THIRD YEAR AWAY INFORMATION SESSION 2018 - CHICOUTIMI NANTES

THIRD YEAR AWAY
INFORMATION SESSION 2018

  CHICOUTIMI ∼ NANTES

WHY STUDY ABROAD ?

 • The best way to improve your French is to
   immerse yourself in a french-speaking
   environment (language and culture)

 • Teaching experience : Assistantship positions
   available in Nantes and Chicoutimi

EXCHANGE PROGRAMS IN FRENCH
STUDIES

Chicoutimi (Québec)
 • Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC)

Nantes (France)
 • Université de Nantes
 • in collaboration with Trent University

Coordination (2018-2019)
 • Prof. Catherine Dubeau (Nantes)
 • Prof. Svetlana Kaminskaïa (Chicoutimi)

SELECTION PROCESS

Step 1 → Submit your application
 • Application form available online:
      • https://uwaterloo.ca/french-studies/sites/ca.french-
        studies/files/uploads/files/french_exchange_programs_app
        lication_form_0.pdf
 • Application form + recent photo + curriculum vitae
 • By Monday, November 26th, 2018
 • To Rachel Stevenson (ML 333)

Step 2 → Interview (in French)
 • 15 minutes
 • Prof. Dubeau et Prof. Kaminskaïa (ML 337)
 • December 3th – 5th, 2018

SELECTION PROCESS
Step 3 → Letters sent in February
 • Yes / no / waiting list

Step 4 → Preparation
 • (Spring / Summer)

Step 5 → You leave !
 • Chicoutimi --> mid-August
 • Nantes --> Beginning of September

SELECTION CRITERIA
 Your program
 • 1st priority: FTS (French Teaching Specialization)
 • 2nd priority: French Honours, minors
 • 3rd priority: other programs (if spots available)
Only those enrolled in a four-year program may apply

 Your grades (average) in your French courses only
  • 1st priority : FTS, 75% or better
  • 2nd priority: HF, 75% or better
  • 3rd priority: a General program, 70% or better

HOW MANY SPOTS ARE AVAILABLE?
 Nantes : 10 (or more if Trent University sends
  less than 10 students)

 Chicoutimi :15

 Do not hesitate to submit your application,
 you never know when a spot may become
                 available !

(JODY BRUS, ERIKA ELLACOTT, LAURA UPTON, RUTH WRIGHT-
GEDKE, TARYN ANSTETT)

ABOUT THE CITY

• Population ~ 303,382
  (2017)
• Nantes, a city on the
  Loire River in the Upper
  Brittany region of
  Western France, has a
  long history as a port
  and industrial center.
• It is close to the
  Atlantic coast (60 km).
• Coastal weather:
  damp, humid, regular
  rainfall

ABOUT THE CITY
• First city in France to
  successfully re-
  introduce electric
  tramways.
• European Green
  Capital 2013
  (European
  Commission)
• Home to the restored,
  15th-century Château
  des Ducs de
  Bretagne, where the
  Dukes of Brittany
  once lived.

UNIVERSITÉ DE NANTES
• Statement of financial status required by French
  government for visa purposes
• Medical examination required by a French
  physician once in France
• The Canadian professor accompanies the
  students at the beginning of September
  (approx. 7 days).
• Tuition Fees paid at UW + 1000$ for the year
  (administrative fees: hiring the professors,
  renting the class rooms, etc.)

UNIVERSITÉ DE NANTES
• I-FLE : Institut de français langue étrangère
• Courses taught at the IFLE (formally known as
  IRFFLE: Institut de recherche et de formation en
  français langue étrangère)
• the school year calendar of your courses
  corresponds to our UW schedule (both terms
  have a reading week + Christmas break)
• Regular courses at the Université de Nantes
  have different start and end dates

COURSES
• Regular Program:
• 4 courses prepared for the Canadian group
  (taught by French Professors)
      • Literature / Philosophy / History / French
        Language
• Choices for a 5th course (included in UW fees)
• 1 regular course of your choice from the U of N
  calendar, but must make arrangements with the
  prof
• FR 399A Independent Cultural Study
• 1 online course at UW/term

U. DE NANTES - RESIDENCES

• Students are housed in
  one of three residences
  on campus
• Residences have been
  recently renovated
• Single rooms (9m2) with
  bathroom
• Community kitchen
  facilities available
• In 2016-2017, rent was
  254.80€/month (includes
  internet access)          Photo by Christopher Lauzon
• Security deposit: 280€

EXPENSES*
Canadian passport: $120 / 160 CND
Student Visa: $146.25
Student Immigration Tax: 60€
Travel to Nantes: ($1300 - 1500 CND) (flight)
Tuition fees: regular UW tuition fees at UW
Residence:
  • Room: 254.80 € x 8 months
    + 280 € (security deposit)
    (2038.40 + 280 = 2318.40 €/$3458.26CND)
  • House Insurance: 40-65€
Public transit passes: 40€ (monthly pass)
Many goods are more expensive in France
  • Food: 2240€ (70€ x 32 weeks)
You will need to bring 1000€ cash for the first week.*All
costs are approximate and may vary*

EXPENSES SUMMARY
Uwaterloo Tuition (2 terms):
$7,700.00
Administrative Fee:
$1,000.00
Misc. Fees (previous page):
$9,269.61
Approximate total:
$17,969.61 > $18,000
You can obtain a small rebate
from the CAF for your rent
(Caisse d’allocations           La Tour Lu in Nantes
familiales)

SIGHTS IN NANTES
Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne
 • Medieval castle

      Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul
          • Large Roman Catholic cathedral

SIGHTS IN NANTES
The Machines of the Isle of Nantes
  • Giant robot exhibition

Théâtre Graslin
  • Historic theatre

Jardin des Plantes
  • Across from the main train
   station

Passage Pommeraye
  • Mall, constructed 1840 - 1843

SIGHTS IN NANTES
Le Nid
  • Café- bar at the top of La Tour de Bretagne

SIGHTS OUTSIDE OF NANTES
La Côte Sauvage
  • A beach ~80 km from Nantes
Pornic
  • A small sea-port
Guérande
  • A small town near la Côte Sauvage
  • Surrounded by medieval fortifications
Clisson
  • A small town 35 km from Nantes
  • Medieval ruins and a reconstructed
    castle

SIGHTS OUTSIDE OF NANTES
Paris
  • The capital of France is about
    385 km from Nantes
The rest of France and Europe
  • Take advantage of your holidays to
    explore!

ÉTUDIANTS DE 2017 –
ACTUELLEMENT À NANTES

HOST FAMILIES
 Nantes: You can choose to have a host family
  (weekend activities, trips). Organized by the
  « Association France-Canada ».
 N.B. Students do not live with their host family, all
  students live in residence.

 Chicoutimi: Finding a host family may be
  possible through l'École de langue française et
  de culture québécoise
 N.B. Through this program, students live with their
  host family and pay room and board.

• Study in a French-
speaking environment
• Learn about the Québec
culture
• Practise your French with
other (francophone)
students

                              • Appreciate the beauty of
                              the region
                              • Apprivoisez l’hiver!
                                             Photos by
                                           Kathleen Zeitel

CHICOUTIMI (UQAC)
           • Students spend 1 or 2 semesters in Chicoutimi
           • Students are enrolled in the “Baccalauréat en
             études littéraires françaises” program
           • Students participate in UQAC’s regular classes
           • https://programmes.uqac.ca/7792/officiel#plan

https://www.universitystudy.ca/canadian
    -universities/universite-du-quebec-a-
                         chicoutimi-uqac/

ACADEMIC YEAR AT UQAC (2019–20)
 • Fall term begins: Aug. 26th, 2019

 • Labour Day: September 2rd, 2019

 • Thanksgiving: October 7th, 2019

 • Fall reading week: October 8th to 11th, 2019

 • Fall term ends: December 17th, 2019

 • Winter term begins: January 6th, 2020?

 • Winter reading week: in March 2020

 • Good Friday

 • Easter Monday

 • Winter term ends: end of April 2020

ACADEMIC LIFE
• ~7000 students (UW has ~36 000)
• Students can take 10 courses
   over the course of 2 terms (a
   letter of permission
   must be completed before leaving)
                                            http://www.uqac.ca/docdim/stages/contact/contact.htm

• Minimum of 3 literature courses/term
• FR 399A: Independent Cultural Study
• Grading system is different (letter grades: A, B, C, D)
• The lowest grade UW will transfer is a C- (67 to 69%)
• Numerous extra-curricular activities
  • Vie étudiante
  • Associations des étudiants internationaux de l’UQAC

CHICOUTIMI (UQAC) RESIDENCES

           Photo by Ashley Dean

ACCOMODATIONS
Students stay in residence
  • UQAC residences are slightly
    cheaper and more spacious
    than UW’s
  • Around $390 - $435 / month for
    a period of 9 months (all
    included, except food and
    utensils)
  • 4- or 6-bedroom apartments
    with kitchen facilities
  • UW students are grouped with
    French-speakers to help
    develop their French
  • http://www.uquebec.ca/reside
    ncesuqac/

CHICOUTIMI (UQAC) RESIDENCES

http://www.uqac.ca/direction_services/sae/logement/resi_appartements.php

EXPENSES

Chicoutimi tuition fees
  • Out-of-province fee waived
  • $1,321.67 per term (4 courses)
  • $1,602.47 per term (5 courses)
Residence fees (par mois/par chambre)
  • $390 (4 chambres)
  • $430 (3 chambres)
  • $435 (2 chambres)
  $390X9 = $3,510.00 / $435X9 = $3,915.00
  • Most goods are priced the same as in Ontario
Part-time work in Chicoutimi possible

EXPENSES

Parking fees (if needed)

                                                     Soir (à partir
                                  Temps              de 16h)ou
Utilisateurs    Vignette
                                  complet            stat. St-
                                                     Thomas*
Étudiants       Annuelle          212$               133$
UQAC            Session           118$               71$
(incluant       Mensuelle         54$                n/a
résidences)     Hebdo.            21$                n/a

      https://www.uqac.ca/direction_services/sie/stationnement.php

EXPENSES

All expenses
Tuition fees (UQAC)
Textbooks
Flight from Toronto to Quebec City + Intercar
Quebec City to Chicoutimi
Living expenses (residence + groceries)

$8,000 - $9,500 (depending on number of
courses and type of residence).
*all figures are approximate and subject to change /
Additional expenses such as travel and shopping have not
been factored into this budget

LA VILLE DE SAGUENAY
98% francophone
Medium sized city
 • 151 000 people
 • 129 people/km2
 Kitchener: 233,222
   1,705.1 people/km2
 Waterloo: 104,986,
 1,520.7 people/km2
On the Saguenay River
200 km north of Québec
City

ABOUT THE REGION
• Snow on the ground from October/November to
  April
• Average winter temperature: -16°C (but it can go
  as low as -40!)
• A prime location for outdoor enthusiasts: large lakes
  (Lake Saint-Jean), meandering rivers (Saguenay),
  towering mountains (Valin mountains) and a fjord
  (Saguenay Fjord) carved out of a glacial valley.
• Open, friendly people

SIGHTS TO SEE / THINGS TO DO
Snowshoeing, skiing,
snowboarding, hiking
Canoeing, kayaking
Restaurants, cafés, pubs, malls
River and fjord cruises
La Pulperie
  • Former paper pulp
    complex, now a museum
La Petite Maison Blanche
  • Survived “Le Déluge”
    (1996), now a museum

SAGUENAY – LAC SAINT JEAN REGION
Mt Valin
  • 43 km NE of Chicoutimi
  • National park
  • Ideal for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and
    hiking
Tadoussac
  • 125 km E of Chicoutimi
  • Historic port dating back to 1599
  • Boating, whale watching on the St-Laurent
Zoo sauvage de St Félicien
  • 127 km W of Chicoutimi
  • Zoo with 80 boreal animal species living in
    realistic habitats
  • Outdoor excursions
Québec City
  • 200 km S of Chicoutimi
  • The historic capital of Québec has
    many sights to see
  • Carnaval de Québec (Winter Carnival)
Montréal

TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP

 Nantes: Teaching opportunities available
  through the Catholic school board. Volunteer
  work.

 Chicoutimi: Teaching opportunities available
  through la Commission scolaire Rive-du-
  Saguenay. Volunteer work.

Photos et commentaires par Jacob Murray (en
échange présentement):
• J’encourage les étudiants qui nous suivent à
  acheter un bon manteau d’hiver : J’ai déjà
  porté le mien !
• Vous allez lire beaucoup de romans : j’ai 12
  romans à lire dans une session ! Préparez-vous
  bien !
• Il y a une bonne boulangerie qui s’appelle
  Pâtisserie Ladouche, qui vend de bons
  macarons français ! Très délicieux !
• La rue Racine est plus active que la Rue
  Talbot : la Racine est semblable à la rue King
  à Waterloo.
• Le Théâtre Banque Nationale offre un
  Cinéclub chaque lundi au Théâtre Banque
  national (près des résidences de l’UQAC) !

GUEST SPEAKERS

             Please welcome

                      Abel Nemeth
   Marisa Da Re

                      Jordan Steenge
       Jennifer Seo

IMPORTANT LINKS

Département d’études françaises (UW)
https://uwaterloo.ca/french-studies/

Exchange Programs (French Studies, UW)
https://uwaterloo.ca/french-studies/undergraduate/third-year-away

Université de Québec à Chicoutimi
http://www.uqac.ca/

Université de Nantes
http://www.univ-nantes.fr/

CONTACTS
Catherine Dubeau (Associate Professor)
  • Third Year Away program coordinator, Nantes (2018-2019)
  • ML 341, cdubeau@uwaterloo.ca

Svetlana Kaminskaïa (Associate Professor)
  • Third Year Away program coordinator, Chicoutimi (2018-2019)
  • ML337, skaminskaia@uwaterloo.ca

Rachel Stevenson (Undergraduate Program Assistant)
  • ML 333, rachel.stevenson@uwaterloo.ca

Kate Andrey (Student Success Office, Waterloo International)
  • Global Learning Coordinator,
  • SCH 217, kandrey@uwaterloo.ca

FIN!

Thank you for coming!