‘As an immigrant, language is our first bridge to others’
On Saturday, April 12, Concordia participated in the Dictée Paul Gérin-Lajoie (P.G.L.) de la Mairesse, led by Catherine Fournier, mayor of Longueuil.
The event, part of the Dictée P.G.L. des municipalités, is a broader initiative by the Fondation Paul Gérin-Lajoie designed to help newcomers in Quebec immerse themselves in French and Quebec’s cultural fabric.
For participant Ivan Francisco Mendez Vesga, a recent immigrant from Colombia, it was also an opportunity to take another step towards fully understanding and embracing Quebec’s culture.
“Learning French is more than just a professional goal; it’s also a way for me to integrate, make friends, and build human connections,” he says. “As an immigrant, language is our first bridge to others. And besides, I’ve always dreamed of speaking this language, which I find beautiful, rich and full of emotion.”
From left: Claudine Trahan, Ivan Francisco Mendez Vesga, François Gerin-Lajoie.
Alignment with Concordia’s mission
The event was created in partnership with Concordia’s Réussir en français to celebrate language, culture and belonging. Through a “dictée,” or language learning exercise in which participants listen to a passage and transcribe it, participants test their spelling, grammar and listening skills.
Vesga, who is enrolled in francization courses at the Université de Sherbrooke, earned the grand prize: a $1,300 gift certificate for Concordia Continuing Education, including the French Conversation program.
“The Dictée P.G.L. is well-aligned with Concordia’s mission,” says Claudine Trahan, senior director of strategy and transformation at Concordia Lifelong Learning.
“The foundation’s values really resonate with the university’s — especially our commitment to supporting our community and responding to its needs, all while playing an active role in serving Montreal.”
Through shared experiences and collaborative learning, participants explored how learning French can become a powerful tool for discovering Quebec culture and fostering a genuine sense of belonging.
“I already knew of Concordia as a very well-known university, but I didn’t know it also offered activities in French,” Vesga says. “Taking part in this dictation was an opportunity for me to open up to a network and maybe meet key people for my future study projects.”
Education as a tool for social transformation
Concordia’s ongoing participation in the Dictée P.G.L. is part of the university’s commitment to making French a bridge to both personal and cultural integration for newcomers.
"This [approach] aligns with the philosophy of Paul Gérin-Lajoie, who sought to transform society through education," says Olivier Bertin-Mahieux, executive director of the Fondation Paul Gérin-Lajoie.
Expand your learning with Concordia’s Continuing Education programs.
