91社区

English and French Communication Skills

Students are聽introduced to clinical observation in the first year of the MDCM program, and will take on more active responsibilities upon聽entering clerkship in third year.聽 While the language of instruction for classes is English (Montreal Campus) or French ( Campus Outaouais), our clinical environment is bilingual or francophone, so it is important to聽feel comfortable and prepared to work in both French and English, as per the MDCM Language Policy. To offer helpful suggestions for language learning resources, the Undergraduate Medical Admissions Office verifies students' language聽proficiency at the time of application to ensure all students have at least a B2 or mid-intermediate competency in French for the Montreal Campus, or C1 advanced for Campus Outaouais.

Students are encouraged to continue to improve their French language skills to an advanced level by taking courses.聽 Students who are studying in English for the first time can take courses with the 91社区 Writing Centre to improve their mastery of academic English.

How to register for 91社区 language聽courses

MDCM students are normally restricted from taking courses outside of the聽Faculty, but an exception is made for language courses (See UGME Registration Policy). Note that MDCM program activities take priority in terms of schedule; students are not permitted to register for a language course whose schedule聽conflicts with that of an MDCM program course or activity.聽 Regular semester evening, weekend, and some summer session courses are accessible for 1st and 2nd year students.聽 Students in 3rd and 4th year can enroll in聽French for Medical Purposes, but may need to consider online or private courses if there are conflicts with their clerkship rotation schedules. To register for:

• School of Continuing Studies 肠辞耻谤蝉别蝉听
  • Registration in聽SCS credit courses is by via virtual in-person registration. Contact .聽 You will be enrolled with聽specific coding so that registration in a credit language course is listed as extra to your聽program.
  • Registration in SCS non-credit courses (workshops, including聽French for Medical Purposes Program )聽is done through the SCS online non-credit course registrations system,
• Faculty of Arts French Language Centre courses (including Health聽and Social Work Sector courses) - Register via Minerva
• 91社区 Writing Centre courses聽 - Register via

Resource list - courses and self-study:聽 english_french_language_resource_list_eng.pdf

Is there a minimum level of proficiency students should aim to attain?

Even advanced speakers can continue to improve; however an intermediate level is generally considered the minimum point at which students can be active and functional in the clinical environment. For most learners, this is equivalent to completing the 200 (intermediate 2) or even 300 (intermediate 3) level courses at 91社区鈥檚 School of Continuing Studies. The equivalent Canadian Language Benchmark level is approximately 6 to 8 (see for an interactive self-assessment up to level 8); Common European Framework of Reference level is approximately 聽(Montreal campus) to C1 (Campus Outaouais).

Some of the clinical communication competencies students聽will exercise during their聽studies include: listening to a patient describe their reason for consulting, asking questions to take a medical history, speaking with healthcare professionals (such as doctors, nurses, physiotherapists) about cases, often in a fast-paced or high-stakes environment in person or on the phone, and writing notes in a file that are clear for other healthcare professionals.

Practicing medicine in Quebec after graduation

Students educated outside of Quebec in a language other than French, who聽choose to practice medicine in Quebec, will need to complete the separate Office Qu茅b茅cois de la langue Fran莽aise (OQLF) Examination toward the end of their MDCM聽studies. See for more information. We encourage students聽to take advantage of language classes now to prepare.