Apprenez à parler Français à Halifax, NS

The French language is deeply ingrained in Canadian culture and history. In fact, the French influence is particularly strong in Nova Scotia. Over 400 years ago, the Acadians, along with other European settlers, began laying the foundations for French society in North America. Today, one-third of Canada’s population speaks French or both French and English, and according to the 2016 Canadian census, there are over 66,000 Halifax residents of French origin. As a result, taking French lessons in Halifax is a perfect way to connect with local francophones, and to better appreciate one of the cultures which has shaped the city (and the country) into what it is today.

Why Study French in Halifax

Learn French for Work: As far as the job market goes, multilingualism is an attractive asset for prospective employees of any country, and it is the case in Canada, too: 10% of Canadian job postings require candidates to have a working knowledge of both French and English. What is more, local bilingual employees are in high demand by French service providers in Nova Scotia, according to the Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (a not-for-profit organization dedicated to francophone economic development in the province). This means that being fluent in French will definitely help you land a job in no time! There are also jobs to be had in the tourism industry! Considering that international tourism in Nova Scotia has increased in recent years, and that this trend looks set to continue, fantastic working opportunities are available throughout the region. By taking French courses in Halifax, you will distinguish yourself from the 90% of Nova Scotians who speak no French at all. This could be a life-changing investment, particularly in an international city such as Halifax.

Learn French for Studies: Those interested in pursuing higher education in French can find many instances for doing so in Halifax. In 2004, the Université Sainte-Anne and the Collège de l’Acadie opened a campus in downtown Halifax, on Barrington Street, where francophones can complete a language-related college program or a university degree. In recent years, the campus has been welcoming more and more international students to Canada. This institution asks their students to have at least an intermediate level of French before starting their programs, so you should start preparing with us at Language Trainers way in advance! Contact us today so we can start organizing lessons for you.

Learn French for Culture: There are many instances to experience French culture in Halifax, such as the events at Carrefour du Grand-Havre in Dartmouth and the excursions organized by the Regroupement des aînés de la Nouvelle-Écosse. Also, be sure to attend the annual Francofest, a week-long cultural and social event coinciding with the French-language book fair, featuring French artists and musicians who also attend the festival. This is a great opportunity to meet people and put into use the language skills you learned in your French lessons with us at Language Trainers! And if you are more into cinema, you should attend the monthly French Film Rendez-vous, also organized by the Alliance Francaise. This event usually screens movies in their original language, that you will be able to understand without using English subtitles.

Where to Learn French in and around Halifax

Why not start with French classes today? At Language Trainers, we design personalized lessons to suit your learning style and ability, and arrange lessons at your convenience. Our tailor-made lessons, guided by native-speaking teachers, are designed to suit your needs, professional or personal. You can take your lessons at your home or office, or in a public place if you prefer. Some options are the Halifax Central Library on Spreen Garden Rd., the Coastal Café on Robie Street and The Board Room Game Café on Barrington Street.

And if you are not based in downtown Halifax but live in the outskirts of the city, just let us know and we will be there! We have great instructors ready to start teaching in Dartmouth, Bedford, Bridgewater and Truro.

What are you waiting for? Let’s go, allons-y! And if you have studied the language before, you should take one of our free online French tests so we can assess your current skills and then start designing a program tailored to your ability!