Education

C M Y K PAGE 8 8 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021 EDUCATION GUIDE UNIVERSITÉ DE SAINT-BONIFACE 2 1 2 2 RWB.ORG/AUDITION rw b s c h o o l p ro f e s s i o n a l d i v i s i o n s t u d e n t a n d rw b co m pa n y da n c e r y u e s h i p h oto s by k r i s t e n sawat z k y Launch your Career in Dance J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 2 2 V I R T U A L W I N N I P E G A U D I T I O N S P R E S E N T I N G S P O N S O R : A homemade solution USB in-house programming makes language learning fun, easy BY JIM TIMLICK S pecially developed learning ma- terials tailored to the needs of the local population are part of what make Université de Saint- Boniface's Continuing Education Divi- sion unique compared to other similar programs. In the case of the USB's Continuing Ed French language classes, this means the com- munication skills students learn have been designed to address everyday situations, such as asking for directions or discussing their plans for the weekend. "Sometimes, you can have a program that has very appropriate and perfect French from France, but if you use it in Manitoba or Que- bec, people are going to say, 'What are you talking about?' We want to make sure that the French you are learning is going to be under- stood here in Canada as well as abroad," says Aileen Clark, Director of Continuing Educa- tion for Western Canada's only French-speak- ing university. USB offers a total of 11 levels of French lan- guage training in its Conversational French program. USB also offers a variety of other French language training programs including, A Taste of French introductory course, French for Immigrants, French for the workplace and French Immersion for Teachers (FIT). Eve- ning courses provide three hours of instruc- tion a week for a total of 11 weeks at a cost of $320, which includes all course materials. While each program offers something slightly different, Clark says they have all been designed to provide learners with the build- ing blocks needed to help them communicate in authentic situations. "We certainly don't want to have people conjugating verbs for three hours. We want to get people using the language to communi- cate their message. That's really the founda- tion of our language training," she explains. In addition to French, USB's Continuing Education department also offers Spanish language instruction. This program is avail- able to all students 16 years of age or older, from beginners to advanced learners. Clark says the program has been hugely popular since its introduction, but its numbers have dropped slightly because of travel restrictions that were introduced during the pandemic. Something else that makes USB's Continu- ing Ed course materials unique is that they have been adapted to meet the needs of a wide variety of specific groups. For example, it offers specialized programming for public servants, healthcare providers, teachers and permanent residents. Clark says the people who sign up for the university's language programs include those looking to sharpen their skill set for work, par- ents wanting to support children attending a French immersion school, and retirees who enjoy travelling. The winter session for USB's Continuing Ed courses is slated to begin in January. Students can register online at ustboniface.ca/educa- tionplus. Individuals unsure of what level of a program to enroll in can request a placement interview after registering. With the exception of the four-day Franséjour program for inter- mediate and advanced learners, all language instruction will be offered through distance learning technology for the upcoming ses- sion. We want to get people using the language to communicate their message. at's really the foundation of our language training." — Aileen Clark, Director of Continuing Education, Université de Saint-Boniface LEARN FRENCH AND SPANISH ustboniface.ca/educationplus Lifelong learning at USB 22426-WFP Education Guide Ad-FIN.indd 1 2021-11-29 1:19 PM Université de Saint-Boniface offers a number of different language classes that have been designed to provide learners with the building blocks needed to help them communicate in everyday situations.

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