed off campus during the program, but I'll keep that in mind.
MTH, it will be interesting to see if she starts to dream in French.
I'm finding the idea interesting myself. I know someone who is 75 and he went to Mexico and did an immersion program (with a homestay), so I guess it's never too late.
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Post by Jules80 on Jul 28, 2008 16:42:22 GMT -5
man i have been so out of it lately! I just saw this thread - how did your daughter like her experience? I've had friends that have done both... french speakers out west, and anglos from out west in quebec. All have found it extremely usefull. being bilingual already, i never did it...
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Post by WillTravel on Jul 28, 2008 23:26:47 GMT -5
Things didn't work out like we hoped!
Less than 36 hours before my daughter was due to get on the plane, she had a bike accident that shredded up her foot. Luckily, it was "just" soft tissue injury, but she wasn't able to walk really. She had to go on antibiotics, and had large bandages that prevented her from wearing a shoe. You should see the pictures - on second thought, better you don't.
So while I thought she could still go if she were willing to go around in a wheelchair for a while, and with some help from her friends, she didn't want to do that, and I can't blame her.
That left the airline ticket, which was an Aeroplan reward booking. I phoned up, and found that for a $55 ticketing fee, plus a $55 name change fee, plus the difference in taxes, plus 10,000 more miles, I could convert her Montreal ticket into a Buenos Aires booking for me - so I will be flying to Buenos Aires in April. I sort of hate to capitalize on her misfortune, but it's just how it worked out. A reward ticket is much more flexible than the typical "cheapie" airline tickets that I buy.
Anne will get another chance to go on this program next year, and I hope she'll stay healthy and uninjured beforehand. After a few days, her foot was a lot better (still not entirely better), and she has been having a great summer here in Vancouver, including volunteering at the Folk Festival. She had a really excellent attitude about missing out on something she had looked forward to doing.
Anyway, my advice is to always wear sturdy shoes, in addition to a bike helmet, when biking!
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Post by madamtrashheap on Jul 30, 2008 3:13:54 GMT -5
WT, that's sad to hear the your daughter didn't get to go on the program this year - I really hope her foot heals well. But totally back the use of the flight to go to BA - nice one! And that Anne can attend the program next year is a bonus, no need to waste the flight. No doubt her excellent attitude is inherited from her mother! ;D
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Post by jennifer on Aug 6, 2008 11:00:21 GMT -5
Wow, what a story! Glad it all turned out ok! Buenos Aires sounds good too |
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