Emploi-Québec and French courses

[silentauror]

Potentially super boring topic, apologies in advance

Comments

[finnistar]

Hullo, I took classes at Centre Saint-Louis last year from May to November full-time and I was funded by emploi-Quebec. I'm Canadian, from Ontario, and no one ever tried to tell me that I couldn't get funding (I was not eligible for EI). The only catch with emploi-Quebec is that you have to study full-time. 8:30-4, 5 days a week. I will admit that I was surrounded by immigrants in class, but there were several Canucks (like myself) around too.

The program is great if you don't know any French. The grammar was very helpful. However, I left after 6 months in the program because I was still poor, even with emploi-Quebec! :P You're better off getting francophone friends to help you practice with your speaking, because the program doesn't allow you to speak enough...and that's supposed to be the point. :3

I went to the Verdun office. Bonne chance! :)

[silentauror]

That's exactly what I'm taking (and want to be taking!), full-time class from 8:30-4! What on earth did you say when you went to Emploi-Québec?? Can you give me any tips? I've lived on MUCH less than what their stipend is, so I would be just fine!

I have francophone friends and I do practise diligently. I just need more in the way of actual grammatical structure. I'm the rare type who does better with class than just being thrown out there - I'm vastly braver if I can be sure that my sentences are correct! :P

Did you go to EQ first or try going through the school, for the funding?

[finnistar]

When I went to emploi-Quebec, I was recovering from a serious illness (I had to leave my job the year before because of this). I had applied for EI, but received a letter stating that I did not qualify for assistance, because I hadn't worked in Quebec long enough. You need to have physical proof that you applied for EI, but were rejected. That's all you need to get emploi-Quebec assistance. Also, see if you qualify for welfare, I didn't qualify for that because I'm married. My husband was with me when I applied, so I didn't have to prove that

[silentauror]

Thank you hugely for this!! Okay - I'm now positive that I won't qualify for EI because I've never actually worked in Québec (at least not *cough* in a tax-declared sort of way... seriously small stuff, though, just singing gigs here and there), so I guess I just have to wait for that rejection? I'm already enrolled in class at the school on Papineau, it's just a question of how to get some freaking funding so that I don't starve to death and get evicted in the meantime!

Thanks a ton for your help! I'm in level 5 right now and was hoping to maybe be able to get by after this, but still - I need to pay some rent and bills before the end of February!

[finnistar]

As long as you applied, then that's all you can do for now. I think they give you back your $60, because I'm pretty sure I did get it back (eventually). I'd like to go back and do the evening classes eventually. I just had the opportunity to go back to my job - sooo yeah. ;) EI should make their decision within 30 days (I can't actually remember). Once you get approved by emploi-Quebec, it doesn't take long before they start paying you. Hang in there! :)

[silentauror]

Thanks again - you've been incredibly helpful and I appreciate it more than I can say! It helps to know what kind of timeline I'm looking at, too. My sincerest thanks!

[finnistar]

You're totally welcome! I've been in Montreal almost 3 years now. I made the decision to move here (from Toronto) because I married a guy from Quebec City and I wanted to be able to communicate with my father-in-law (he is francophone). My husband is fully bilingual and actually doesn't care if I speak French or not. So, moving to la belle province has been an interesting (and challenging) experience. :3

Anyone I can help now - in any way that I can - is totally worth it, because it was so crazy-difficult for me when I moved here!!

I friended you btw, because you can never know too many people in this city. :P

[silentauror]

This is actually my fourth year here, but not consecutively - I came for McGill, with no intentions of staying. I resented things like, oh, how the STM would only announce service changes in French, how even emergency exit instructions in privately-owned (non-gov't) buildings could only be in French sometimes, etc. And then I got over myself, made some Québécois friends, stopped condemning separatism and started talking to actual Québécois people about it (I'd only ever heard the viewpoint from the prairies and further west!), and started behaving like a proper Montréaler, rather than a McGill student - going for long walks in parks, shopping at the marchés (Jean-Talon is usually a weekend tradition now!), branching away from downtown and exploring other neighbourhoods, etc. And then I graduated and moved back to Winnipeg, mostly for lack of any better plan - I didn't speak French, I don't like Toronto, I didn't have a work visa for the US (or else I would have moved to NY for my singing career's sake)... eventually I just went home.

[finnistar]

You know, my best friends right now, are the people I met at Centre Saint-Louis. When you spend that much time with the same people, you can't help but become close. A bunch of my husband's friends moved here from Québec City, so I definitely have a lot of French friends to hang out with regularly. The husband actually hates Montréal, so we would probably be in Québec City if there were jobs there (there are no jobs there, lol). It's a beautiful city and a much easier place to learn French! I'm starting to feel like a real Montréalaise now, even though I work in Westmount. :P

[silentauror]

:) I do love Québec! I don't know exactly if I'll move there, but I'm definitely thinking about it! It's so beautiful, and while living in Montréal is easier, it would definitely be easier to get used to living in French all the time if it wasn't an option! :P I do love Montréal for its own reasons too, though... we'll see!

[snakey]

How much do they give you for the stipend? *is immigrant about to go through this*

[finnistar]

I was receiving about $500 every two weeks. They give you the bi-weekly stipend, plus I got money to pay for my metropass because I lived far away from the school I chose to go to. I'm not sure how they calculate how much money you get. Look at the comment I left above for more info. :)

[silentauror]

Yeah, that's exactly the amount I've heard from other people who were getting the funding, too. And to get a free metro pass would be like a dream come true!!

[silentauror]

So, hi again! I just got myself turned down for EI, so once I get the letter, would you suggest I go to the Verdun office? Should I try to make an appointment first? Sorry to bug you again, but I just thought I'd check in! You're my major source of info right now, haha! I'm almost finished niveau 5 and I've been talking up a storm... I have friends (including a Special Man, aka man I'd like to marry if I can swing it!) in Québec City and just spent another all-French-all-the-time weekend there with more success than usual. (Yay!) I'm tackling every new grammar unit with enthusiasm and I'm really hoping to get bilingual fast!!

[finnistar]

Excellent! I don't remember making an appountment. Just go there early (like when they open) and grab a number. Or call to see if you can meet with an agent. You're almost there! :D

[silentauror]

Yay, thank you!! I really, really, really hope it works this time!!!!