Academic Programs ... Canadian Students Experiences

Summary of Articles, Testimonials, and Emails

Stettler Independent; Stettler, Alberta
A different kind of education (Laura Drake; reporter) August 2005(?)

David Stadelmann of Stettler, Alberta spent an academic year in France (2004 - 2005), in the Brittany region as part of Nacel Canada's Academic Programs. Though he chose to delay graduating from high school to participate in the program, David quotes 'It was a great experience and I've taken a lot from it". He does admit it took him about a month to adjust to the language, "I had a good vocabulary but putting it together so I made sense took about a month". Though school kept him busy, he also found time to do some tourist things with his host family. Part of the program includes the participant be placed with a host family in the region., David describes his family as 'very stereotypically French" for example, meals at home consisted of several courses. He also made lots of friends in France, whom he says he will likely visit when he returns to France.

Email from Emma Reid of Halifax, Nova Scotia - Academic Year Program in Germany

Emma Reid of Halifax, Nova Scotia participated in the Nacel Canada Academic Program (2006-2007). Sent us this email during her stay; 'I'm happy to say that things are going much better for me here in Germany! The last time I emailed you I was requesting permission to go home to Canada for Christmas. Now that I look back at my last months here, I'm happy to have had the chance to experience a German Christmas, even if it was a little hard to be away from home. I've now gotten to the point where I'm into a comfortable routine and I look forward to going to school, seeing my new friends, and attending different activities here. Just like my Nacel handbook had said all along, it really does get easier!'

The Chronicle Herald; Halifax, Nova Scotia
Student exchange program 'wonderful' experience ( Joel Jacobson) September 24, 2007

Emma Reid of Halifax, Nova Scotia participated in the Nacel Canada Academic Program (2006-2007). Upon her return, she says the experience in Germany was "wonderful'. She continue to qualify there was an adjustment period for herself and her host family. Emma had minimum exposure to the German language before her departure; "My schoolwork was impossible for me to keep up with, and may language problems weren't helping me in any way." Then, one of her teachers in Germany turned things around. "In one of my first German French Grade 11 classes, my teacher helped many of my classmates get to know me much better. Her told us he had brought a newspaper article written about me. I was a little puzzled, considering the only newspaper article about me I could recall was the Great Kids piece written before I had even left Canada. He explained that friends of his were vacationing in Canada and were in Halifax the day the article was published. They saw that I would be attending the gymnasium school (in Trittau, near Hamburg) where my French teacher taught, so they brought the article home to him. He shared it with my classmates. Though it was a French lesson, I spent that entire class working on our English translating skills. They learned about my interests and background, a great way for the to get to know me, especially considering my poor German skills. It was a wonderful start to making friends." As the year progressed Emma's German language skills greatly improved and her involvement in various activities; turning it into a great success. Her host family enjoyed showing her their country, they traveled at all points of Germany. She misses the bakeries and enjoyed the directness of the people. 'They don't beat around the bush but say what they think," say Emma. Now that she is back home, she feels because of her experience she could get along anywhere. "The experience was wonderful. I became much more independent. I'd recommend to anyone. I certainly opened my eyes and showed me people are not all that different. Yes, I was glad to get home, but kind of sad to leave my new friends, too."

Summer Programs ... Canadian Students Experiences

Email from S. Sharp; mother of Kelly Victoria, British Colombia - Tutorial in France 2005

" I just want to drop you a little note to say that Kelly's trip to Lyon was outstanding. She loved Ludo (the Tutor) and she truly bonded with her French family. She is just full of stories and grand memories. She didn't think that she actually learned much French from the classes but she certainly learned a lot from 'living in that environment - not only in comprehension but in her confidence to speak French and confidence in general. This trip further developed admiration and interest to learn more about the French and the French culture." wrote Mrs. Sharp August 4th, 2005 via email

Kelly is currently in France, Academic Trimester Program in Boarding School September to December 2007 trough Nacel Canada. She is happy with her weekend host family and the school. She is hoping to further her studies in Montreal next September.

Excerpts from letter to Nacel Canada from participant Jennifer Slupsky; Edmonton Alberta - Tutorial in France 2005

... "Overall, I gained experience and pleasure during my time in France-I enjoyed the tutor sessions (my tutor: Guilmette) immensely, and the excursions were excellent for learning about French history and culture (although, I do recommend making them active-based, perhaps.)" Nacel France has changed the tutorial slightly for more physical activities in 2006. Jennifer continued to write ' I feel that I returned from France with a new sense of mind, and greater control over the French language. I can speak faster, and more fluently-although I'm nowhere near perfect-and I have had a glorious time reciting my many experiences to my friends and family." ... my host parents "were very welcoming and accepting of my cultural differences, were always attempting to help me learn more about the French. My host-brothers also communicated in a proficient and friendly manner, as well-they were very welcoming."