School Immersion in Fort Saint John, British Columbia | 15-18 years old | 1 term to 1 academic year

Our programme is available for all motivated students aged 15 to 18 who wish to experience a new lifestyle abroad and share the day-to-day life of a local family, for one term, one semester or one academic year in a Canadian high school of the Peace River North district. Canadian education system is seen as one of the best in the world. Their accent sounds a bit “American”, but they tend to live like Europeans. Canadian people are known for being welcoming, tolerant and open-minded.

If you wish to stay for two complete secondary schooling, it will be possible for you to obtain a diploma from a Canadian High School.

Highlights of the destination

  • A thriving and dynamic small town in northeastern British Columbia
  • The magnificent landscapes of the Great North
  • Numerous outdoor activities all year round
  • Individual educational support
  • The authentic Canadian experience of vast open spaces
  • The friendliness and support of the entire community towards international students

Why Canada?

Canada is the second largest country in the world, it is also one of the most outstanding in terms of geographical diversity. It’s primarily a wonderful destination for those wishing to study there for multiple reasons:

  • The Quality of living and standard of living are among the highest in the world
  • Its educational system is recognized for its excellence and its compatibility with the European system
  • Friendliness and hospitality of its people
  • Rich in culture
  • Safe environment with stunning landscapes and countryside

The United States and Canada are vast countries where geographical distances are significant. The car is the primary means of transportation, and public transportation networks are generally less developed, except in some major cities. International students coming from Europe, where public transportation networks are more developed, will need to adapt to this difference when studying in North America and may need to reconsider their transportation habits by planning their journeys according to the available transportation options.

Fort St. John, with over 20 000 residents, is an ever-growing city, called “the energetic city” of British Columbia. The city is the economic hub of the region with its own natural resources and thriving industries (oil, gas, forestry, agriculture…) and is a great and safe place to live. The landscapes are stunning and allow plenty of outdoor activities, in both Summer and Winter. Fort St John has all the facilities a big city has (5 theatres, a movie theatre, sports arena, cultural centre, art gallery, several Olympic skating rinks…) but offers the friendliness and warmth only a small town where everybody knows each other can provide. It is the perfect destination for a fast integration into the Canadian lifestyle!

The school

The North Peace Secondary School welcomes about 1 100 students per year and offers outstanding facilities. The high child/teacher ratio brings a personalized support and monitoring to each student.

Courses

Classes generally take place from 8:45 am to 3:15 pm, with a lunch break in the middle of the day.

The school offers a wide range of subjects: English, Robotics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Calculus, History, Geology, Law, Social Justice, Art, Musical Theatre, Acting, Band, Computer Animation, Food and Nutrition, Textiles, Hockey, Spanish, German, French…

The school has also partnered with Northern Lights College, allowing students who meet the necessary requirements to pursue a dual curriculum in certain subjects, at both high school and post-secondary levels.

A variety of extracurricular activities in sports and the arts are available to all students, either within the school or through leisure clubs.

The school has its own sports facilities, including an indoor speed skating track, a hockey rink, and a walking track.

English Courses

If your English level is low, no worries. No minimum English level is required to participate in this program. English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classes, as well as continuous support from a tutor for each international student, are included in your schooling

In Canada, young Canadians typically study for a minimum of 12 years, similar to our system. This program offers foreign students the opportunity to attend a local public high school. In the Canadian province of British Columbia, secondary education spans 5 years, from Grade 8 to Grade 12.

The school year is divided into two semesters. As an international student, you can join a class for 1, 2, or 3 months, a semester, or a full academic year.

There are two different school systems in Canada: the semester system and the linear system. The semester system involves taking 4 courses in the first semester and another 4 courses in the second semester, while in the linear system, students take 8 courses throughout the year.

In many Canadian schools, there is a wide range of subject choices. It’s a unique opportunity to explore new areas or excel in a favorite subject.

Some courses are offered for one semester, giving students the opportunity to switch subjects halfway through the year.

The choice is equally important in sports, cultural, and social activities. School will be a unique chance to flourish in previously unknown subjects and activities. But it will also be the perfect opportunity to integrate into Canadian life and get to know young people your age.

Canadians are known for their hospitality, tolerance, and open-mindedness.

Families are carefully selected by the district’s accommodation service for their genuine desire to host a young foreigner and share their culture through daily life. This service visits the families’ homes and ensures they can offer the participant a balanced and warm environment.

There is no typical profile for a family. Each one is unique and reflects the society and lifestyle of the country you have chosen. The family hosting you may have children or not; they may be a blended family or a single-parent family, a single person whose children no longer live at home, retirees, or younger individuals. It’s not the composition of the family that matters, but its availability and motivation to share its culture with you.

All host families are English native speakers. They generally live within a 30-minute transportation or walking distance from the school.

The local coordinator is an experienced member of the staff who knows the host families and is in regular contact with the students and their host parents throughout the duration of the programme. They regularly organize meetings to ensure that your experience is going smoothly, both with your host family and at school. He is available to answer any questions that may arise once on location. He can assist you in your different procedures and is able to react quickly in the case a problem arise. He is your privileged contact person on site.

Our partner organisation’s local coordinators are all experienced and fully qualified to assist international students.

An emergency number will be given to you to use in case of any emergencies.

In order for your stay to go as smoothly as possible and for you to be informed about the different elements of the programme, you will be able to attend an information and orientation meeting organised by Easy Languages in Brussels at the end of May/beginning of June. It allows Easy Languages students to meet and share their questions and experiences with each other and with the Easy Languages team.

A second meeting will be held in Canada, within 15 days of your arrival. You will be contacted by your local representative, who will be able to answer all your questions about your stay and conduct.

  • Be between 15 and 18 years old
  • Minimum recommended level of English: none. If your level does not allow you to follow a program in English immediately you will have English as a foreign language course integrated into your program. However, we recommend at least 2 years of English lessons to enjoy classes and activities, especially for students staying less than one academic year.
  • Adequate academic results over the last two years
  • Willingness to make new friends and share the daily life of a host family
  • Demonstrate motivation, maturity and adaptability

Do you fit the criteria for participation?

  1. Please fill out the pre-registration form as soon as possible.
  2. Upon receipt, we will send you a provisional confirmation, including the total amount of the stay, a request for a €100 deposit (for the language test and motivational interview), as well as the complete registration package for the chosen program. We will also ask you to send us a copy of your school reports from the last 3 years.
  3. We will then invite you to come to our office in Brussels or Paris for the full interview. You must come to our office with the first part of the application form filled in.
  4. We will confirm the result no later than 8 days after our interview.
  5. If the interview is successful, we will ask you to pay a deposit (25% of the total amount, minimum €1,500) and to send us the relevant documents completed. This includes recommendation letters from your teachers, your medical history and other information needed to process your booking. As soon as we receive all the documents and the deposit, we will send the application file to our partner.
  6. The final decision belongs to our partner
  7. Once your application is confirmed, our partner will start to look for a host family and registers you at the school.

Registration deadline:

  • 06/15 for departures in September
  • 12/15 for departures in February

Beyond these dates, it is still possible to enroll depending on the availability of schools. However, we recommend that you register at least 3 months before the deadline for better preparation of your stay.

For any urgent applications (after the registration deadline), an additional fee of €200 will be required.

Please contact us for more information on the registration process.

Candidates who do not meet the age or level requirements are invited to meet with us to discuss other possible options.

Travel

Departures are typically scheduled for late August/early September for stays of one semester to one academic year. A departure is also planned for late January/early February for one-semester stays. Your host family or local correspondent will greet you at the airport upon arrival and drop you off at the end of your stay.

Once your enrollment is accepted and confirmed by our Canadian partner and your study permit application is approved, if applicable, we can arrange your travel to Canada if you wish.

The reserved ticket includes the fewest possible stopovers and is changeable.

In case of modification, airline change fees apply (these vary depending on the airline, usually around €200) + any difference in fare class.

If you prefer to book your own travel, we will provide you with all the necessary information to make the reservation.

ETA & Study Permit

The school year is divided into two semesters. As an international student, you can take courses for one semester (in September or February) or for a full academic year, as well as for shorter periods, from 1 to 4 months.

For a full academic year stay
You will need to obtain a study permit, which will be issued for the duration of your stay. We provide you with all the necessary documents for obtaining it and assist you in the process. All information is available on the website: Canada Immigration – Study Permit.

Attention! Since July 31, 2018, nationals of various European countries must undergo biometric data collection to obtain a study permit. There are 2 centers in France, in Paris and Lyon. For Belgian nationals, the Paris or Düsseldorf centers are the closest. This process costs $85 CAD. More information here: Canada Immigration – Biometrics

You will also need to complete the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which you can fill out directly on the website: Canada Immigration – ETA

For a one-semester stay or less
You will simply need to complete an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which you can fill out directly on the website: Canada Immigration – ETA

These instructions are valid for nationals of the European Union and Switzerland. For non-EU nationals, please consult Canada Immigration – Study in Canada.

Full medical coverage is included in our fees.


Dates & Prices 2024-2025

Dates 2024-2025

School year : September-June

Semester : September-January or February-June

Prices 2024-2025

Includes all taxes and enrolment fees

WPCS 42.0.3
Tuition, accommodation, full board in host family, and registration fees
DurationPrice without flightsPrice with flights
4 months 9.275 11.175
Semestre (5 months) 12.195 14.095
Academic year (10 months) 21.045 22.945

Prices include:

  • English level assessment and interview
  • All documents required to obtain a visa
  • High School registration for a semester or a full academic year
  • Supervision during the stay by the local correspondent
  • Accommodation in host family, full board (lunch box on school days)
  • Local transportation
  • Personal assistance, support and advice from our local correspondent
  • Medical insurance
  • Personal support to parents throughout the stay
  • Regular contacts and assessment reports
  • Official certificate of attendance and courses transcripts.
  • Round-trip flight if chosen, from Brussels, Paris or Geneva airport (please contact us for prices if you do not leave from these airports)
  • Round-trip transfers from the arrival airport to the host family

Prices do not include:

  • Round-trip flight to Fort St. John depending on chosen option
  • Excursions and leisure activities
  • Admittance fees to leisure or sports clubs
  • Visa fees
  • Pocket money: around $250-300 per month