How can students travel in Canada on a budget? The Explore program is the answer!
Travelling can be expensive, but it doesn’t always have to be. The key to affordable travel is to know where to find the best deals and opportunities to keep costs down.The Explore program is a perfect example of such an opportunity.

What is Explore?
Explore is a spring/summer immersion program funded by the government. Students enrolled in Explore spend three to five weeks in another province to learn and practise their second language in an immersive environment. Explore participants are awarded funding that covers tuition fees for the course, instructional materials, meals, and accommodation.

“When I was in university and found out that this program was (almost) free, I couldn’t believe it! Even though I knew zero French, I was enticed by the opportunity to get to learn, travel, and meet new people from across the country!In those five weeks, I spoke more French than the years I’ve done French in school combined!”–Charmaine Yip, Explore participant

The Explore program is offered in more than twenty institutions across Canada. With participants enrolled from coast to coast, Explore fosters unique friendships and experiences with similar-aged students interested in improving and practising their second language.

What about Odyssey?
For those keen jobseekers, there is also an opportunity for you! Odyssey offers paid, professional work experience as a language assistant for nine months in another province. English speakers can apply for positions in either Quebec or New Brunswick, while French speakers can work anywhere across Canada. As an ambassador for your language, you will be sharing your culture in a classroom setting and conducting activities with students to encourage interest in their second language.

Immersion is the best way to learn and practise a second language, and doing it cheaply is even better! Sign up for either Explore or Odyssey to start your language-learning journey, or enrol in both programs back-to-back for the full immersion experience!

To apply to Explore, the early-bird deadline is February 15, 2019.

To apply to Odyssey, the deadline is February 28, 2019.