Odyssey is an opportunity to dive deep into another language and culture while sharing your own; travel and explore Canada; earn an income and get professional experience. Under the supervision of a teacher, you will use games and other activities on a daily basis to motivate students to learn more about English as a second language. You will have the opportunity to share your culture, drawing from your personal experiences. You will also share the unique linguistic features of your home region through art, music, stories, local expressions, and humour, and make a difference in the lives of young people. By the end, you’ll have helped young students to broaden their knowledge of Canada and develop a passion for language learning, all while having fun! Become a role model; join Odyssey!

The Odyssey program doesn’t only benefit the students you work with; it will help you grow and learn as well. While you work helping students develop their oral communication skills in English, your Odyssey will be an opportunity to immerse yourself in la francophonie au Canada. You will live in a francophone community where English is likely to be the minority language, which will give you the chance to develop your own fluency in French as you interact with the community. Beyond learning the language, you’ll discover more about the many different cultures that make up French Canada. Interested in seeing whether working in a classroom and the field of education is right for you? Through Odyssey’s training sessions and your relationship with your teachers, you’ll build and sharpen valuable skills that are transferable to your career or elsewhere in your life. The Odyssey Language Assistant Program is a paid, professional work experience that involves travelling to Quebec or New Brunswick to work with students for nine months. Earn over $25 an hour while gaining valuable work experience in a classroom setting! Let your Odyssey begin!

In order to qualify for the Odyssey program, you must:

• have solid English-language skills, both oral and written. They are a must-have skill set. English proficiency must be as strong as if it were your first language
• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada (those studying in Canada on a student visa are not eligible)
• have completed, by the start of your work term and within the last 10 years, at least one full year of postsecondary studies, college, or university. If you are completing studies in Quebec, you must have completed two years of college-level studies or one year of university within the last 10 years. For studies done outside of Canada, you will also need to submit a formal assessment of your academic credentials.
There is no age limit for participation in Odyssey, but you do need to meet all eligibility requirements.

There are no French-language-skill requirements to apply for the Odyssey program, but some basic oral and spoken skills in your second official language are always a great asset.

A driver’s licence is not a requirement for selection. However, in some regions, having a licence is preferable.

The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) thanks all candidates for their interest in Odyssey. Please note that decisions regarding eligibility for the participation in the program are made by the relevant provincial and territorial ministries/departments responsible for education or postsecondary education and are also subject to the participating educational institutions’ policies, practices, and regulations. A candidate may be declared ineligible for participation in the program at any time including but without limitation if the candidate (i) has been previously dismissed from the program for any reason, (ii) does not or ceases to meet the eligibility criteria for or the conditions for participation in the program, (iii) does not meet any requirement or condition of the relevant provincial and territorial ministries/departments responsible for education or postsecondary education or of the participating educational institutions’ policies, practices, and regulations.