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Home / Experience Reports
Experience reports
| Experience report from Katie H. |
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| Language School: |
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NSL - National School of Languages |
| City: |
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Ottawa |
| Country: |
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Kanada |
| Course: |
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French Immersion |
| Time span: |
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July 2006 - August 2006 |
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| Rating: |
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| Course content: |
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 (satisfactory +) |
| Learning Environment: |
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(satisfactory) |
| Activities: |
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(satisfactory -) |
| Life: |
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(satisfactory -) |
| Benefit/Value: |
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(inadequate) |
| Cost: |
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(inadequate) |
| Avg. Rating: |
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(pass only -) |
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Your report:
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I was enrolled at NSL for 5 weeks (In 2009, not 2006, there is no option for 2009), going for the mornings only. I paid almost $1300 dollars. I also subletted an apartment in Ottawa. For the amount of money I spent to take this course, I am extremely disappointed. The people here were very nice, and if you already know how to speak French and just need a refresher, this is probably an okay course to take. However, I wanted to gain more knowledge of the language and feel as though in the five weeks I was there I barely got a high school refresher. There were many young kids in the classes who would not be quiet and listen, there were very few actual lessons, and the in-class activities were nothing special, simply fill in the blanks that have been photocopied, and on some days we would just watch a French movie with English subtitles. Every single thing that I did while I was there could have been done online, from a book, or by renting a French film and putting the subtitles on.
As I said, everybody was very friendly there. However, I felt as though the place was very disorganized. At the end we received a mark sheet, and I have no idea how they devised my grades, as I never took a test, and I was rather quiet in class because there were many more outspoken people than me, so they could not have based my progression accurately solely based on my in-class performance.
I think this course would be great for somebody who already knows French and needs a bit of a refresher, or for a kid on summer break who is bored and needs something to do for a week.
However, if you are looking to go in there with a basic knowledge and learn the fundamental building blocks of the language and how to use it in either an everyday or formal setting, this is not the place for you. It is too expensive, unorganized and informal to actually come out of there knowing French. There were many times that fellow classmates and I would discuss this, therefore I feel as though my feelings of dissatisfaction are legitimate. Most other people were expecting way more from the class as well.
After moving here, I was told about a program that is offered by the Government called explore. If you are a Canadian citizen and a student, the government will PAY FOR YOU to go to one of their selected schools across Canada, live in a residence and I think they even cover a meal plan. I have met people who have done this and said they learnt French that way and it sounds like a way better option than NSL.
I hate to write such a bad review of the place, but I felt as though I should share this information before anyone else spends a ridiculous amount of money for something that is just not up to par.
If you are interested in learning French, I would strongly suggest for you to check out this webpage: http://www.myexplore.ca/english/program.html for the explore program. I really wish I had this information when I was looking for somewhere to go.
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