By Danil Buzhor
Learning a second language can expand your horizons in a real way. It can help you in your career, it can make travel easier, and it can make you feel more connected to other cultures. Sometimes it even changes how you think, because you start noticing new ways to say things and new ways people express ideas. A lot of students see language courses as “just an elective,” but they can be one of the most useful electives you take at university.
There are also practical benefits, depending on the language. In Canada, French is a strong example. If you are interested in a government job, knowing French can help a lot and can make you more competitive. Even outside of government, French can be useful in many areas like customer service, education, and community work. And beyond jobs, languages can change how you experience the world. Travel becomes less stressful and more interesting when you can understand signs, ask questions, or have a basic conversation. Spanish is another great example because it can make many countries more attractive for traveling if you ever get the chance to go.
For me, I wanted to learn another language for a while, and I already had an interest in French, so I signed up for 58: FREN 155 Intermediate French I with Madame Hétu. Honestly, it ended up being one of the better choices I have made for an elective. The course was not just random vocabulary and hoping you pick it up. We learned a lot of grammar concepts and, more importantly, how to apply them in practice. It is one thing to see a grammar rule in notes, but it is different when you practice it until it starts feeling normal.
The course was taught about 50/50 in French and English, so we got used to hearing French and using it, instead of staying in an English bubble. At the same time, the concepts were repeated in English, and it was encouraged to ask questions in English if you could not articulate yourself in French yet.
We also spent time practicing real life use of the language, especially reading and speaking. That part mattered because language learning can feel less real if it stays only on worksheets. We also talked about a book we read, which helped because it pushed us to understand French in context, not only in short and simple examples. It made the class feel more connected to real language instead of only classroom language.
Another thing I liked was the teaching style. The instructor was supportive and clearly focused more on teaching and helping students improve than on marking harshly. That makes a big difference in a language class, because speaking a new language can be uncomfortable at first. If students feel scared to make mistakes, they stop talking, and then they stop learning. In this course, it felt more like we were expected to try, make mistakes, and then learn from them.
I wish there were even more language options, but it is good that the university offers a beginner Spanish course. Spanish is one of the most useful languages to learn in general, especially for travel and for communicating with a lot of people in many countries. I also know some students who want to see Italian courses return. From what I heard, Italian was offered before, but it is not running right now. More options would be nice, because different languages attract different students, and people learn better when they are actually interested in what they are studying.
Instead of feeling like a random elective, the language classes feel more like a space where people are actually trying. The vibe is different from a lot of other courses, because you cannot really hide. You have to participate, speak, listen, and slowly get comfortable making mistakes. That sounds scary, but it is also what makes it fun. It feels more interactive and more social than a typical lecture class, and that makes the time go faster. It also feels like you are doing something practical every class, not just learning facts that you forget after an exam.
From what I have seen, the Department of Francophone Studies and Languages also has a good energy around it. People talk about which instructors are supportive, which courses are worth taking, and what to take next. In my Intermediate French class, Madame Hétu was fair with grades, but she did not punish every small mistake. The focus was improvement, and that made a huge difference. It felt like the goal was progress, not perfection. If you want an elective that actually feels like a real skill and not just another credit, a course through Francophone Studies and Languages is a solid choice.