2012 Quebec Inland Applicants

[kidvicious1]

Where do I apply for these french courses? I scoured the quebec website and found something but it didnt have any info on where to actually apply, unless I missed a link. <.<

 

[jg84]

Quebec Inland Sponsorship Chart

In case anyone was interested, I have updated the Quebec Sponsorship Chart, it now calculates how many days it took from Application Received to The Final Decision being made. As more people get their final decision, it will help with seeing how long applications are taking to complete.

I skipped using the landing date because we hardly have anyone's landing date.

If you want to check the chart out, the link is here http://sdrv.ms/XEmSS7

 

[QuebecOkie]

Where do I apply for these french courses? I scoured the quebec website and found something but it didnt have any info on where to actually apply, unless I missed a link. <.<

Here's the link to the information about different courses: http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/french-language/learning-quebec/index.html

Link to application for full-time course: http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/electronic-services/dacf-electronic/index.html

And the gentleman called back. It sounds like I can be admitted to the full-time course as soon as I get AIP. HOORAY!

 

[kidvicious1]

Hm, it was the part-time courses that I had issues finding how to apply. Read through the full time though, sounds like a better idea to me now. We can do the courses AFTER we get the PR right? It doesn't need to be right now? I do not know if I will be travelling back to England yet.

 

[QuebecOkie]

Hm, it was the part-time courses that I had issues finding how to apply. Read through the full time though, sounds like a better idea to me now. We can do the courses AFTER we get the PR right? It doesn't need to be right now? I do not know if I will be travelling back to England yet.

It appears that, for the part-time courses, you have to find out where the courses are offered and apply directly with the MICC's partner that is offering the course: http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/french-language/learning-quebec/part-time/admission-registration.html and http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/publications/fr/langue-francaise/Liste-organismes-regions.pdf

Yes, it says you are eligible for admission to french courses if:

• you live in Québec
• you lack sufficient knowledge of French for everyday life or work
• you are 16 years of age or older
• you have not reached the maximum of 1800 hours of French courses from the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles (MICC)
• your immigration status allows access to these courses

The only reason I'm so impatient to get into a full-time course is that I'm BORED and I'm frustrated by the language barrier and truly want to work toward becoming bilingual as quickly as possible.

 

[kidvicious1]

Yah definitely feel the boredom and barrier too, going off to RAMQ tomorrow to sort the social insurance thing out, taking my French neighbour just in case I have problems >.< How long have you been here now?

 

[QuebecOkie]

Arrived with my husband on July 20, 2012. We closed on the house and had just time enough to do things like get our cell phones set up, get all the utilities set up for billing in our names, buy me a car, and figure out where the grocery stores were...then on August 12, he drove to Ontario and didn't come back until Christmas Eve. I went down to visit him a few times while he was down there (he was on course), and spent a little bit of time with my in-laws over Thanksgiving and before Christmas. But it was a long four and a half months.

My husband is bilingual, which was of no help when I had to fend for myself. I had ZERO french in the beginning. Some days, I literally wasn't up to trying to get gas by myself. Unlike even down in Québec City, it's a rarity to find anyone who can help you in english here. When I'd drive down to see the husband, it would always make me giggle to stop for gas, try to communicate in french, and have the man or woman at the cash register immediately say, "Would you rather we use english?" Ha, yep, it's pretty obvious that I would. Luckily, there are some french classes at the family resource center. I'm getting a little bit of a base, though I still have a terrible time understanding any spoken french in this region.

How long have you been in Québec? Looks like you're in Montréal?

 

[kidvicious1]

Oh yeah, I was told by my husbands family that Quebec City French is more difficult to understand if you're an Anglophone. I am going there this weekend though, so I'll find out for myself! I can imagine how you feel, hopefully your French will be good after the courses - especially if you do the full immersion one. You will be able to go and buy gas and ask them anything you want
I am glad my husband is around 955 of the time to help me when I get spoken to. Mostly, I still understand French but if they say something I don't recognise I panic and the whole conversation goes out of my head and I look around stupidly for someone to help. Today I went to RAMQ for the carte maladie - the guy had a sign on his counter "In Quebec we communicate in French" and even though I was talking to him in English he still refused to communicate back with me - which is awful because he was trying to explain the cards rules / travel limitations / etc etc. I managed to answer all his basic French questions like name, DOB, address..... but when he was giving me long, fast sentences, come on... English please. He clearly understood English cause I asked a question in English and he replied to it perfectly in French again. I wish the government agencies at least wouldn't make me feel stupid for not yet knowing French - get enough of that from shops and people. Oh, I've been here since May 2010 sitting around waiting, yes I tried to learn French with a CD thing, but it literally was teaching me the basic/intermediate things I already know - for tourism and such. I haven't been able to get into conversational French at all. Kind of depressing, all my husbands family think I am just not trying, but it's hard to learn (and pick up on their accents) unless you actually can practice conversations often, my French reading is decent but how often do you read conversations!!
Any tips on places to visit in Quebec City?

 

[QuebecOkie]

Yeah, the guy who called me about the french course stuff, from the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications, didn't speak any english. I just have to laugh, to avoid crying sometimes. He was very nice, at least, and tried to slow down for me. If people slow way down (serieusement, comme je suis un bébé!), I do a little better. I understand more french in the movies I watch (anything that has french audio, I put on french with english subtitles) than I understand when people up here speak to me. Strong accent. I improve, slowly. At least most of the people here are very nice and pretty patient with me when I try in french. And at least my terror has subsided. In the beginning, it was so frightening! Especially without the hubby here. What would normally be a small inconvenience can become a MAJOR problem quickly with a language barrier.

Haha, "Au Québec, on parle français," indeed! And Québec, vraiment, j'essaie. Just bear with me, and be kind when you can. I respect that people here speak french, and damned if I'm not doing my best to join them. But it's a long road when you start from nothing as an adult, and a little understanding goes a long way. I think I have it better than some, because I'm American, so at least I'm not some dirty Ontarian! Up here in Saguenay, I'm downright exotic.

You'll have to report back on Québec after your visit.

 

[jg84]

Any tips on places to visit in Quebec City?

You have probably said somewhere on the forum but have either of you two visited Quebec before you came to stay? I've visited Quebec twice before I came here in September 2011. Brave if you haven't, what happens if you didn't like it?

I went to Quebec City a few years ago and at the time an army parade was on, army officers from different countries around the world. I would advise to visit Montmorency Falls if you haven't been, it isn't far from Quebec City.

Yeah, the guy who called me about the french course stuff, from the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications, didn't speak any english.

I had the joy of phoning the call centre today about the French courses. The first girl I spoke to was a bit useless, she didn't even know you could do French courses with a CSQ and AIP. She said you get travel and $30 a week if you do the full time French courses, less than the normal amount because you were sponsored.

I phoned back again and spoke to someone else and he said you get no financial aid but you do get travel for full time courses because you were sponsored.

Also the first girl sent me a list of all the centres which offer part time courses, I found the one in my area, called and she said you do get financial aid and they do full and part time courses; they also do job stuff as well. Who is right about the financial aid? Anyway I made an appointment for Monday for both the French courses and about the job services they have.

btw both people at the MICC greeted the call only in French, so I just spoke in English to them

 

[QuebecOkie]

I don't know about the financial aid. I didn't even ask, because I'm nervous that it's something the husband would end up being liable for. It would be nice if there was a little bit of funding, as I can't work, and if I have to drive every day and pay to eat lunch, versus eating cheaper at home, that would be a noticeable increase in my spending.

I never visited Canada or Quebec until our HHT (house hunting trip) last May. If I didn't like it? *shrug* I love my husband dearly, and I'm doing my best to make a life with him wherever we end up (he's military, and only 7 or 8 years in, so this is only the beginning). Who knows where else we'll go, or when. We don't have any say in those things. I have only two choices. Be with him, wherever that is, or not. If, despite our best efforts, things go too wrong to fix, I'll return to Oklahoma and start my life over again with my friends and loved ones there.

 

[kidvicious1]

I visited Quebec several times - but not Quebec City. Don't plan on being around Quebec City more than once a year or so for trips out. I have Montmorency on my list, weathers looking up so should be good time to go.

 

[jg84]

I don't know about the financial aid.

I never visited Canada or Quebec until our HHT (house hunting trip) last May. If I didn't like it? *shrug* Be with him, wherever that is, or not. If, despite our best efforts, things go too wrong to fix, I'll return to Oklahoma and start my life over again with my friends and loved ones there.

I know people do things for love and stuff but it sounds like this all process could be difficult for you... Hopefully you like it here and love for your husband is enough for you to be happy here!

At least you know you have friends at home waiting... Honestly you realise who your real friends are when you move away. Have you had much time to do any socialising here yet? I made a few friends at a place I worked here.

How long have you been with your husband?

 

[jg84]

I visited Quebec several times - but not Quebec City. Don't plan on being around Quebec City more than once a year or so for trips out. I have Montmorency on my list, weathers looking up so should be good time to go.

At least you had an idea about Quebec before moving here. The roads are nice in Quebec City. I like Montmorency. Are you going to include sugaring off with your trip? That season as you may know is coming up.

I remember last year the weather got nice in March and then went a bit colder again in April before the real summer came.

 

[kidvicious1]

Ha yeah I remember last years weather, I remember telling my husband 'winter ends in march' and he said there would be snow until beginning of May, and the weather picked my side We got married in that nice weather!
Unfortunately I think I picked the wrong country to live in though because I do not like the sugaring off at all and everyone else is crazy for it