Q & A
Learning French in Canada
Q. In July, the Travel Q & A column answered an inquiry about French language study in Paris. Is there anything comparable in either Quebec City or Montreal? -- Elizabeth Swinton, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
A. There are numerous schools for studying French in both these cities, where French is the primary language. If you want a short course in a college setting, however, you may be limited to summer sessions.
For example, the University of Montreal offers three- and four-week courses in May, June and July. These meet for a total of 45 hours Monday to Friday mornings; sessions two afternoons a week can be added. This year, tuition was $297 and $363, at 66 U.S. cents to the Canadian dollar, and on-campus rooms were $79 a week.
For more information, contact École de Français, Faculté de l'Éducation Permanente, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, Canada H3C 3J7; (514) 343-6090; (514) 343-5984; or www.fep.umontreal.ca/langues.
In Quebec City, the Université Laval's École de Langues Vivantes plans two five-week courses, in May and July, and a three-week session in May. Sylvia Weiser, the language school director, said mornings were devoted to class and laboratory work and afternoons to cultural activities. Dates and prices are not yet set, but this year's three-week program cost $457, plus $46 a week for campus housing. Family stays and apartment rentals are available.
Contact École de Langues Vivantes, Pavillon Charles-De Koninck (2305), Quebec, Canada G1K 7P4; (418) 656-2321; fax (418) 656-7018; www.fl.ulaval.ca/elv.
A good source for year-round language schools is the Canadian Association of Private Language Schools, 12880 - 54A Avenue, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada V3X 3C9. It sets standards for teacher experience and training, and has 60 members. For a list of them, go to www.capls .com, or call (604) 507-2577.
Two of its older members are Boucherau Lingua International in Quebec City and International Language Schools of Canada in Montreal. Boucherau, which also has a one-on-one program in Montreal, starts sessions every Monday. Students are placed in one of six levels, generally in groups of four to eight, for 20 hours of class work a week. Tuition is $225 a week (private lessons are $36 an hour). Boucherau encourages students to stay with families, which costs $175 a week, including breakfast and dinner.
For more information, contact Boucherau at 43, rue de Buade, Bureau 430, Quebec, Canada G1R 4A2; (418) 692-1370; fax (418) 692-6026; www.bli.ca.
In Montreal, International Language Schools offers programs of three, four and a half, or six hours a day for $119, $175 or $218 a week, plus $88 for registration and materials. Classes average 10 students, and facilities include a computer laboratory. While you can start on any Monday, the courses follow a four-week cycle and beginners must start in the first week. ILSC offers home stays, with three meals a day, for $120 a week, plus $142 registration.
ILSC is at 1134 Ste. Catherine Street West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3B 1H4; (514) 876-4572, fax (514) 876-4093; www.ilsc.ca.
Channel Islands Tours
Q. Are there any tour operators in the United States with packages to the Channel Islands? -- Sue Rubin, Flemington, N.J.
A. Apparently not. Neither the British Tourist Authority nor local Channel Islands tourism groups know of any American tour packages to this rocky archipelago between Britain and France that includes Jersey and Guernsey Islands. They advise that you (or a travel agent) book a trip from London through British companies (Jersey Tourism says it is easier to get to the islands from London than from Paris, even though they are just off Normandy).
There are many British operators with island packages, and a few suggestions from Jersey Tourism follow. But none of these companies arrange trans-Atlantic travel. From Britain, you can fly to the islands or go by ferry; these prices are per person, double occupancy at mid-level hotels (three suns), with round-trip air fare from Gatwick, daily breakfast and transfers. Visits to smaller islands would be extra.
Channel Islands Direct, (a division of Premier Holidays in Cambridge), (44-870) 889-0858 and at www .channelislandsdirect.co.uk, offers as an example, three nights in Guernsey and four in Jersey for $632 to $837, depending on season, at $1.55 to the pound.
Islanders, based in Bournemouth, (44-1202) 578-422, www.islanders -holidays.com, said two nights on Guernsey and three on Jersey would start at $463.
One Step Holidays, Post Office Box 29, London N3 1HG, (44-870) 120-3091, www.onestepholidays.co.uk, specializes in Channel Islands trips. It says three nights on each island would run $775 to $930 a person.
You can find more information on the Jersey and Guernsey tourism Web sites, www.jersey.com, and www.guernsey.com.
Prague Concert Tickets
Q. How can I get tickets to a Prague Chamber Orchestra concert or similar event in Praque any time from Nov. 9 to 12? -- J. T. F., Ann Arbor, Mich.
A. According to Michaela Palkova, trade manager at the Czech Center in New York, the easiest way, other than going to box offices, is to use Bohemia Ticket International, a Ticketmaster-type business. You can see schedules and order tickets at www.ticketsbti.cz; by calling (420-2) 2422-7832 or (420-2) 2423-7727; or by faxing (420-2) 2421-8167. B.T.I. charges $1.90 a ticket for handling, and $3.15 each to deliver tickets to a hotel, at 32 koronas to the dollar.
The Czech Center lists events and organizations at www.czechcenter .com/travel. There are also links to B.T.I. and other ticket outlets. The center includes the Czech Tourist Authority, 1109 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10028; (212) 288-0830, fax (212) 288-0971.
Unfortunately, the chamber orchestra plays in Prague only on Dec. 16 this fall. To learn more, contact the managing director, Jaroslav Manda, by e-mail at www.pko.cz, by calling (420-2) 7477-2697, or by faxing (420-2) 7477-2703.
Events that November weekend that are available through B.T.I. include performances of 'The Magic Flute' and 'La Bohème' at the Prague State Opera, Wilsonova 4, (420-2) 2422-7266, www.opera.cz; and 'La Traviata,' 'Fate' and 'Russulka' at the National Theater, Senovazna 2, (420-2) 2422-7981, www.nationaltheater.cz.
RAY CORMIER
Q & A