Bilingual in Canada: The Power of Language Immersion for Youth
Language helps us build relationships. Being able to exchange thoughts, express our feelings, and share experiences with people around us strengthens our connections. In our bilingual country, it’s valuable to know both official Canadian languages, French and English, to build new relationships and access more employment opportunities in fields like government, customer service, and business. You can even earn higher wages as a bilingual.
To help youth practise French or English on the path to bilingualism, the YMCA offers two national exchange programs. Our Youth Exchanges Canada (YEC) program organized 6 bilingual group exchange last year representing 159 youth participants.. And our Summer Work Student Exchange (SWSE) program has led 10,000 individual youth exchanges in its 18-year history.
Both programs offer an immersive experience that increases language retention, comprehension, fluency, confidence, and much more.
Benefits of immersion
When you want to learn or master a language quickly, immersion is key. Context cues from our surroundings and imitation help us pick up language unconsciously and consciously. With that in mind, our exchange programs allow youths to fully experience a new place, where they practise their second official language and form new, lasting friendships.
YEC participants are immersed in a new community for a week, guided by their twin group. The SWSE program runs for six weeks over the summer with the help of our coordinators and host families. By living and interacting in a city where their target language is spoken, youth can naturally put their developing skills to work in ways that go beyond the classroom.
“The exchange allowed students to put their English skills into practice in a real, unadapted context. For many, their comprehension and speaking fluency improved as they gained confidence. Some had never ordered at a restaurant in English before, making it a very valuable learning experience.” —Gabriel-Le Courtois School
Participants find language learning partners through meetings with other youth, staff, group leaders, host families, coworkers, and city locals. This variety of interactions offers them the opportunity to practise language skills in different contexts, strengthening their overall understanding.
“Thanks to the exchange, I really improved my English. Mainly thanks to the children who speak English and thanks to my host family, who are always here to support me and help me with some words when I need it.” —Flavie, SWSE 2024 participant
Through exchanges, youths gradually build confidence and become more comfortable with their new language. Whether they travel for a week or six, participants practise their language skills through daily interactions, which create a consistent and supportive environment for language growth. These different experiences provide youth with ongoing opportunities to refine their language skills in a safe and encouraging environment.
“Having most of the communication done in French, this allowed for the students to practise their oral French throughout the trip. It was also beneficial for our students as it allowed for them to see how proud the Quebec students are to speak the French language and how much they take pride and value it. “ —Ile des Chênes School
Participants improve their language skills through a combination of social interactions, workplace communication, and cultural activities. Whether they chat with friends, order food, or navigate their new city, these real-life experiences reinforce their conversational skills and vocabulary. By combining listening through daily interactions, speaking in different contexts, reading city signs, and texting their new friends, youth develop stronger language retention and gain valuable real-world experience using their target language.
Long-term benefits of bilingualism
By improving language skills through exchanges, youths invest in their long-term development. Canada is one of three countries in the world with English and French as official languages. Mastering both languages enhances future academic opportunities by offering the option to pursue a bilingual diploma. By studying at one of Canada’s bilingual post-secondary institutions, youth get more options as graduates, such as government internships, bilingual teaching positions, and scholarships. It also opens doors to more career choices, such as education, health care, executive and managerial positions in government, and international business. By gaining confidence in their bilingual skills, participants become better equipped to navigate professional and social settings.
Beyond language skills, our exchange programs foster participants’ personal growth. The experience provides them with leadership skills, such as adaptability, independence, and resilience, by navigating new environments beyond their comfort zones. Through the exchange trip, participants grow more confident, resourceful, and responsible, which will benefit them as they move forward in life.
Speaking French and English is more than a skill; it’s a lifelong advantage that opens doors to meaningful connections, academic pathways, and exciting career opportunities across Canada. Through YMCA exchange programs, youth get the chance to experience language learning in a real-world setting, building confidence and cultural understanding along the way.
Join a YMCA exchange program
Encourage a young person you know to join one of our exchange programs and start their journey toward becoming bilingual, while discovering a new part of Canada.
Participating in YEC or SWSE offers a unique path to bilingualism by blending language practice with cultural experience. By choosing immersion, participants build more than language skills; they build connections.
With our YEC program, which runs year-round, adult leaders take their groups to visit a new part of the country. Groups are paired together and stay in each other's communities for at least five days.
SWSE is our individual exchange program. For six weeks during the summer, youths ages 16 and 17 explore a new city in Canada, get a full-time paid job, and learn their second official language, guided by our coordinators and host families.
If you want to learn more about YMCA exchange programs, please visit our program websites or contact us.
YMCA Youth Exchanges Canada:
Website: ymcagta.org/yec
Email: Info.yec@ymcagta.org
YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange:
Website: ymcagta.org/swse
Email: Info.swse@ymcagta.org
Article written by Benita Ngwela
