FIND YOUR FRANCO PEN-PAL

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EXCHANGES IN FRENCH THAT WILL HELP YOU GROW!

What if a simple exchange of messages allowed you to travel across Canada, meet a Francophone or Francophile friend who shares your passions, and discover unique regional cultures, all while improving your French, without leaving your daily routine?

The United Bilingual Correspondents program is for you. Whether French is your first, second or third language, there's someone who's right for you!

Shortcuts:
How to register
Frequently asked questions
Help us promote the program

*New for 2025* Join a secret group on Fr+ with participants from this year and attend one fun activity per month! (game night, movie night, etc.)

Girl taking a selfie and map of Canada
Boy sending a message on his phone

WHY SIGN UP?

💌 Choose your communication style: email, text, social media, video calls... it's up to you to decide what suits you best.

👯 Make a friend in French: matches are made according to your common interests for authentic and motivating exchanges.

🍁 Discover Canadian Francophonie: exchange with young people from across the country and explore different cultural realities (from British Columbia to Newfoundland!).

🗣️ Express yourself freely and confidently: use your French as a language of self-expression, in an environment of openness and respect. Gain confidence by practicing the language in a relaxed context, outside the classroom.

⭐ Be part of a committed community: connect with other students in grades 7ᵉ to 12ᵉ who share your desire to live in French.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

The program is open to French-speaking young people in grades 7 to 12 (secondary 1 to CEGEP 1).

Since communication with your pen pal will be in French only, you must be able to communicate in French orally or in writing to participate.

You don't need to be an expert in French to become a bilingual pen pal! This program is designed to help you improve.

HOW TO REGISTER

Fill out an online registration form before October 7, with questions that will help us match you with the right person.

Before you start filling in the form, make sure you ...

Be able to provide proof of your identity by choosing one of the following two options:

▶️ Proof of enrolment in a Canadian secondary school (with your name visible);

▶️ A photo of your student card or identity card;

Make sure your documents are in PDF, docx or JPG format.

WHAT NEXT?

Once you've completed the registration form, the French for the Future team will work to match you with another participant. You can expect to hear from your pen pal within a few weeks of registering. We'll contact you by e-mail with the details.

DID YOU KNOW?

In January 2019, Bilingual Young Leaders came up with the idea of creating a program for young people, by young people. The goal of the Bilingual United Correspondents program is to connect young people who share common interests across the country.

Two hands coming together across the screen

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If your question does not appear in the following list, please contact us at programmes@francais-avenir.org.

What do I do if there's a problem with my correspondent?

If you don't get on well with your pen pal, if there's a lack of respect, if he or she no longer corresponds with you, or if any other problem arises, don't hesitate to contact us! As soon as a problem arises, write to the program coordinator at info@francais-avenir.org so that it can be resolved as quickly as possible and we can match you up with someone else.

When will I know if I've been selected for the program?

All those who are eligible for the program and for whom we can find a correspondent will be able to participate. We'll send you an e-mail to put you in touch with your pen pal in the weeks following your registration.

When will I know who my correspondent is? How will I get in touch with you?

After the close of the registration period, you'll need to allow several days for us to find the best person to match you with. You can expect to know the identity of your match by November 14, and we'll contact you by e-mail with their contact details.

What if I don't want to continue with the program?

If you no longer wish to continue the program, please contact us as soon as possible at info@francais-avenir.org so that we can match your pen palwith someone else. If you wish, you can let us know why you no longer wish to continue the correspondence with your pen pal. However, it's important to remember that by signing up for the program, you commit yourself to corresponding with your pen pal until the end of the school year. If you're not sure you'll be able to correspond until then, you may want to think twice before signing up.

What platforms will I use to communicate with my correspondent?

It's up to you two! You'll be able to communicate with your correspondent in the way that suits you best. When your match is made, we'll give you the e-mail address of the person you'll be paired with. You'll start communicating by e-mail, and then you can decide which means of communication (social networks, e-mail, Skype, etc.) you prefer.

How often will I communicate with my correspondent?

It depends! You and your correspondent can discuss it and see what works for you. However, we suggest that you contact each other at least twice a month.

When will this program end?

We'll e-mail you every month until the end of the school year. If you and your pen pal have become good friends by then, all the better! You won't be supervised by us over the summer, but we strongly encourage you to keep in touch.

I don't know what to talk about with my correspondent. Do you have any ideas?

Don't worry! Every month, you'll receive an e-mail with a list of some ideas for discussion topics. However, if you're still short of ideas, don't hesitate to contact us.

How much does this program cost?

It's free!

PROMOTE THE PROGRAM

If you'd like to help us get the message across to young people, there are several resources available:

📎 Access the pdf of the French/English brochure

📥 Download a visual to share on social networks: English, French

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