immersion experience

3-day Immersion in Quebec City (Closed)

Dates: June 10–11–12, 2026
Base: Old Quebec City (QC) 
Group Size: Maximum 8 participants
Cost: $300 USD 

NOTE: 6 hours of daily walking required (see below).

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Note: This immersion experience has very few requirements beyond the French language. The participants must be between 21 and 67 years old, and they must be fit enough to allow them to walk about 3 hours each morning, at a slower than average pace, and 3 hours in the afternoon, at the same pace. Please note that the immersion experiences are active, in the sense that we won't be sitting the whole day, or renting a car in order to go from place to place. 

Québec City — The City That Hides in Plain Sight

The most useful thing to know about Québec City is the meaning of its name. Québec comes from an Algonquin word, kébec, meaning roughly "where the river narrows." Stand on the heights of the old city and you can see why the word stuck: the St. Lawrence, broad and open for much of its course, pinches here to a little over a kilometre, squeezed between the cliffs.
Whoever held this point held the river, and with it the whole interior of the continent. That is why a fort was built here, and why a city grew around the fort. But notice what the name itself is doing. It is not French. It is older than France's presence on this land, drawn from the languages of the peoples who lived here long before any wall was raised — among them the Innu and the Huron-Wendat. 
So the city begins by doing the very thing this talk is about. On its first word, it is already hiding an older layer beneath the one we see.

That is the idea worth carrying through everything that follows. Québec City is the most photographed city in Canada, and almost everything genuinely interesting about it sits just out of frame. It is a page that has been written on, erased, and written on again. Most of what follows takes place inside the old walls, in the historic city of the postcard; near the end, deliberately, we will step outside them, because that is where the city actually lives and breathes today. The method stays the same throughout: look at the surface, then look at what the surface conceals.

Je me souviens

Let’s also begin with a question the city poses to everyone who drives through it. On every Québec licence plate are three words: Je me souviens — "I remember." The motto was carved beneath the provincial coat of arms by the architect Eugène-Étienne Taché, traceable to 1883, made official in 1939, and placed on licence plates in 1978 in place of the older slogan "La belle province." 

What is striking is that no one ever fixed its meaning. The exact sense of the phrase has been argued over ever since, with interpretations that all relate, in one way or another, to the history of the Québec people. A city whose official statement is "I remember," and which then refuses to say exactly what it remembers, is a city worth reading slowly. Everything that follows is, in a sense, an attempt to answer that open question.

Why should I join this immersion experience?

This immersion is also about human connection. You’ll spend three days with a small group of motivated learners who share your curiosity and commitment. Conversations deepen naturally when you walk, eat, and explore together. Many participants leave not only with stronger French but with meaningful new friendships.

If you’re ready to move from “studying French” to “experiencing French,” this immersion is for you.

By the end of the three days, you can expect:
• Greater ease speaking spontaneously
• Improved listening confidence in real environments
• A stronger sense of rhythm and flow in conversation
• A deeper understanding of Québec’s language and culture
• And the memory of having truly lived in French, not just studied it
This immersive experience is designed for adult learners (A2 to B2 level) who want to move beyond the classroom and truly live in French. For three days, we’ll explore Québec City on foot, share meals, visit historic sites, and speak French in a relaxed, encouraging atmosphere.

This is not a formal classroom course — it’s an authentic, feel-good immersion where your French develops naturally throughout the day. There are no desks, no slides, and no pressure to perform. Instead, the city becomes our classroom. The streets of Old Québec, the cafés, the viewpoints, and the conversations themselves become the learning experience.

Each morning begins with meeting together in the heart of the city. We start gently — with coffee, conversation, and intention. Then we step out into the historic streets and practise French in real situations: asking questions, sharing impressions, reacting spontaneously, describing what we see, and expressing opinions in the moment. Lunch becomes another opportunity to practise naturally — ordering, discussing flavours, talking about culture and history — all in French.

Throughout the day, you’ll receive subtle guidance and support. If you hesitate, we work through it. If you lack a word, we build it together. If you feel unsure, we slow down. The goal is not to impress anyone — it’s to feel comfortable staying in French longer than you normally would.

The focus is not perfection but confidence, connection, and real communication. Mistakes are welcome. Pauses are normal. Growth happens quietly but steadily.

Typical Daily Schedule

3-Day French Immersion — Québec City

This immersion follows the same daily rhythm as the Montréal experience, but instead of a formal morning workshop, the learning happens entirely through guided exploration of the city.

Mornings

8:00 am – 9:00 am
Optional Group Breakfast
Participants may choose to meet for breakfast at a local café near Old Québec.
• Informal French conversation
• Light vocabulary activation
• Relaxed start to the day
Breakfast is optional and at your own expense.

9:00 am – 10:00 am
Morning Meet-Up & Conversation Warm-Up
We meet at a café near Fairmont Le Château Frontenac.
This hour is dedicated to:
• Casual French conversation
• Setting the intention for the day
• Reviewing useful expressions
• Preparing for real-world interactions
• Clarifying any vocabulary questions
This is not a classroom session — it is guided conversation to build confidence before heading into the city.

10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Morning Exploration — Old Québec
We begin walking through the historic heart of Québec City.
Possible areas include:
• Place Royale
• Quartier Petit-Champlain
• Terrasse Dufferin
• Old Port area
• Local markets or artisan shops
During the walk:
• We speak French as much as possible
• You practise asking questions and reacting naturally
• We work on spontaneous conversation in real contexts
Depending on weather conditions, we may visit a museum either in the morning or in the afternoon.

Lunch Break

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Group Lunch in a Local Restaurant or café
• Informal French conversation
• Real-life ordering practice
• Cultural discussion
• Relaxed group interaction
Meals are at your own expense.

Afternoons

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Afternoon Immersion & Cultural Visits
We continue exploring different neighbourhoods and cultural sites.
Possible activities include:
• Museum visits (weather-dependent)
• Scenic viewpoints
• Historical landmarks
• Walks along the fortifications
• Exploring quieter residential streets
The goal is continuous exposure to French in context:
• Listening to natural speech
• Asking for clarification
• Expressing opinions
• Reflecting on the day’s discoveries
The afternoon may be more active (walking outdoors) or more cultural (museum visit) depending on weather and group energy.

Evenings

Evening — Optional & Flexible
Evenings are free.
Participants may:
• Rest
• Explore independently
• Dine together informally
• Continue conversations in small groups
Evening activities are optional and not formally scheduled.

Practical Details

  • My role: French language coach, cultural guide, and translator — available 8 hours/day (8:00 am–6:00 pm).
  • Meals: Daily group lunch. All meals, including these lunches, are at your own expense and not included in the immersion fee. Breakfast and dinner are optional and at your discretion.
  • Accommodation: Participants arrange their own lodging.
  • Arrival/Departure: Please plan to arrive at least one day before program start day.
  • Not included: Flights, lodging, all meals, airport transfers, visas, and personal expenses.

Refund Policy

  • Full Refund: If you cancel 45 days before the trip, you will receive a full refund. Refunds are issued within 7 days of receiving your written cancellation notice.
  • Partial Refund: If you cancel between 44 to 21 days before the trip, you will receive a partial refund (50%). Refunds are issued within 7 days of receiving your written cancellation notice.
  • No Refund: If you cancel within 20 days of the trip, no refund will be issued, as this is considered a late cancellation.
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