Know where you stand
The free assessment places you in reading, writing, listening and speaking, and ends with the hours and timeframe Pascal recommends for your goal.
Online French with Pascal Gisenya
Learn French from the teacher who gets public servants to Level C.
Small groups for French at work and immigration-related goals, and one-on-one preparation for the public service Level B and C exams. Every learner starts with a free 30-minute assessment.
- Online
- Free assessment
- No commitment to book
Pascal's public service learners
Learners who reached each level on the federal second language exam, as counted by Pascal.
Why people get stuck, and how Pascal gets them moving
“Most people are stuck at level B because their vocabulary is not rich enough and they use just everyday expressions.”
Pascal
Higher levels ask you to explain, give your opinion and defend it, with a wider vocabulary. So lessons are built around current events, and you learn to say what you think about them, at your level.
Our process
-
1
Listen and summarise
Listen to a news story in French and sum up the main points in your own words.
-
2
Give your opinion
Take one issue and give your opinion, backed by two or three reasons.
-
3
Weigh the alternatives
Consider the other opinions, then conclude by showing why yours holds up.
What every learner gets
In a group or one-on-one, the teaching works the same way.
Book your free assessmentReal conversation, not memorised phrases
News, videos, newspaper excerpts and discussion, so you practise thinking in French instead of reciting it.
Practice that gets checked
Every class sends you home with exercises that keep your French moving. Pascal goes through them with you at the start of the next class, so nothing you practise goes unchecked. You only pay for class time.
Relaxed lessons where you can laugh and take your time
Mistakes are fixed calmly and the lesson moves on. John describes Pascal as “patient, calm, and very encouraging.”
Path 1
Small-group French
For professionals and students learning French for work, or for immigration-related goals such as permanent residence.
How the groups work
- Up to 4 learners, matched by level and goals after the free assessment
- The same materials for the whole group, with practice exercises reviewed together at the next class
- A fixed group: the same people from the first session to the last
- A progress report at the end of every 15-hour block
- Sessions of 3 hours, including a 15-minute break
Why learn in a group
Pascal moves questions around the group, so you hear how others answer, try again when you get stuck, and see that you are not the only one finding it hard. Learners at the same level push each other forward.
Recommended pace: Pascal suggests about 15 hours a week for at least four weeks to start. The right pace depends on your level and the time you can give it, and he will recommend yours at the assessment.
Path 2
One-on-one exam coaching
For federal public servants preparing for Level B or C, in reading, writing or oral.
John was stuck at Level B. He reached Level C.
“I was really focusing on those canned phrases that I thought they were looking for and I kept getting stuck in that B level. After working with Pascal I was able to focus on more of a natural conversation during the exam and I ended up passing.”
John, federal second language exam
- Lessons tailored to the skills your exam tests
- Practice exams in the real format before test day
- Scheduled around your work
Case study
Five attempts at the oral exam. Then Level C.
Bridget took the oral exam five times before she reached Level C. Along the way, she trained full time with Pascal for five weeks. Every day they listened to the news on Radio-Canada, on subjects like the economy and politics, and she practised giving her opinion and defending it.
After the training she kept practising on her own: group discussions, the radio, French novels. Later that year, she passed. She credits the five weeks as “a big part of my success.”
- January to February Five weeks of full-time training with Pascal, 37.5 hours a week
- Afterwards Practice on her own: discussions, radio, novels
- Result Level C in oral
« Nos cinq semaines ensemble étaient primordiales pour moi de bâtir une base forte, et c'était une grande partie de mon succès. »
“Our five weeks together were essential for building a strong foundation, and that was a big part of my success.” Translated from French.
Bridget S., in her message to Pascal
Meet Pascal Gisenya
Pascal has taught French to public servants in Canada for 8 years. He has also taught pharmacology at college-level nursing school for 17 years.
He teaches in English and French, at every level from beginner to advanced, in listening, reading, writing and speaking. His lessons are patient and varied, with a sense of humour.
“I'm not just teaching grammar from morning to evening. I mix things.”
Pascal
- 8 years
- teaching public servants
- 17 years
- teaching at college level
- 55+
- learners now confident speaking French
What learners say about Pascal's teaching
“Pascal is patient, calm, and very encouraging, and he creates an environment where I can learn at my own pace, and that really benefited when I was doing my exam because I felt like I was just in another class and the exam went really well.”
“I am proud to say that I have now achieved Level C in both French writing and reading, which was my original goal.”
“I became much more comfortable speaking French and was better able to structure my study approach between lessons.”
Questions
What happens in the free assessment?
A 30-minute online call. Pascal checks your reading, writing, listening and speaking, asks about your goal, and recommends the hours and timeframe he thinks you need. It is his assessment, not an official test result. There is no payment and no obligation to continue.
Should I join a group or take one-on-one coaching?
Groups suit learners building French for work or immigration-related goals, alongside others at their level. One-on-one suits public servants preparing for the Level B or C exam. If your level is very different from the groups available, Pascal may recommend one-on-one instead.
Will this be enough for my permanent residence application?
Requirements depend on the program you apply to and the test you take. Tell Pascal your target at the assessment and he will recommend the hours he thinks you need. We cannot promise a test score or an immigration outcome.
What exactly do I pay for?
Class time only. Practice exercises between classes are included and reviewed together in class. Groups pay $450 for a 15-hour block or $40 an hour as they go. One-on-one coaching is $65 an hour at the launch rate.
Can I add one-on-one sessions to a group?
Yes. You can book one-on-one sessions at the one-on-one rate alongside your group.
When does the first group start?
Dates and times are being set. Join the list and Pascal will contact you when they are confirmed. Groups are fixed, so places close once a group is full.
Book your free assessment
Tell Pascal where you are and where you want to get to. It takes about a minute.
- Free
- 30 minutes
- No commitment