Glendon is committed to helping students acquire language skills while they complete their university studies. We are known to many as a “bilingual” campus. For us, being bilingual means:

All students are pursuing languages (either French or English).
Anglophone students are not required to speak French when they arrive at Glendon. Total beginners, Core French graduates, and French immersion grads alike are welcome; as long as they’re interested in gaining language skills, we’ll help them get there. We are unique in Canada for this integrated language model.

All students will meet our language requirement to graduate.
Students with limited French will do so through French as a Second Language courses, taken as electives throughout their degree. Absolute beginners can meet our requirement in as little as two years, thanks to our accelerated language learning option.

Students who are, or become, quite comfortable in French could meet our language requirement by taking a discipline course taught in French, e.g.: Introduction à la psychologie. If they can do this, we deem they have a solid working knowledge of French.

We will help each student chart their language program in their first-year advising session through a language assessment test. This assessment will in no way affect the student’s admission to Glendon.

Many of our students will choose to pursue a third language through our strong Spanish (Hispanic Studies) program.
This is optional, but very enjoyable and worthwhile for students interested in language and culture and the possibility of working in an international context. These days, it’s a great skill for everyone to consider. We offer Mandarin and Japanese courses on a rotational basis as well. Glendon students are also welcome to take other language courses – from Italian to Russian to German on York's Keele Campus.

Glendon is an ideal setting for language learning.
Our students hear and speak French in the classroom, in the hallways, in campus activities, and beyond. Most of our professors and staff are bilingual, and 30% of our students are Francophones with varying levels of English proficiency pursuing their degrees while they gain English language skills. This makes for an authentic, immersion environment.