Classes take place on Zoom Monday to Friday 8:30am to 11:30am CST Time Zone Converter

• June 30: Virtual meet and greet
• July 2: Classes start
• July 19: Midterm exam
• July 24, 25, or 29: Part A of final exam
• July 31: Part B of final exam

Are you a current or past Explore student? You can order a transcript for $10.

During the program, there are scheduled French Immersion workshops for students. These are compulsory for all students. Every student must be registered for 5 workshops. Please note that these workshops group students according to interest and not according to their level of French proficiency. Bring your speaking and listening French language skills, and enthusiam for the subject!

Les souvenirs en argile

Avec Helena Larsen McKay

In this workshop, students will use polymer or modelling clay to create their own special souvenirs of all things from Le Petit Prince. Helena will focus on roses, but students will also be encouraged to create miniature representations of their favorite character: le petit prince, le renard, la planète, le mouton, to name a few. This workshop is suitable for those of all levels of experience in art and is offered to help students reuse the vocabulary in their reading of Le Petit Prince and to make memorable souvenirs.

Please bring:

• Polymer clay such as Sculpey or Fimo, plasticine, or any colourful clay (dollar stores usually have many affordable options)
• Sculpting tools: knife, fork, and spoon, or dental tools
• Paper plate on which to dry the sculptures
• If you have polymer clay, you may use your oven to bake your sculptures

Sous le microscope

Avec Dr. Trina Racine

In this workshop, Trina will share with students details about her training, her position and place of work at VIDO and dealing with the COVID-19 virus, and on the development of vaccines and therapeutics for various emerging and re-emerging human and veterinary infectious diseases. All students are invited to prepare and ask questions for Trina's workshop.

Dr. Trina Racine received her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from Dalhousie University in 2010. She then joined the Special Pathogens Program at the National Microbiology Laboratory, part of the Public Health Agency of Canada. While at the NML Dr. Racine worked on the development of vaccines and therapeutics for various emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, including Ebola, Zika and MERS.

Parlons tourisme en Saskatchewan !

Avec Kwame Ntumngia Neba

In this workshop, Kwame will share with students details about his training, his position and his former place of work at Tourism Saskatchewan. Kwame is also happy to entertain questions about his French journey and point out where the "gems" of Saskatchewan are hidden. All students are invited to prepare and ask questions for Kwame's workshop.

Kwame Ntumngia Neba worke in the Tourism sector since 2004 and has held various leadership positions over the years in Qatar, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories.In the last 5 years, Kwame was the Director of Industry Development for Tourism Saskatchewan where he strove to foster positive relationships with industry stakeholders to further the expansion of tourism products and destination areas. Kwame is the recipient of the Deputy Minister's Recognition Award in 2014, and the Best Lecturer Award in 2005.

Les langues indigènes

Avec Dr. Sonya Bird

Sonya will present an introduction to Indigenous languages of Canada and all their richness. She will talk about her work with Elders who speak Indigenous languages and supporting learners of those languages in fine-tuning their pronunciation. She will also show USask Explore students tools that can be used for working on pronunciation! 

Dr. Sonya Bird, PhD, has studied the phonetic properties of glottalised resonants in St’át’imcets (Lillooet), an Interior Salish language also spoken in British Columbia. She has been at UVic since 2004, and is currently an Associate Professor in Linguistics and Director of the Speech Research Lab (SRL). Her research focuses on pronunciation in the context of Indigenous language revitalization. She is particularly interested in the more challenging aspects of pronunciation (for example pronouncing long sequences of consonants), and in what strategies different speakers use to handle these challenges. Her hope is - a) to contribute to our understanding of how pronunciation strategies vary across speakers and languages, and b) to develop tools and tips to help learners of Indigenous languages achieve oral proficiency.

Cinéclub : Le Cheval Indien

Avec Irène Gould

This film is a 2017 Canadian drama film adaptation of the 2012 novel by author Richard Wagamese (Ojibwe). It premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and received a general theatrical release in 2018. The film centres on Saul Indian Horse, a young Canadian First Nations boy who survives the Canada's Indian residential school system to become a star ice hockey player.

Come and practice your listening comprehension and engage in some listening comprehension exercises while you view a most interesting and informative film about our Canadian History. This workshop is suitable for all levels of experience in French.

Le Tour de France en 4

Avec Giuliano Gullotti

This workshop is destined for Beginner to Low Intermediate French speakers. It is an opportunity for students to play and participate in a Tour of France while practising the pronunciation of certain nasal sounds and learning a little French geography.

Le Pictionary des expressions idiomatiques

Avec Giuliano Gullotti

This workshop led by Giuliano Gullotti is geared for Mid Intermediate and higher speakers of French. In this workshop, students will be illustrating French idiomatic expressions for the others to guess and appreciate the artwork. 

Please bring:

• Scrap paper
• Black felt pen

La peinture et le film en plastique (Saran Wrap)

Avec Helena Larsen McKay

Students will learn to create baobab trees, roses, and more using paint (tempera, watercolour, gouache, or acrylic). Plastic film and coloured crayons which will be used to enhance the paintings. This workshop is suitable for all levels of experience in art or “chemistry” and is offered to compliment the reading of Le Petit Prince.

Please bring:  

• Watercolour, tempera, gouache, or acrylic paints (no need for high quality) in red, blue, yellow, and black
• 2 paint brushes (one large and one smaller one)
• Several sheets of paper that can stand up to water and paint
• Plastic film (e.g. Saran Wrap)
• Water container with cover
• Masking tape
• Sharpie or other permanent pen, black or blue

Cinéclub : Incendies

Avec Irène Gould

This a 2010 Canadian drama film directed by Denis Villeneuve, who co-wrote the screenplay with Valérie Beaugrand-Champagne. Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad's play of the same name. It premiered at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals in September 2010 and was released in Quebec on 17 September 2010. It met with critical acclaim in Canada and abroad and won numerous awards. In 2011, it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Incendies also won eight Genie Awards, including Best Motion Picture.

The story concerns Canadian twins who travel to their mother's native country in the Levant to uncover her hidden past amidst a bloody civil war. While the country is unnamed, the events in the film are heavily influenced by the Lebanese Civil War and particularly the story of prisoner Souha Bechara. 

Come and practice your listening comprehension and engage in some listening comprehension exercises while you view what are some of the horrors of war, the role of religion in regional conflicts and how these have impacted our fellow Canadians. This workshop is suitable for all levels of experience in French.

Le Jeopardy du Petit Prince

Avec Irène Gould

Students will be placed in teams and will play Jeopardy. This workshop is suitable for all levels of experience in French and is offered to complement and review the reading of Le Petit Prince.

La musique francophone

Avec Adda Besseghieur

This workshop led by Adda Besseghieur is meant for Mid-Intermediate to Advanced speakers of French. The objective is to raise the awareness of students to French language variety through music. Students will explore various songs of different French-speaking countries. Each student will present a French language singer/songwriter which they will have chosen amongst the Francophone countries; a presentation of the music style, the local vocabulary and the cultural message expressed in the song. 

Adda teaches all levels of French classes. He is much appreciated for his flexibility, his energy, his humor and his extensive knowledge of both French grammar, vocabulary, literature and all things cultural. His students enjoy the positive and challenging learning environment he so aptly creates. Adda is also keenly interested in the performing arts, all things cultural. He has a lifelong passion for the game and sport of soccer as well as for physical activities in nature, such as hiking, camping, and biking.

Légende : Le Secret du Bison blanc

Avec Irène Gould

Students will read visually and audibly this Lakotas' legend taken from C.J. Taylor's book, and expand their knowledge around First Nations' stories and storytelling. Students will participate in answering comprehension questions, discussions, and other activities.

Un Retour au début : La légende de la création de la Terre

Avec Irène Gould

Students will hear and read this First Nations' legend, and expand their knowledge around First Nations' stories and storytelling. All students will participate in creatively completing their turtle template based on this legend and then present it to their classmates.

Please bring:

• Your turtle template
• Your colouring pencil case in order to exercise your creativity
• Your smart phone to take a picture of your turtle creation

Initiation au camping

Avec Sasha Penner de Parcs Canada

Camping is a great way to connect with nature. All you need is some simple equipment, a little planning, a few basic skills, and you’re on your way to a wonderful camping trip! In this workshop, students will learn about packing, equipment, tents & tarps, campfires, camp kitchens, recipes, safety tips, wildlife and more!

Wanuskewin

This Wanuskewin online program is an opportunity for you to understand the rich history of the park and the Plains Indigenous people who have lived in the area for thousands of years! Students and instructors will participate in a virtual workshop: Northern Plains Technology: The Bison. Programming fees are covered by the Explore Program.