College Saint-Charles, Quebec City, Quebec
Founded in Québec in 1635 by the Jesuit Fathers, Collège Saint-Charles is the oldest French speaking college in North America. Collège Saint-Charles is a private high-school for girls and boys between 12 and 17 years old. Our educational plan and the diverse programs which we offer show that our vision, while taking its roots in a solid tradition, is yet one turned towards the future and to the world.
Collège Saint-Charles, located in Quebec City, Canada, is a private co-educational secondary school. In keeping with its motto “Truth is My Shield” and its aim to “educate men and women for others”, the mission of Collège Saint-Charles is to cultivate a passion for truth and a sense of solidarity. At St-Charles, we offer an educational context that constantly challenges the young people to approach life with an open mind as well as promising plenty of fun!
Collège Saint-Charles opens its doors to international students from 12 to 17 years of age from all over the world (Mexico, the United States, Germany, Australia, etc.). Our aim is to develop humanistic values while respecting cultural differences. Studying in Quebec City means choosing to live 100% in French in safe and convivial surroundings, but above all, learning a language whose people have fought to keep it alive and thriving for hundred of years.
Studying at College Saint-Charles in Quebec City for one semester or a full year is choosing to live the difference in an harmonious way with people for whom education is the heart of their concerns.
At College Saint-Charles, international students can choose to study for the whole year or just for a semester. Our College is a world where language teaching and learning receive special attention. Our programs take into account the emotional side of this international experience, for students and their families alike. We take good care to offer a safe, supportive environment where all students will be able to grow and learn through contact with others.
Since our main goal is total immersion, students will be living with a French speaking host family, helping them to learn and understand the Quebec culture. The international students registered in our High School French Immersion Program attend all regular classes in French with the Canadian students but they will also take FSL (French as a second language) classes especially built for their pedagogical needs.
At Saint-Charles we have an International students’ Coordinator whose goals and objectives are to ensure the student’s development and well-being, keeping the student’s family and the College informed on the progresses. Also, the International Students’ Coordinator will listen and direct the students in any type of emotional situation with total confidentiality, respect and trust. We make sure that there is a constant and specific follow up on our international students’ progresses such as academic, host family life, general adaptation, health, etc. We build a close relationship with our students based on respect, trust and confidentiality.
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Study at Saint-Charles
The College offers up a world where language teaching and learning receive special attention, since our pro-grams take into account the emotional side of this international experience, for students and their families alike. We take good care to offer a safe, supportive environment where all students will be able to grow and learn through contact with others. The international students registered in our High School French Immersion Pro-gram attend regular classes in French with the Canadian students and participate in all the school activities as Canadian students do.
Our teaching method is based on the following principles:
- To contribute and guarantee intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral, affective and social development
- To follow the Jesuit tradition in their humanistic orientation and interpersonal relations
- To offer youngsters a multi-faceted training concentrating in 4 fields:
o - Intercultural and linguistic
o - Cultural, artistic and scientific
o - Health and sports
o - Social compromise
Academic program’s courses
Languages
Mathematics and sciences
Arts
Social Sciences
Personal development
Extracurricular activities
Homestay
Our experience has convinced us that staying in a host family greatly helps to better learn a language and a culture. We carefully select our host families as we offer a healthy and adapted environment to our international students. As we select our families, we take into consideration the family’s moral values; their leisure activities and their home lifestyle.
International students will be provided with the following facilities:
- Private bedroom
- Full bathroom access
- Three (3) meals a day plus healthy snacks
- Access to washer and dryer and other electrical appliances
- Access to a computer and the Internet; if the home has the Internet and a computer, a schedule for access to be specifically set up in advance with the student.
The cost of the host family does not include extra curricular activities such as: piano lessons, hockey, or any other type of activity. Also, cost of family outings is not included, but sometimes, the family might graciously pay for an activity.
