English schools best suited for me
Where does one go when they’re not comfortable with the commonly spoken language? Students who aren’t comfortable with Quebec French may struggle to integrate and could feel lost or at a disadvantage. Bishop’s helps students from around the world integrate into Quebec culture through bilingual courses and campus life.
Who can I meet at Bishop’s University?
A big surprise for myself throughout my education at both Bishop’s is the number of students from other provinces or international students from other countries. With so many cultures represented, Bishop’s provides a vibrant environment full of learning beyond academics. I’ve had the privilege of teaming up with students from across the globe in group assignments, shining a light on different views and perspectives. Being an English university, Bishop’s provides an equal opportunity for English-speaking students to thrive in Quebec’s competitive French-speaking context. Bishop’s is littered with students, both English and French, with 25% of students being francophone and 50% being from Quebec. That leaves 31% of students coming from other parts of Canada and 19% from abroad.
Where can I get better at English?
Some people born in Quebec don’t feel comfortable with the French language. As Quebec is moving more and more to a French-only province, some more English-speaking residents feel the need to move around and explore elsewhere. Bishop’s supports English speakers in Quebec and helps French speakers build stronger English skills for use across Canada. Many French-speaking students didn’t learn in English growing up, and Champlain and Bishop’s now help them strengthen their English skills. Speaking only French can limit global opportunities, so developing English skills is a valuable asset. I’ve personally gained so much from speaking both languages, especially in connecting with a wide range of people.
English schools in Sherbrooke, Quebec
Sherbrooke, Quebec has a good English presence among French schools. Bishop’s is one of Sherbrooke’s three universities, Champlain one of five colleges, and only Concordia and McGill offer English university programs elsewhere in Quebec. Being enrolled in an English school at a young age really sets you on the path to continue in English education. My family never worried much about which school I’d attend since I always wanted an English learning environment. ETSB, Champlain, and Bishop’s help English-speaking students become bilingual by including French in their studies.
Bishop’s University and its partners. Why should I attend?
Champlain, QIMN, the Maple League and PRESE are all Bishop’s partners, ensuring that students from anywhere feel welcome to the Bishop’s community. QIMN is a province-wide network that helps Indigenous students gain experience in health and Indigenous health research.
Champlain College is located on the Bishop’s campus to ensure that close collaboration with the college provides a tight-community experience for post-secondary students to strive in. Community activities help students feel a sense of belonging through cultural, social, and learning experiences. This partnership is also established to ensure that Indigenous students feel welcomed into the environment.
The Maple League brings together Acadia, Bishop’s, Mount Allison, and St. Francis Xavier — four universities that share similar missions and values while delivering a high-quality education. The partnership offers distinctive learning and research experiences, like a Belize program that involves Indigenous students. PRESE also supports strong collaboration across regional institutions, helping students benefit from shared resources and initiatives.
Is Bishops a good school for me… Their focus is to offer exceptional learning experiences and research opportunities that help students become critical thinkers in a 21st-century liberal education. PRESE supports collaboration between the region’s colleges and its two universities, Bishop’s and Université de Sherbrooke. Recently, they have been raising funds in order to host activities which happened from September 26th to September 30th to raise awareness about the history of Residential School Systems.
In the end, Bishop’s and its partners strive to deliver strong education and a supportive community for students worldwide. The wide range of multilingual and development opportunities at Bishop’s was a key reason I chose the university and felt confident in my choice.
