QUEBEC: MICC French Courses @ CEGEP Rosemont?

[Hnhkrk]

Anyone taking MICC French courses at CEGEP Rosemont in Saint Michel?

 

[shastaz]

Re: QUEBEC: MICC French Courses @ CEGEP Rosemont?

yess iv applied for my brother e will be starting in january an my husband in march since our house is facing the rosemont college i live in bellechasse 2 minutes time from home to there my husband will probably land in december nice day.

 

[Hnhkrk]

Re: QUEBEC: MICC French Courses @ CEGEP Rosemont?

yess iv applied for my brother e will be starting in january an my husband in march since our house is facing the rosemont college i live in bellechasse 2 minutes time from home to there my husband will probably land in december nice day.

I'll be in level 3 in January! I hope that it goes well for you! It's a great program.

 

[shastaz]

Re: QUEBEC: MICC French Courses @ CEGEP Rosemont?

OK THATS COOL GOODLUCK N THANKS

 

[QuebecOkie]

Re: QUEBEC: MICC French Courses @ CEGEP Rosemont?

I'll be in level 3 in January! I hope that it goes well for you! It's a great program.

Level 3? I'm jealous of your proficiency! I *think* I am starting level two later this month, but north of Québec, though, not at CEGEP Rosemont. It's hard to tell my level from the paperwork they sent, but I think I see a "significant" two (in the sigle du cours number), and I feel like level two is probably the best fit.

 

[Hnhkrk]

Re: QUEBEC: MICC French Courses @ CEGEP Rosemont?

Level 3? I'm jealous of your proficiency! I *think* I am starting level two later this month, but north of Québec, though, not at CEGEP Rosemont. It's hard to tell my level from the paperwork they sent, but I think I see a "significant" two (in the sigle du cours number), and I feel like level two is probably the best fit.

I just completed level one. I start level two on Wednesday, and by January I should be around level three IF I pass level two. :} Level one basically teaches you how to introduce yourself and hold a general conversation about your life. It also teaches you how to conjugate a lot of verbs in present and past tense.

 

[QuebecOkie]

Re: QUEBEC: MICC French Courses @ CEGEP Rosemont?

Ah, okay. Then I'm sure I'm in level two. I'm pretty solid on the basics (clothing, "er" and "ir" verbs and the most common irregular verbs in present, introductions, directions, etc.), and I'm getting better with passé composé and things like COD/COI/other pronouns. I write pretty well, and I read at around a grade two level (haha!). I need a lot of practice speaking and listening, though.

So, if I come in at a level two, does that mean I don't get the full 33 weeks of courses? I thought MICC offered a year of classes at whatever level you were at. I'm totally grateful for whatever I do get, but a year of classes will probably get me to conversationally pretty fluent.

 

[Hnhkrk]

Re: QUEBEC: MICC French Courses @ CEGEP Rosemont?

Ah, okay. Then I'm sure I'm in level two. I'm pretty solid on the basics (clothing, "er" and "ir" verbs and the most common irregular verbs in present, introductions, directions, etc.), and I'm getting better with passé composé and things like COD/COI/other pronouns. I write pretty well, and I read at around a grade two level (haha!). I need a lot of practice speaking and listening, though.

So, if I come in at a level two, does that mean I don't get the full 33 weeks of courses? I thought MICC offered a year of classes at whatever level you were at. I'm totally grateful for whatever I do get, but a year of classes will probably get me to conversationally pretty fluent.

I don't believe so. They offer classes beyond level 3, but from what my professor told me you have to pay for them. However, you can repeat levels if need be!

If you're taking full-time classes, you're going to be fluent enough to hold a conversation at level 3. You do so many exercises and activities that it's hard not to be fluent. Plus, there are going to be a lot of people in your class that don't speak English (or whatever you're foreign language is), and you'll be forced to communicate with them. I can already have simple conversations at level 1 and I can demand service and order my food. You definitely sound like you're around level 2, especially if you can conjugate the première and deuxième verb groups.


The first few days of class you'll be there from around 9AM-1PM, and then after the first week you'll go 8AM - 4PM with a one hour lunch break. It's pretty intense, and eventually you'll even be dreaming in french.

And hey, if you ever need help I can give you my number (or my e-mail/facebook) and we can study. My husband is fluent in french, so he's a good person to have a conversation with.

 

[QuebecOkie]

Re: QUEBEC: MICC French Courses @ CEGEP Rosemont?

I can do a lot of simple stuff. I have no trouble ordering in restaurants, asking for help finding something in stores, and I've added some phone tasks to my repertoire. :-D I left my first voice message in French last Friday (and the hubby said it made sense and was understandable). Just my name, address, phone number, and when I was available at the house. (Home inspector has to come for tax reassessment.) I *did* chicken out and hang up the first time his voicemail picked up, haha, but I called right back. I can make reservations by phone, and I can order pizza for delivery. And I *may* be able to set up snow removal service. We'll see about that, haha. I made the call this morning (I cleared the driveway all of last winter, but I won't want to get home in the dark each evening and then spend 30 or 45 minutes clearing the driveway every other evening). He said he'd call me back...or send me some info...or something, haha. But at least he has my number, name, address, and knows I want him to come take my snow away!

Well, that all sounds cool. I'd be happy enough to take level three twice, if that's an option. I just need more and more and more practice. My husband is fluent in French (it's why we're here, they have a serious dearth of air traffic controllers who are fluently bilingual), but being unhelpful is kind of his "thing," haha. I think he gets tired of French, after working in it all day every day.

Oh, and they told me I'd dream in French. And I already do! But I dream in the same broken and halting French that I speak, haha. I was hoping to sound fluent in my dreams, at least. :-D

Sure, message me your email, and I'll message you mine. And my name, so you can find me on facebook.

 

[Catou]

Re: QUEBEC: MICC French Courses @ CEGEP Rosemont?

Could any of you give me some tips for building my proficiency before I land? I want to be able to come in at level 2. I can read reasonably well (not necessarily understanding every single word individually, but understanding whole sentences) and can understand people when they speak to me or when I am in the midst of a group of people conversing in French. I usually understand jokes okay.
When shopping or going to restaurants, or asking directions, I do okay in Montreal. I do even better in France and had no issues communicating only in French whilst on my own there for a few weeks at a time. The Quebec accent trips me up a bit.
I can hold a basic conversation on the phone and manage okay watching French movies. To improve my French skills before I get there I listen to live-streamed radio from Montreal and read the news online.

I worry that going in at beginner level once I get there that I will get bored. I want to become fully fluent as quickly as possible. Some of my inlaws have a little English but everyone is much more comfortable if we forget the English and just speak French. I hear them, and understand them, but don't have the conversational skills to really take part in discussions.

I intend to study full-time once I am there and will also be in total immersion. Our apartment is in a French area and my husband is quickly losing his English now that he is back home. So, from the day I land I intend to switch off and stick to French alone. Any tips of what I can study now to avoid having to do the first level would be appreciated.

 

[Hnhkrk]

Re: QUEBEC: MICC French Courses @ CEGEP Rosemont?

You already sound like you're level 2 to me, honestly.... I don't think that you need to worry about it. BUT, if you really are concerned, try using the free application duolingo (you can use it on the computer too), it will help you wonders. Even if you get placed in level one, the likely hood that you will be moved up to level 2 is very high. When my class began we have 25 students, but 5 of them were 'false beginners' so they were moved to level 2.

Just keep watching french movies and listening to french music... and if you can, find the quebecoise genre. A good show to watch is 'Les Parent's, you can find it on youtube!

 

[QuebecOkie]

Re: QUEBEC: MICC French Courses @ CEGEP Rosemont?

I don't think you are in any danger of getting stuck with the beginners, Catou. I'm pretty sure I'm in level 2, and I don't understand spoken French nearly as well as you do. I can't really follow movies yet. Like Hannah, I use duolingo, which helps with sentence structure, vocabulary, and grammaire. The robot voice leaves something to be desired when it comes to oral comprehension, and the speech recognition is completely unusable for me, but it's still a great tool, particularly for free.

 

[Catou]

Re: QUEBEC: MICC French Courses @ CEGEP Rosemont?

Thank you both
I have a lot of great French music, including some Quebec albums, that I keep playing in the background. I will definitely watch that show on youtube and check out duolingo - thanks!
One thing I am pretty good at is swearing in a Quebec accent, thanks to my husband. He has a whole repertoire of very colorful phrases that I am going to have to remember not to use

 

[QuebecOkie]

Re: QUEBEC: MICC French Courses @ CEGEP Rosemont?

I make sure to swear in French while driving. I want to make sure other drivers can read my lips if they're paying attention. I hadn't realized just how much I now drive with a Saguenayéene (the region we live in) or Québécoise until my friend was driving us around today. She was driving like "normal" people do, and in my head, I was screaming, "CUT THAT GUY OFF! HE'S TOO SLOW! Tabernak, I could've gone twice already, why is she waiting?!?! Osti, blinkers only let them know your intentions and put you at a disadvantage! Oh, je criss cette auto! Regarde-nous, calice!" If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. And I have.