This experiential learning format allows students to be part of Canada’s Francophone community for several weeks and be immersed in various professional or organizational settings where French predominates.
With support from uOttawa’s Community Engagement team, located at the Career Corner, this stimulating, innovative learning experience helps develop students’ language abilities. Students thus acquire multiple cross-cutting skills, as well as personal skills in areas such as autonomy, openness to the world, civic engagement, critical thinking, problem solving and curiosity.
CSL is now part of the French as a second language program. Ambrosio continues to increase CSL offerings in her courses. Each year, she encourages colleagues to integrate CSL in their courses and offers workshops to support them in the process. Her latest research has dealt with not only the impact of CSL on French language skills development, but also on students’ personal and professional development.
Ambrosio has made presentations on the CSL model in her language courses at numerous national and international conferences and the results of her work are eliciting considerable interest from educators and researchers. These people know how important it is to offer innovative learning experiences that give students responsibilities, put them in the position of language users and let them become intermediaries and actors in their social environment.
“My volunteering let me practise my French outside the classroom and gain greater confidence in using my second language. This rewarding experience has allowed me to feel better prepared for my future career.”
Emma Cole
— Honours bachelor’s graduate in second language teaching who took part in CSL
The Community Service Learning (CSL) program offers credited learning experiences as part of a course. These opportunities allow students to participate in structured volunteer activities that meet a real need in the community, while applying the concepts learned in class.
In 2024–2025, the program recorded 2,476 CSL placements in 115 courses across all 10 faculties at the University of Ottawa. This approach fosters experiential learning, strengthens community ties, contributes to positive social change, and supports the development of sustainable partnerships.