How can I learn French as a Second Language?
The
French Language Services Act (FLSA) of Ontario recognizes
- the French language as an historic and honoured language
- the French language as an official language in the courts and in education
- that it is desirable to guarantee the use of the French language in institutions of the Government of Ontario
If you are a French-speaker and live in Ontario, you cannot depend on receiving services in French in every organization, government agency or business. You will need some knowledge of English. The FLSA guarantees government services in French in
23 designated areas of Ontario
.
In Ontario, French as a Second Language (FSL) programs are not as widely available as English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, and
very few FSL programs are free.
You can find information about French language classes at:
Useful Resource
FSL Search Tool - Use this tool to look for an FSL class in Ontario. At this time, information is available for 3 cities only. Operated by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration.
Private schools or institutes might also have FSL classes. You can search for "Schools - Language" in the
Yellow Pages to find some of these schools and institutes.
Again, you have to pay a fee for most FSL classes in Ontario. The fee might be low or very high, depending on where you choose to take classes. Generally, courses offered by local school boards are low-cost.
For more information:
- FSL Search Tool - Use this tool to look for an FSL class in Ontario. At this time, information is available for classes in 3 cities only. Operated by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration.
- Canadian Network of the Alliances Françaises - Part of a worldwide network of non-profit organizations that promote French language and culture. In Ontario, the Alliance Française offers French-language training and cultural events in Ottawa-Hull and Toronto.
- Franco-Ontarian Directory - A searchable database of more than 3,000 francophone organizations, associations and institutions in Ontario.
- Le Point du FLE - A website with free, web-based activities for learning and teaching French.
- Francophonie ontarienne - A website that brings together franco-ontarian cultural resources on the internet. Includes links to facts about francophones in Ontario plus national and provincial francophone organizations.
- Office of Francophone Affairs - The Ontario Government's main source of expertise on francophone affairs and French language services. The Office provides information on the province's French-speaking population to other levels of government and the public, and co-ordinates delivery of French language government services in the 23 areas designated by the French Language Services Act.
- The Ontario Government's Bilingual Terminology (ONTERM) - This website, developed and maintained by the Government Translation Service, has two databases that contain official Government of Ontario names in English with their French equivalents (has more than 11,000 entries).