About

The language classes are designed to improve participant’s language and intercultural competencies while maintaining an orientation on teaching strategies. This allows participants to develop their language expertise while learning how to apply this new knowledge in their own classrooms.

As the program is delivered entirely in French, participants are encouraged to arrive with some basic understanding of the language and to make every effort to interact with others during the program’s daily activities inside and outside of class.

Our Instructors

Our instructors are experienced language educators who are there to support and interact with participants both inside and outside of class time, during mealtimes and cultural activities, making this a truly immersive language experience.

Location

The Institut is located in the quartier St-Roch, and is within easy walking distance of all Quebec City attractions.

Schedule

Participants should arrive the day prior to the first day of the program and are expected to attend the Welcome event at the Résidences de l’Université du Québec.

Below is the itinerary from summer 2024, which will give you some indication of what to expect on a day-to-day basis during the program. We anticipate the 2025 itinerary to be similar.

View the Summer 2024 Itinerary

Travel & Accommodation

Accommodation

Summer 2025 accommodations will be single occupancy in four-bedroom apartments at the Résidences de l’Université du Québec. 

Spouses and children cannot be accommodated during the program but are welcome to join participants before or after the program in shared accommodation at the Résidences de l’Université du Québec or elsewhere.

Other Accommodation in Québec

If you wish to arrive earlier in Quebec or stay after the Institute is finished, you are responsible for your own accommodations in Québec City. The Résidences offer accommodation outside the institute dates. Participants are responsible for booking any other accommodation on their own. Once you have registered in the program you will have an opportunity to book extra nights directly with the Résidences or elsewhere.

Meals

Lunches and morning snacks are provided on weekdays, while breakfasts and dinners are the participants’ responsibility.

Travel & Transportation

Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to Quebec and to the Résidences upon arrival.

What to Bring

We recommend you bring your laptop as you will have access to resources on the Institute website.

You may find the following items useful to have in your luggage:

• pencils, pens, paper, notebooks etc…
• a small backpack for your books, water bottle, mug etc…
• tote bags for grocery shopping
• a soft pillow
• beach towel
• small fan
• umbrella, light raincoat and warm sweater for chilly nights
• ear plugs
• laundry detergent

Fees & Bursary

Fees

The cost of the 2025 program is $4990 + GST.

British Columbia (BC) certified teachers and BC teacher candidates are eligible to receive a Canadian Heritage bursary to help subsidize the cost of the program. Bursaries for this program are administered by the University of British Columbia. Your application for the program is also your application for the bursary. You do not need to apply separately for the bursary. Eligible BC teachers and teacher candidates will pay a reduced program fee of $2740 + GST.

We welcome applicants from outside of BC. Educators are encouraged to seek financial support from their districts and/or professional development funds to support program fees.

What is included in the fees?

• Immersive three week language and culture program
• Accommodations for duration of the three week program
• Course fees
• Course materials
• Welcome cocktail
• Opportunities to practice language skills in real life settings
• Morning snack and lunch on weekdays
• Afternoon activities and field trips (e.g. Visit to the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Village Wendat)
• Optional evening activities
• Farewell dinner

Bursary

BC teachers and BC teacher candidates who speak French as an additional language are eligible for a Canadian Heritage bursary.

There are a limited number of bursaries. BC applicants who meet the bursary requirements will be offered a bursary upon acceptance into the program, and upon fulfilling one of the following criteria:

• are or will be involved in the teaching of French at a public or independent school
• are or will be involved in the supervision of a French program including as a vice-principal, principal or French program coordinator
• are working as a teacher-on-call
• have worked as a French teacher in the past or plan to work as a French teacher in BC
• are currently a UBC teacher candidate in the BEd program, or will be in the fall following the summer program.

Bursaries for this program are administered by the University of British Columbia. Your application for the program is also your application for the bursary. You do not need to apply separately for the bursary.

Please note: Teachers who have previously attended this institute are not eligible for the bursary again for the following three years.

Application

Now accepting applications for Summer 2025.

Please note: Applications will be assessed and letters of acceptance will be issued on a rolling basis. Spaces are limited; interested candidates should apply as early as possible.

Final Registration Deadline: March 1, 2025

Apply Now

Cancellations & Refunds

BC teachers who are accepted into the program but do not complete the program are ineligible for the Canadian Heritage bursary and will be responsible for payment of the full cost of the program.

Participants must first apply and be accepted to the Institute to be eligible for registration. Registration and payment of fees will take place in Spring 2025. If you would like to cancel your registration, you must submit the request by email:

• Cancellations received on or before May 1, 2025 are eligible for a full refund, less the non-refundable $500 registration fee.
• There is no refund available for cancellations received after May 1st.

The non-refundable registration fee of $500 is required with your acceptance of application offer.

All programs are subject to minimum enrolment. If the Institute is cancelled due to low enrolment, your registration fee will be refunded in full.

Travel: We recommend you do not finalize your travel arrangements until the Institute is confirmed to run. You should receive notification by early May.

History

In 2016 the Institut de français, UBC à Québec celebrated its 25th anniversary at Collège Mérici in Quebec City. It was also the 40th anniversary of the Institute that started as an initiative of the BC Ministry of Education in 1976.

The first six Institutes were run by small groups of teachers who received block funding. At that time, UBC was offering its own non-funded summer program for teachers in collaboration with Université de Montréal. Participants spent one week at UBC before going to l’Université de Montréal for three weeks. The program was successful and, when proposed as a possible model for the Institute, received the enthusiastic support of the Ministry.

The first Institut de français, UBC à Montréal took place in 1984 and offered three different streams: for Core-French teachers, for French Immersion teachers, and for Programme-Cadre teachers (today Conseil Scolaire Francophone). That year, 145 BC teachers participated. The Institute consisted of equal numbers of UBC instructors and Université de Montréal instructors. The Institute ran successfully for a number of years, and was then reduced to three weeks (without a stay at UBC).

The program moved to Quebec City in 1990, where it was first hosted at the CÉGEP of Cap-Rouge and the following year in a community centre in Vieux Québec in Quebec’s historic centre.

In the fall of 1991, the Institute was relocated to the Collège Mérici which, at the time, was run by a religious congregation and teaching local students. UBC had finally found a home for its Institute in Quebec City in close proximity to the historic sights of la vieille ville. After many years under the direction of UBC’s Continuing Studies, the Institute is now administered by the Department of Professional Development and Community Engagement in UBC’s Faculty of Education.

In 2022, following renovations at Collège Mérici, the Institut had to find a new venue. The Institut has found its new home at the Résidences de l’Université de Québec, in the quartier St-Roch, minutes away from the Vieux-Québec.

Today, the Institut de français, UBC à Québec demonstrates UBC’s commitment to promote professional development for French second language teachers by supporting their continued language and cultural development with an emphasis on pedagogy and instructional practices. The long-standing history of the Institut de français, UBC à Québec clearly shows that a successful program can last well over a quarter century without losing its vibrancy. The hundreds of teachers who have attended the Institute can attest to the continuing welcome at College Mérici and the care and enthusiasm of the UBC instructors who offer such an exceptional program.

Testimonials

“My experience at the Quebec Institute was truly enriching. The hands-on learning, the knowledgeable instructors, and the collaborative environment made it an invaluable experience. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to expand their knowledge and skills in this field.”

~Maria King, Vancouver BC
 

“The Quebec Institute provided a life-changing opportunity for me. I am now much more able to communicate in French than ever before.  It was a friendly, supportive environment where everyone was extremely motivated to speak only in French and to truly help each other improve. The directors were excellent and amazing as well! Thank you!”

~Anonymous, Victoria BC
 

“I had an absolutely amazing experience with the Quebec Institute! I really appreciated how the course content was tailored to educators and how we were able to build a professional development community with fellow teachers from different regions. Everyone was very engaged and committed to speaking in French, and the program activities provided great opportunities to both improve our French and learn about local Quebec culture. Thanks to this program, I gained much more confidence in my spoken French before beginning the BEd program at UBC.”

~Angel Ayala, Richmond BC

“I was truly impressed by how quickly the participants and teaching staff came together to create such a supportive and enjoyable learning environment. Immersing myself in a 100% French-speaking setting for three weeks was an incredible experience. Each day brought something new opportunities to learn and engage with aspects of French culture that had previously eluded me. This program was an invaluable investment in my ongoing development as a French educator. A special thanks to Mimi for her brilliance and exceptional contributions!”

~Melanie Vogels, Maple Ridge BC

“Attending the UBC Quebec Institute was an incredibly enriching experience overall with a wide variety and even mix of French instructional time in the classroom and cultural immersion in the city of Quebec. The program’s comprehensive curriculum and expert instruction provided me with invaluable insights and skills that I have applied directly to my career having since become a French immersion teacher. The supportive and engaging environment fostered both professional growth and personal development. I am confident that the knowledge and connections gained will have a lasting positive impact on my future endeavors and I highly recommend the program to anyone considering or already in a career in French education.”

~ Philip Menzies, Vancouver BC
 

“J’ai beaucoup aimé mon expérience à l’institut d’été. Ce fut une belle occasion de m’immerger dans tous les aspects de la culture unique du Québec.”

~ Andrew Kwok, Surrey BC
 

“All around I would highly recommend this program and would like to come back sometime. I have participated in several other teacher summer programs, and this was by far the best. Merci!”

~ Sharon Kirk, Winnipeg
 

“The program was outstanding. The teaching staff provided an excellent curriculum and schedule of events that included a blend of classroom instruction, cultural lessons, songs, dance, improvisation, outings, celebrations, and French film. Not limited to the classroom, we were transported to Quebec’s most beautiful scenic/historical areas.”

~ Lori Thompson, Fredericton High School

Devenez famille d’accueil pour un·e enseignant·e de la Colombie-Britannique

1000$ pour 3 semaines!

Le Département de langues et de littératie en éducation de UBC est à la recherche de familles d’accueil qui peuvent offrir une atmosphère familiale chaleureuse aux participant.es de l’Institut d’été, UBC à Québec. Les familles d’accueil peuvent être nucléaires, monoparentales, des célibataires ou encore des retraités. En habitant en famille d’accueil, les participant·es auront une occasion inouïe de pouvoir interagir en français en dehors de la salle de classe et de découvrir la culture québécoise à travers la vie de tous les jours. La rémunération par participant·e pour 2024 est de 50 $ par nuit pour 20 nuits, soit un total de 1000$.

Notre programme

L’Institut de français, UBC à Québec est un séjour linguistique de trois semaines qui s’adresse aux enseignant·es et aux candidat·es à l’enseignement dans le but de les soutenir dans le développement de leurs compétences en français. En 2024, deux sessions auront lieu: 1) du 7 au 26 juillet, et 2) du 29 juillet au 16 aout 2024 de 9h30 à 16h. (Vous pouvez choisir d’être hôte pour une ou l’autre de ces sessions ou pour les deux.)

Les participant·es assistent à des cours la semaine le matin à l’UQ/TÉLUQ (455 rue du Parvis, Québec) et à des activités culturelles en après-midi. Ils sont libres en soirée et la fin de semaine.

Exigences de l’hôte

Les hôtes doivent :

• être situés à Québec à moins d’une demi-heure en autobus de l’UQ/TÉLUQ;
• avoir une bonne maîtrise de la langue française;
• s’engager à fournir un environnement de soutien, uniquement en français, et à aider leurs invités à prendre confiance dans la pratique du français;
• mettre à disposition du participant une chambre entièrement meublée;
• s’engager à passer du temps avec le participant et l’impliquer dans autant d’activités familiales quotidiennes que possible.

Repas

• Les hôtes doivent fournir le déjeuner tous les matins et le déjeuner et le diners les fins de semaine. Pendant le programme, du lundi au vendredi, tous les diners sont fournis aux participant.es sur le campus.
• Comme la plupart des soupers sont à la charge des participant·es, on demande aux familles de leur donner accès à la cuisine afin de pouvoir préparer ces repas. Les familles d’accueil sont encouragées à proposer quelques soupers en famille pendant le séjour, selon l’horaire des  participant·es.

Afin d’être considérée comme hôte, la famille devra remplir le formulaire de demande et se soumettre à une vérification de ses antécédents criminels (payée par UBC). Le personnel représentant UBC fera une visite virtuelle des maisons sélectionnées afin de voir les commodités et répondre à vos questions. Les membres du personnel de UBC seront disponibles pour aider les participant.es et les familles d’accueil tout au long de la période d’accueil.

Si vous avez des questions, veuillez contacter Susan Bowers, responsable des programmes en français (french.educ@ubc.ca).

le formulaire de demande