For students in Canada, having practical knowledge
of another language can open up various new opportunities. With this option, not only do the job prospects
increase significantly for a student, but the social standing of the student improves as well, due to the
knowledge of another language. It is for these and many more advantages that students are advised to learn an
additional language along with their regular academics.
To ensure that students learn an additional language conveniently, the Bishop's College School offers a
bilingual option program. Bishop's College School is a private boarding school located in the picturesque
Sherbrooke, Quebec. Instituted in 1836, Bishop's College School offers modern facilities, historic
architecture and a challenging academic curriculum to the students. Local students, international students as
well as the staff, live in the same campus, thereby fostering multiculturalism. The bilingual option program
further strengthens the multicultural approach followed by this school.
Bishop’s College School offers The T.H.P. Molson Bilingual Option Program to students to gain expertise in
the English and French language. The course structure is designed to ensure that English-speaking students
get a working knowledge of French, and French-speaking students get a working knowledge of English.
The school has set stringent standards for students enrolling in this program and aims to ensure that every
graduate of this program possesses socially applicable language skills. The curriculum of this program
imparts skills, which students can use in their academic, professional or social setup. Some of the
activities in this program include watching plays, movies, cultural excursions, field trips and performing
cultural theatre. A number of guest lecturers are called to ensure that students get in-depth knowledge into
their chosen language. Students also get to contribute to the school publication, thereby enhancing their
writing skills in both languages.
Participation in this program is not mandatory for the students and any individual with sufficient knowledge
of French language can take part in it. Students participating in The T.H.P. Molson Bilingual Option Program
are given the option of using either French or English in their final examinations. This prevents them from
being penalized while taking examinations from the Ministry of Education. The bilingual option courses that
students can select include, Geography in grade seven, History in grade eight, Geography and Drama in grade
nine, History in grade 10 and Economics in grade 11.
The educational system in Canada is under provisional jurisdiction; however, various initiatives have been
taken by the federal Government to establish Canada as a bilingual country. In Quebec, where Bishop’s College
School is located, French is the official language. However, all students whose parents studied in English in
Canada are required by law to receive their education in English.
The bilingual option program provides an exceptional opportunity to such students to learn a second language
and take advantage of the rich cultural heritage in Quebec and Canada. This program is especially beneficial
to the majority of international students who have no or little practical knowledge of the French language.
•