CPF Magazine Spring 2021 Issue

old, she went to France for 3 weeks to stay
with a family that had a child the same age
as her. It was her first time travelling alone.
”It was the first time I was
communicating in French outside school.
French immersion education allowed me
to put myself out there. I surprised myself
with my ability to speak French and it
was wonderful to have such an authentic
experience. French immersion opened
so many doors, not only to get a better
understanding of the French language,
but also to experience French culture in
Canada and internationally. I became more
aware of life outside my community,”
says Maya.
As French immersion opened
Maya’s world, she continued her
adventure outside her comfort zone by
participating in the Explore program. The
Federal government offers this bursary
program, making it possible for hundreds
of students annually to benefit from an
immersion experience and improve their
knowledge of one of Canada’s two official
languages: French or English. When she
was 16 years old, Maya spent five weeks
in the summer program in Jonquière, in
the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of
Québec. “Meeting people from all
over North America was incredible,”
says Maya.
When asked if she considers herself
as fully bilingual, Maya replies: “I think
so. It is the biggest value of my French
education. It will be beneficial as I move
forward in my life.” Maya doesn’t know
how bilingualism will play out in her
future, but she is certain that she doesn’t
want to lose her French. She is looking
forward to opportunities to maintain her
French, like joining a French club. She is
also looking forward to studying overseas
in a French-speaking country as Queen’s
offers the 3rd year of study abroad.
She will be pursuing a degree in
business and she affirms that she would
love to have opportunities to travel in
her job and work in French.
When asked what advice she would
give to kids in an immersion program
transitioning into high school?
“I would say just do it!” says Maya.
Even though she was sometimes
skeptical about the benefits, it turns
out the extra-curricular activities she
had with French immersion were
the most beneficial thing for her.
The Explore program and going to
France pushed her into unfamiliar
situations and improved her
understanding of French culture.
After going through these two
major experiences, Maya feels
more connected to what she
has been learning at school.
“Be willing to be
uncomfortable! If you stick
with it, it’s worth it!”
that’s her advice and she
confirms that she would
definitely do it again
without hesitation!
CPF Ontario thanks Maya for
sharing her story with us. We applaud
her courage, her leadership, and
her enthusiasm about her path to
bilingualism.
We wish her all the best in the next
chapter of her life, the journey she will
be starting this September at Queen’s
University. n
“If you stick with it, it’s worth it!”
that’s her advice and she confirms
that she would definitely do it
again without hesitation!
CPF MAGAZINE SPRING 2021 7