Parlez Français: Language Immersion in Rural Québec

Activity note: Students will be screened prior to arrival to determine their best experience level - intermediate or advanced - within the spectrum of Intermediate French. Small groups (9-12) per instructor). Participants must have a working knowledge of French, this program is not suitable for beginners.

Afternoon: Transfers and arrivals in the afternoon to the Outdoor Lodge in Glen Sutton. There will be a shuttle transfer available from the airport in Burlington, VT, departing at 3:00 pm. Check-in time is 3:00 - 5:00 pm for those arriving independently. All French students will be at the Intermediate Level. Meet your hosts and fellow Road Scholars in the commodious Great Room with its fireplace and extensive library that provides a casual and comfortable spot for refreshments, lively conversation and evening activities.

Dinner: Dinner is at the lodge in the open format kitchen and dining room. Enjoy high-end homestyle cooking with menus designed and prepared by our team of chefs. Dinner is a plated meal and will consist of salad or soup, entrée, and dessert. In this age of fast cuisine, we think you’ll appreciate the effort that the dining team puts into their “from scratch” delicacies. Special dietary needs must be noted on the Participant Information Form. If you do not advise us of your requirements or special needs well in advance of your program, we may not be able to accommodate your requests once you arrive on the program.

Evening: Orientation: Around 7:30 pm we gather for a general introduction of guests and a detailed outline of the week. After dinner we gather for introductions and outline the activities for the program. Following that there will be a talk about Glen Sutton, the Eastern Townships and the general scene in this part of the world. Please be aware that local circumstances may require adjusting program elements for weather or other circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, engaging in available activities on your own, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: All activities today are on the premises.

Breakfast: Enjoy a self-serve breakfast at the Lodge offering a variety of healthy options: always a hot option (eggs, oatmeal, hot cereal, etc.) fresh fruit bowls, yogurts, local maple syrup, variety of breads.

Morning: Introduction to instructors, French review: classes designated into two levels, generally between 9-11 per class. Texts and DVDs issued. Lectures are organized around a cultural theme that generally puts grammar and vocabulary into a spoken/written context from the outset. Lecture 1: Review of pronouns, verb forms, useful expressions, grammar, vocabulary and prepositions. Each day will build on these foundational skills.

Lunch: Bag lunch at the Lodge or on the move.

Afternoon: Cooking demonstration by Denis Mareuge, Master Chef/Restauranteur. Having cooked for Julia Child on multiple occasions Denis may prepare a regional Cassoulet or classic Boeuf Bourguignon...always from the freshest of ingredients to a gourmet finish. Sprinkled with many tales of French kitchen culture, Swiss Hotel school and, of course, Julia Child. We are normally back at the Lodge between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. where there is plenty of time for a swim, a snooze, a snack or a pre-dinner drink (BYOB).

Dinner: Dinner at 6 pm in the dining room. Drinks before dinner if so desired. The lodge is a B.Y.O.B establishment. Alcoholic beverages are not served on-site but participants are welcome to bring their own.

Evening: Evening activities begin at 7:30. French movie nights or interacting with locals and special guest lecturers/entertainers. Lecture possibilities include (in no particular order) "Why Quebec Separatism is Necessary", "Life as a Mayor in Small-town Quebec", "Why I Left France for Quebec", "My Life as a Chef in Rural Quebec", "Ginette St. Andre's Mezzo-soprano Concert", "A Career in Border Security", "Keeping The Sutton Hills Safe for Wildlife", "Travels With My Blues Guitar", "Dance Me to The End of Time", "Why Not Move to Quebec with Pierre Leblond, Real Estate Man". Movie: Jules et Jim, Francois Truffaut, 1962.

Activity note: Walking approximately 1.5 miles on groomed trails or paths.

Breakfast: At the Lodge at 8:00 a.m.

Morning: French class: Weather, Seasons, Geography

Lunch: At the Lodge.

Afternoon: Gentle nature walk from the Lodge to focus on the morning's French class concepts of Weather, Seasons and Geography.

Dinner: At the Lodge. Fresh ingredients prepared before your eyes in our open format kitchen/dining room.

Evening: Evening activity or movie night. Film: Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain, J.P. Jeunet, 2001

Activity note: Driving approximately 40 minutes, about 30 miles.

Breakfast: At the Lodge.

Morning: French class: Quebec Daily Life, Table Customs and Daily Meals.

Lunch: At the Lodge.

Afternoon: A short drive brings us to Au Clos Saragnat, the award-winning Ice Cidery/Winery founded by Order of Canada winner Christian Barthomouf. Christian originated the technique behind the world's first Ice Cider. He is also the founder of Ice Wine in Quebec. Gwyneth Paltrow called his product the finest taste of her adult life. Tastings and exploration on site.

Dinner: At the Lodge. Our meals, in a given week, offer one red meat dish, one fish dish, one poultry dish and one veggie dish. Non-meat options always available.

Evening: Movie night: Incendies, Denis Villeneuve, 2010.

Activity note: Driving approximately 60 minutes, about 40 miles. Walking approximately 1.5 miles on farm visit, over 2 hours.

Breakfast: At the Lodge.

Morning: French Class: Buying groceries, where to eat, la mise en place.

Lunch: At the Lodge.

Afternoon: Visit a breakout organic vegetable farm and enjoy a walking exploration of the property.

Dinner: At the Lodge.

Evening: Free evening. Each week has one free evening where guests can sample our world-class movie collection, play bridge or play tennis under lights. Film (if desired): Les 400 Coups, Francois Truffaut, 1959.

Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles at a moderate pace on trails, pavement.

Breakfast: At the Lodge.

Morning: French Class: Creatures and Habitations: Birds, Animals and Humans...capture it all on your devices.

Lunch: At the Lodge.

Afternoon: Nature Photography: Walk from Glen Sutton to explore (and capture) the wilderness riches of the Missisquoi Valley (Missisquoi is an Abenaki native word meaning 'river of many grasses and waterfowl') with a focus on structures and their occupants.

Dinner: At the Lodge.

Evening: Activity or movie night; or get ready for tomorrow's trip to Montreal. Film: Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, Jacques Demy, 1964.

Activity note: Driving about 2 hours, approximately 80 miles. Walking and standing at the museum.

Breakfast: At the Lodge. After a 7:30 am meal we depart for Montreal at 8:30 am. Please note that transport time is French music time...from Debussy to Dubois to Charlebois to Satie and Hallyday...a curated drive through the classics of French classical and modern music.

Morning: Visit Montreal's Museum of Fine Arts, located on the city's historic Golden Square Mile and spread across five pavilions the collections are divided into six major sections: Archaeology and World Cultures, Early to Modern International Art, Quebec and Canadian Art, International and Contemporary Art, Decorative Arts and Design, Graphic Arts and Photography. The collection has been building for 155 years and is the finest in French Canada.

Lunch: On your own $ in Montreal. We will issue the menus of 3 closely spaced restaurants - 1 ethnic, 1 French and 1 vegetarian...we all eat at the same time and recongregate at the same assigned time.

Afternoon: Montreal Botanical Gardens: one of the finest in the world. About 190 acres of thematic gardens and greenhouses...22,000 species in 30 gardens. Founded in 1936. Notables: The Chinese Garden designed along the traditional lines of a Ming Dynasty garden; The Japanese Garden, The First Nations Garden and The Alpine Garden.

Dinner: On your own in Montreal. We present 3 menus of 3 restaurants located in cobble-stoned Old Montreal: 1 ethnic, 1 French and 1 vegetarian...we all eat at the same time.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Driving about 2 hours, approximately 80 miles. Walking up to 1 miles; standing at the museum.

Breakfast: On own.

Morning: Guided walk in Parc Mont Royal. Montreal was named for this hilly spot, one of Montreal's largest greenspaces. The park was originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (who also co-designed New York's Central Park) and opened in 1876.

Lunch: On your own $. We will issue the menus of 3 closely spaced restaurants: 1 ethnic, 1 French and 1 vegetarian...we all eat at the same time.

Afternoon: Visit Pointe-a-Calliere Museum. Montreal's origin story. Come back a few centuries and we'll start at the beginning.

Dinner: At the Outdoor lodge. We depart for Glen Sutton at 4 pm. Dinner at 6 pm back in Glen Sutton.

Evening: Free evening.

Activity note: Driving approximately 1 hour; biking 20 miles (optional).

Breakfast: At the Lodge.

Morning: French Class: French Class: Leisure Activities, How to Dress, Road Safety.

Lunch: At the Lodge

Afternoon: A fun bike ride today - Tour du Chocolat. We start at a bakery, take a break at a chocolate shop and finish at a winery. Biking optional for those wanting to ride in bus.

Dinner: At the Lodge.

Evening: Film: Les Regles du Jeu, Jean Renoir, 1939.

Activity note: Driving approximately 1.5 hours, about 50 miles. Walking up to 1 mile.

Breakfast: At the Lodge.

Morning: French class: Religion and Cultural Values, Le Patrimoine.

Lunch: At the Lodge.

Afternoon: Today we visit Abbey St. Benoit du Lac where resident monks spend their days in contemplative silence and focus on prayer and agricultural products. Their range of quality cheeses includes a blue which is regularly judged as being the best in N. America. We take a 15-minute drive to the lakeside town of Magog, look around, then return to the Abbey for Vespers. Gregorian chant service and then back to Glen Sutton for dinner.

Dinner: At the Lodge, a little later than usual: 6:30 pm.

Evening: 8:00 pm. Film: Les Vacances de M. Hulot, Jacques Tati, 1953.

Breakfast: At the Lodge.

Morning: French Class: Working the Kitchen, Domestic Life.

Lunch: At the Lodge.

Afternoon: Conversation Workshop: Teacher led practice and review...making sure the roots of expertise are taking hold.

Dinner: At the Lodge.

Evening: Film: Intouchables, Olivier et Eric Toledano, 2011.

Activity note: Driving approximately 1.5 hours, about 50 miles.

Breakfast: At the Lodge.

Morning: French Class: The Home and its Private Spaces.

Lunch: At the Lodge.

Afternoon: Visit Musee du Comte de Brome, a pioneer museum in the town of Knowlton. Expert-led exploration with a focus on The Home and challenges faced 'way back when'.

Dinner: At the Lodge.

Evening: Free evening. Each week has one free evening where guests can sample our world-class movie collection, play bridge, play tennis on our lighted court or sample some local theatre.

Activity note: Driving approximately 1 hour, about 40 miles. Walking 2 - 4 miles, about 2 hours.

Breakfast: At the Lodge.

Morning: French Class: Music, Theatre and Dance.

Lunch: At the Lodge.

Afternoon: This afternoon we will walk Sutton's Village Creek Trail, miles above the town of Sutton. This Nature Park trail (rated Easy) follows a lovely brook downhill to the town. A little exercise, nature interpretation and French chatter before the cafe au lait in downtown Sutton.

Dinner: At the Lodge.

Evening: Film: CRAZY, Jean-Marc Vallee, 2005.

Activity note: Driving 3.5 hours; approximately 190 miles. Some hills, cobblestones.

Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: Depart for Quebec City. Please note that transport time is French music time...from Debussy to Dubois to Charlebois to Satie and Hallyday...a curated drive through the classics of French classical and modern music.

Lunch: Lunch in Old Quebec on your own (recommendations provided).

Afternoon: Visit the Plains of Abraham for an expert-led exploration of this historic site, where perhaps the shortest battle (20 minutes) with the greatest consequences in all of history took place. How did a small flotilla of British warships manage to outfox the French walled fortress forces when the latter had more food, firepower and staying power?

Dinner: On your own in Old Quebec (recommendations provided)

Evening: Free evening in Quebec City.

Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles, some hills, cobblestones. Driving 3.5 hours; approximately 190 miles.

Breakfast: On own.

Morning: Embark on an expert-led walking exploration of Old Quebec. Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain this unique walled UNESCO site is beyond memorable. Cobblestones, fairy tale architecture...a pure delight.

Lunch: On your own in Old Quebec (recommendations provided)

Afternoon: Free afternoon in Quebec City

Dinner: On your own in Old Quebec (recommendations provided)

Evening: Return to Lodge (approximate arrival 11:00 p.m.)

Breakfast: At the Lodge.

Morning: French Class: L'Art et les Artistes.

Lunch: At the Lodge.

Afternoon: Conversation Workshop: All instructors review and consolidate that which has come before. Be it pronunciation, verb formations or any other 'faiblesses' the road ahead is cleared of obstructions.

Dinner: At the Lodge.

Evening: Film: Les Enfants du Paradis, Marcel Carne, 1945.

Activity note: Driving approximately 1.5 hours, about 50 miles.

Breakfast: At the Lodge.

Morning: French class: Public Transportation, Travel and Technology.

Lunch: At the Lodge.

Afternoon: We will visit the Missisquoi Museum in Stanbridge, with a focus on the East:Pioneer Collection and the.lifestyles of United Empire Loyalists; and the U.S. Civil War Raid, the most Northerly Event of the Civil War.

Dinner: At the Lodge.

Evening: Film: Amour, Michael Haneke, 2012.

Activity note: Driving approximately 2 hours, about 40 miles. We will be crossing the US border, everyone will require a passport.

Breakfast: At the Lodge.

Morning: French class: The Life of the Traveler

Lunch: At the Lodge.

Afternoon: We travel into Vermont and visit various scenic highlights as students assume the team role of group leaders (teams of 4-5 students) as we roam from scenic outlook to ice cream shop to cheese maker, etc. One student representative per team presents an oral summary of the excursion...based on the written notes of each participant.

Dinner: At the Lodge.

Evening: Film: Playtime, Jacques Tati, 1967. Optional Scrabble and Pictionary (in French) game night.

Activity note: Driving approximately 2 hours, about 75 miles. Biking up to 30 miles (option for shorter loops or walks)

Breakfast: At the Lodge.

Morning: Final French class: Souvenirs de Voyage

Lunch: At the Lodge.

Afternoon: Today we are biking on La Route Verte (options for non-bikers): l'Estriade, is a paved rail trail (part of Quebec's La Route Verte - a network of rail-to-trail conversions that the National Geographic named the best on Planet Earth). It is Quebec's favourite countryside bicycle path (it's totally flat). End the ride at a French bistro in Granby.

Dinner: Farewell Dinner.

Evening: Film: La Grande Seduction, J.F. Pullout, 2003. Closing ceremony and wrap-up.

Breakfast: Enjoy our final breakfast together at the Lodge.

Morning: Departures after breakfast according to individual travel plans. The airport transfer will depart at 8:30 am; approximate arrival at the Burlington airport is 9:30 am. Check-out is 10:00 am for those departing independently. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please be in touch via the Road Scholar Social Network, where you can share memories, pictures and comments. Best wishes for all your journeys.