5 great reasons to learn French at Concordia
Whether you’re new to Montreal or a local looking to strengthen your skills, Concordia offers many ways to improve your French and thoroughly enjoy daily life in Quebec.
1. Montreal is the perfect place to learn
As the largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris, Montreal offers daily opportunities to hear, speak and live in French. Choosing Montreal means choosing a city where French is part of everyday life — on the streets, in the workplace and in culture. It’s the ideal environment to learn naturally and make meaningful connections.
2. It’s the best way to fully enjoy the city
Learning a language is also learning a culture. If you’re new to Montreal or Quebec, learning French can help you feel at home and better understand the society around you. With 50,000 students, Concordia is a diverse, multilingual community — and French is the common thread that connects you to the city.
3. You'll get an academic and professional edge
French isn’t just a bonus on your resumé — it can be essential. Many professional orders in Quebec require proof of French proficiency. Even when it’s not mandatory, speaking French opens more doors in Quebec’s bilingual job market.
(Concordia can help with career planning too!)
4. You don’t need to be fluent to start
You’ll find French courses designed for every level — even if you’re starting from zero:
- The Département d’études françaises offers beginner to advanced classes, including oral communication courses designed to help you feel confident navigating conversations in real life.
- Concordia Continuing Education offers non-credit, communication-focused classes aligned with the Échelle québécoise to help you build skills in French, no matter your background.
Bonus: out-of-province and international students may be eligible for a break on tuition fees for studying French.
5. You’ll have support at every step
Ways to keep the conversation going:
- Réussir en français, Concordia’s French-language hub, highlights resources, events, and ways to practice French, in the classroom and beyond.
- The Student Success Centre runs Jazz-ons, a French conversation practice session, and one-on-one language practice appointments.
- The Concordance program offered by the Centre pour étudiant·es francophones pairs students to practice French (or other languages) in a friendly, conversational setting.