Manitoba-Québec Exchange Program
The Manitoba–Québec Exchange Program will be offered in a virtual format as an alternative to in-person exchanges, which have been suspended for the 2023/2024 school year.
The exchange will take place for six weeks from October 30 to December 8, 2023.
The program is offered to students enrolled in the French Immersion Program who will be in Grades 10 or 11 in September 2023. Students in the English Program with strong French skills can also apply.
All activities will take place after school hours. The paired students will communicate twice a week for approximately 30 minutes. It will be the students’ responsibility to determine the date and time of their interactions on the platform of their choice. Weekly themes will be suggested to help with the flow of conversation between the paired students.
In addition, one-hour group activities (approximately three times in six weeks) will be organized and supervised by a facilitator. These activities will take place on the weekends.
Application Form (
269 KB)
Application deadline: Friday, October 6, 2023
Note: The video presents information about the regular in-person format. To know more, see “2019-2020 Manitoba-Québec Exchange Program” below.
2023-2024 Manitoba-Québec Exchange Program
Program Objectives | Tentative
Timeline |
Program Objectives
- Improve students’ French language communication skills
- Improve students’ confidence in speaking French
- Develop students’ bilingual identity
- Create lifelong opportunities and foster openness to other languages and cultures
- Develop students’ greater independence and self-esteem
Tentative Timeline
- October 6, 2023 – Submission of applications
- Between October 16 and 27, 2023 – Selection and pairing of participating students
- October 30 to December 8, 2023 – Duration of the exchange program
Conditions of Participation
An eligible student may apply, provided that
- the student is prepared to make a suitable commitment to the program
- their parents or guardians provide their consent
Qualifications
The student must have
- an interest in the program and the determination to complete it
- an openness to other cultures
- the ability to adapt
- a mature attitude
- a good knowledge of French or a great desire to learn
Application Deadline
Completed student applications must be submitted by Friday, October 6, 2023.
Information for Students
Application does not guarantee participation. Not all applicants will be successfully matched. There will be a screening process based on the criteria listed above. It is very important the application form is accurately completed.
The selection and pairing of Manitoba and Québec students will occur in October. The Manitoba student will have the opportunity to accept or decline the pairing after receiving information about the Québec student.
The paired students will be able to contact each other as soon as they are both informed of the acceptance of the proposed pairing.
Information for Parents
Participation by a student in this program also requires a commitment on the part of the parents or legal guardians. It is essential that the family support the participation of the student and contribute to the success of the virtual exchange from the beginning to the end of the program.
Contact Person
For more information please contact:
Manitoba-Québec Virtual Exchange Program
Bureau de l'éducation française
Telephone: 204-945-6916
Toll Free: 1-800-282-8069, ext. 6916
Email: paloolsp@gov.mb.ca
2019-2020 Manitoba-Québec Exchange Program
Description | Objectives |
How It Works |
Application Form 2020-2021 (
343 KB)
Interview Questionnaire (
564 KB)
School Division Participation Request
Form ( 43 KB)
Participant Guide ( 425 KB)
School Guide ( 398
MB)
Program Description
The Manitoba-Québec Exchange Program is offered to students enrolled in the French Immersion Program who will be in Grade 10 or 11 next September. Students in the English Program with strong French skills can also apply. Manitoba Students are paired with Québec students for a six-month period – three months in Manitoba and three months in Québec.
Program Objectives
- Improve students French language communication skills.
- Improve students’ confidence to speak French.
- Develop students' bilingual identity.
- Create lifelong opportunities and foster openness to other languages and cultures.
How the Program Works
From September to December, Québec students live with their Manitoba host families and both students attend school in Manitoba. In turn, starting in February the Manitoba students live with their Québec host families and both students attend school in Québec, for the same length of time and under the same conditions.
Terms and Conditions of Participation
- School divisions, schools and parents must consent to participate in the program.
- Schools must interview candidates and their families and select the participants.
- A family must be able to adequately accommodate the Québec students for three months.
- Each family member residing in the household, over 18 years old, must undergo a Criminal Record Check and Child Abuse Registry Check and the documents must be sent to the department by the end of May.
Participant Selection Criteria
The candidates must have:
- an interest in the program and the determination to complete it
- a solid academic record or a recommendation from the school and parents
- an openness to other cultures
- the ability to adapt
- a mature attitude
- a good knowledge of French or a great desire to learn
- good English language skills
Cost
- Participating families must pay part of the airfare ($300) as well as living expenses for their visiting student.
- The government of Manitoba (Bureau de l’éducation française) covers the remaining round-trip travel costs from Winnipeg to Québec City.
- Tuition costs are covered by both provinces based on reciprocity.
Application Procedure
- The student and his/her parents are to fill out the Application Form electronically. The student must then submit the application form to the person responsible for the exchange program at the school (liaison teacher).
- The liaison teacher must advise the school division of the student's potential participation
in the exchange program and ask the division to fill out the School Division Participation Request
Form ( 43 KB).
- Upon receiving the duly completed application from the student, the liaison teacher will conduct an interview with the candidate and his or her parents or guardians at the residence where the student from Québec will be staying.
- After the interview process is complete, the committee will evaluate the candidate and decide whether or not the candidate is qualified to participate in the program. If so, the liaison teacher will prepare the student’s file to be submitted to the Department of Education.
- The student registration file of the student recommended by the school shall consist of two
duly completed documents: the Application Form and the Interview Questionnaire
.
- For each student recommended by the school, the liaison teacher will not only mail a copy of the student’s registration file to the program coordinator at the Bureau de l'éducation française, but will also submit the file electronically. He or she shall keep a copy for reference.
- The complete file must be submitted to the Department before
the end of March.
Other information
The Manitoba participants will be paired with the Québec participants at the end of April. Each participant will be informed about his or her counterpart in May.
Only one family member a year is allowed to participate in the student exchange program.
It is up to the student and his or her school to make the necessary arrangements to compensate for the schooling that may be missed while he or she is away.
