Learning French

(Collectif Bienvenue, 2023c; Gouvernement du Québec, 2023ac, 2023d; MIFIMinistère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (du Québec) , 2023; Ville de Sherbrooke, 2023d)

French is the official and most widely spoken language in Québec. Learning French will help you settle in and interact more easily with the people you meet.

Many institutions and organizations throughout Québec offer French courses. 

These courses are free and you may be eligible for financial assistance to take these courses.

However, you may have to pay to register and for some school materials. Full-time and part-time courses are available. You can also take online courses if your French is at an intermediate or advanced level.

Some community organizations also offer French courses or workshops that are not recognized by the government. This can be an option if you are unable to take French courses offered by the government to start learning or improving your French.

To find French courses in your city:

You can also take French as a second language courses at CEGEPs and universities; however, these courses cost money. You may qualify for financial assistance to pay for them. Contact the educational institution that you are interested in for more information.

You can also practise your French by participating in workshops and discussion groups and by volunteering, especially at community organizations. You can also use language learning apps like Duolingo and Babbel.

Information about learning French from the Government of Québec Learn French | Government of Québec

(Collectif Bienvenue, 2023c; Gouvernement du Québec, 2023f, 2023ac, 2023d)

Use the Apprendre le français platform to register for French courses and manage your student profile. 

If you need help, you will find videos and an FAQ section (in French, English and Spanish) at the bottom of the home page.

Your host organization or sponsorship group will help you register and apply for financial assistance for your French courses.

Regardless of the type of French course you choose, you will need to register using the Apprendre le français platform. If you already have an account on the Arrima platform, you can use the same username and password to log on to Apprendre le français.

If registering through Apprendre le français doesn’t work, use the Arrima platform: Arrima – Government of Québec or the following link: Application for admission to French courses – MIFI 

You will need your MIFIMinistère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (du Québec) personal reference number. You can find this number on your CSQQuébec Selection Certificate , CAQQuébec Acceptance Certificate or any other personal communications sent to you by the MIFIMinistère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (du Québec) . Your permanent resident card may also be accepted.

You will need to take additional steps to apply for financial assistance for full-time or part-time courses. See Application for financial assistance.

After you register, check your online account for confirmation of your:

• Registration from the educational institution
• Course start date and location 
• Eligibility for financial assistance

If you are getting help to register for your French courses, for example from a community counsellor, you must fill out the form ME-0002-2304 Authorized person or Proxy – Francisation Québec and submit it using the Apprendre le français website. This will let the person helping you access your information and represent you.

You will get messages about your French courses through your profile on the Apprendre le français platform.

If you need help with your registration or French courses, you can also contact the MIFIMinistère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (du Québec) :

(AGIR Montréal, 2023; Collectif Bienvenue, 2023c; Gouvernement du Québec, 2023d, 2023ac; Jobin-Théberge & Richard, 2020a; Lisa-Marie Gervais, 2023)

You must be aged 16 or over to take these courses. 

The majority of full- and part-time courses are taught in person, but they may also be taught remotely (for example, on Teams).

These classes are for beginner and intermediate students. If you already have some knowledge of French, you will be assessed shortly after you register to determine which course is right for you.

Note that you will have to take tests and exams during your French course. If you feel that your test results do not reflect your French language skills, you can ask the institution to review your grades.

You can choose between full-time and part-time courses.

Courses may be held at:

• An educational institution (adult education centre, CEGEP, university, etc.)
• A community organization
• Remotely over live videoconferencing with a teacher (for example, on Teams).

Attending these courses is compulsory. You may lose access to your courses and financial assistance if:

• You have unjustified late arrivals or absences (note down the maximum number of days you can be absent during the term and the accepted reasons for an absence).
• You behave disrespectfully toward others or your environment (insults, discrimination, breaking equipment, etc.).

See Right to non-discrimination in the Rights and Protections section for more information on the laws and charters that protect all people in Québec against discrimination.

(Collectif Bienvenue, 2023c; Gouvernement du Québec, 2023d, 2023ac; MIFIMinistère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (du Québec) , 2021)

If you speak French at an intermediate or advanced level, you can continue learning French online.

To take these courses, you must:

• Be aged 16 or older
• Have access to a computer and the Internet
• Have a camera and microphone (highly recommended)

You can register for these courses via the Apprendre le français platform.

If you already have some knowledge of French, you will be assessed shortly after you register to determine which course is right for you. 

The hours, times and frequency of courses may vary depending on the school and your schedule. Online courses are free, but no financial assistance is offered.

Here are the different options for online courses:

(Gouvernement du Québec, 2023c; MIFIMinistère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (du Québec) , 2023)

As a refugee claimant, you are eligible for financial assistance for your French courses. 

To encourage newcomers to learn French, the Government of Québec may provide financial assistance or reimburse childcare expenses under certain conditions. For example, you cannot receive financial assistance if you or your spouse is receiving social assistance.

You may also receive employment assistance benefits under the Mesure de formation de la main-d’œuvre (French only – Labour Force Training Measure), for example if you are taking French courses to find or keep a job: Training on How to Find and Keep a Job | Government of Québec. For more information, contact your nearest Services Québec office.