- LEARNING AT RIVER ECHO -


Client Focus and Sustainability


Our first goal is for the client to attain a level of fluency and comfort in the second language. When the client moves from “I have to learn French (or English)” to “I enjoy speaking French (or English)” s/he will be motivated to use the language outside the workplace and a pattern of lifelong language learning will have been established. This ensures that language skills are maintained even during times when they are not required at work.

 

Therefore our teaching approach always starts with the individual client and his or her interests. We encourage and enable the client to talk, read and write about the things s/he cares about - in the other language.

As the comfort level and fluency increases, we progressively add more work-related themes and concentrate on the particular skills required for the government tests.

 

River Echo always uses an activity-based approach to learning which is firmly anchored in the real world.

 

 

 

PREPARE FOR YOUR EXAMS


A-, B- or C-Level


(part-time or full-time)


After a thorough evaluation we will recommend a learning plan for you - one that fits both your schedule and your learning stye and gets the results you need in the shortest possible time.

For many of our clients we recommend a mix of private or semi-private instruction, mini-groups or regular groups (max. 6).

This flexible mix of formats is well suited to reflect the challenges of meeting all of the client’s needs - from very client-specific workplace issues, to issues common to small or larger workgroups in any professional environment.

 

 

DO YOU LIVE IN OTHER PARTS OF CANADA?


Come for a program of total linguistic immersion while staying connected to your work. We’re only 20 minutes from your department’s head office in Ottawa/Gatineau.

 

Life in the Gatineau Hills is bilingual , so we can offer homestay with both anglophone or francophone families.


“Studying at River Echo was great. I really liked the focus on making the learning fun and actually learning the language - versus just passing the exam (which I did on my first attempt).

 

Bruce Fraser

Manager, EPR

Operations Bureau

Health Canada

 

“My one-on-one instructor targeted my BBB-level exam objectives with a structured technical focus. In the group setting, my other instructor was successful with a friendly, unstructured approach to building everyone’s confidence in speaking and listening, handling ad hoc segues into grammatical clarifications whenever questions arose.

 

I passed my BBB on the first try, and just as important, I have become much more able to participate in meetings in French.

So now I also feel confident about working towards CCC.”

 

Joseph Potvin

Sr. Economist

CIO Branch

Treasury Board Secretariat


- DO YOU LIVE IN THE OUTAOUAIS? -


So do we!


“This school allows public servants to improve their understanding of the language in use among their neighbours, thereby strengthening their communities, and to enhance their working lives as well.”

 

Barry Nesbitt - Strategist, Internet Development

Foreign Affairs and International Trade