Administrative Professional: French Language Training

CampusStart DateTuition/Fees
Fredericton September 2025 (Blended Delivery)
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Program Overview

Who keeps organizations on track and operating smoothly on a daily basis? Administrative professionals do. They are the backbone of office functionality, typing and preparing documents, scheduling appointments, maintaining files, and managing incoming calls and inquiries. In an officially bilingual province such as New Brunswick, having the skills to do the job in English and French makes you twice as valuable.
 
If you’re someone who loves keeping things organized, and you want to contribute in more than one language, our Administrative Professional: French Language Training program is a great bilingual path to opportunity. You’ll learn the skills for communicating effectively in both official languages, word processing, data entry, spreadsheets, and accounting software. In-class French language training combined with real-world bilingual workplace experience will see you graduate with the confidence and comprehensive skills to succeed in a fast-paced, computerized office environment.

Duration

The requirements for this diploma program may be achieved within two years of full-time study.

Admission Requirements

    Profile A

  • High School Diploma or Adult High School Diploma or GED Diploma of High School Equivalency or Essential Skills Achievement Pathway: Post-Secondary Entry High School Diploma

    NB Francophone High School Math Equivalencies
    International Student Admission Equivalencies

    Career Possibilities

    The demand for qualified bilingual office personnel continues to grow in New Brunswick. And in a province where many sectors are legally required to offer service in both languages, you’ll have an edge. Administrative professionals are required in almost every industry, and you could find yourself working in a law office, healthcare, government department, or private sector business. It’s pretty wide open, and there are plenty of opportunities to specialize in areas such as data entry, file and records management, payroll administration, or personal or executive assistant positions.
     
    Because administrative professionals often develop a strong understanding of all aspects of how an organization operates, many of them advance to become office managers down the road. And with the growth of work-from-home and virtual connectivity, entrepreneurial-minded individuals find flexible opportunities that suit their lifestyle, working as virtual assistants and freelance administrators.

    Find career possibilities related to this program in Career Coach.

    Specific Considerations

    Students will receive assessment results based on language proficiency testing in their final semester. After the completion of first year, students may qualify for Summer Language Bursary programs.

    Technology Requirements
    NBCC is a connected learning environment. All programs require a minimum specification, including access to the internet and a laptop. Your computer should meet your program technology requirements to ensure the software required for your program operates effectively. Free wifi is provided on all campuses.

    Please note that some textbook instruction for program courses is written for PC systems and students with MAC devices may not be able to follow this instruction step-by-step.

    Areas of Study

    • French Language Training – Oral and Written
    • Bilingual Office Skills
    • Business Communications
    • Accounting – Manual and Computerized
    • Document Formatting and Word Processing
    • Computer Applications
    • Spreadsheets
    • Records and Database Management
    • Client Service

    Program Courses

    Courses are subject to change.

    This course is designed to build on the skills needed to write clear and concise sentences and paragraphs. Focus is placed on applying the parts of speech, grammar, sentence patterns, sentence and paragraph structure, punctuation, and capitalization. Emphasis is also placed on writing for specific audiences, using various styles to achieve a purpose, and applying the stages of the writing process.

    This course is designed to develop a structured approach to writing business messages. Focus is placed on applying the stages of the writing process (prewriting, writing, and revising) for emails, memos, letters, and other business messages and documents.

    Prerequisites:

    • COMM1276A

    ​This course is designed to develop the knowledge required to record financial transactions for the complete accounting cycle. Focus is placed on bookkeeping for the service industry.

    This course is designed to develop foundational French language skills.  Focus is placed on speaking, reading, and writing to meet immediate needs in common and predictable contexts about familiar topics.

    This course is designed to develop beginner French listening and speaking skills. Emphasis is placed on participating in simple conversations about familiar topics in common casual settings.

    Prerequisites:

    • LANG1429A

    This course is designed to develop beginner French reading and writing skills.  Focus is placed on developing grammar and sentence composition for simple messages and continuing to broaden vocabulary for familiar situations.

    Prerequisites:

    • LANG1429A

    This course is designed to build on the French skills gained in Beginner French I: Listening and Speaking. Focus is placed on participating in simple conversations about familiar topics, expressing preferences and simple opinions, and asking questions pertaining to everyday services in common social settings.

    Prerequisites:

    • LANG1430A

    This course is designed to build on the French skills gained in Beginner French I: Reading and Writing.  Emphasis is placed on reading simple text, identifying, and communicating main ideas, writing simple paragraphs, and broadening vocabulary for familiar situations and routine topics.

    Prerequisites:

    • LANG1431A

    This course is designed to build on the skills gained in Beginner French II: Listening and Speaking. Focus is placed on participating in spontaneous and more complex conversations about topics of personal interest and opinions, as well as problems, solutions, and detailed instructions. 

    Prerequisites:

    • LANG1432A

    This course is designed to build on the skills gained in Beginner French II: Reading and Writing.  
    Focus is placed on reading and writing that connects ideas about familiar topics, events of personal interest, contemporary issues, and opinions. 

    Prerequisites:

    • LANG1433A

    This course is designed to build on the French skills gained in Intermediate French I: Listening and Speaking. Focus is placed on participating in conversations with fluidity and spontaneity and sustaining viewpoints on a wide range of subjects.

    Prerequisites:

    • LANG1434A

    This course is designed to build on the skills gained in Intermediate French II: Listening and Speaking. Emphasis is placed on providing work-related details and explanations, describing problems, managing complaints, distinguishing and communicating nuanced information, and identifying information from longer spoken messages.

    Prerequisites:

    • LANG1436A

    This course is designed to build on the skills gained from Intermediate French: Reading and Writing.  Emphasis is placed on developing vocabulary used in a business environment, using grammar and sentence structure rules, and writing professional business documents. 

    Prerequisites:

    • LANG1435A

    This course is designed to develop arithmetic and algebraic skills needed to perform business-related math calculations. Focus is placed on analyzing business and financial problems, determining what calculations need to be performed, and completing the necessary calculations. Calculations include sales tax, discounts, and simple interest.

    This course is designed to develop the knowledge and skills to effectively support a wide variety of office operations. Focus is placed on practicing telephone techniques, managing schedules, and planning, documenting, and executing meetings. Learners explore methods and techniques for providing quality client service and demonstrate professionalism in a business environment.

    Prerequisites:

    • COMM1276A
    • SAAL1866A

    This course is designed to allow the learner to work independently in an industry setting related to their field of study. Learners are expected to follow the work schedule of the practicum host. The duration of this practicum is five (5) weeks.

    This course provides an introduction to the meaning of community service.  Students learn how community service can enhance a student’s educational experience, personal growth, employability, and civic responsibility. Students participate in one day of volunteering to enhance their understanding of civic responsibility and to help the New Brunswick Community College realize its vision of transforming lives and communities.

    This course is designed to develop interpersonal communication skills required by administrative professionals. Focus is placed on self-awareness, motivation, time management, team participation, and problem-solving skills in the workplace.

    This course is designed to develop job search techniques, create job search documents, and enhance interviewing and networking skills.  Learners also examine employment standards and rights.

    Prerequisites:

    • COMM1276A
    • SAAL1866A

    This course is designed to apply procedures for the management of hard copy and electronic records. Focus is placed on the application of international filing rules and best practices for handling incoming and outgoing mail. Additional emphasis includes database concepts, managing records, creating tables, performing queries, and making simple forms and reports.

    This course is designed to introduce computerized accounting software.  Focus is placed on maintaining accounting records for small and medium sized businesses by managing general, payable, receivable, and payroll transactions and adjustments.  Other topics include producing accounting reports and financial statements.

    Prerequisites:

      This course is designed to introduce the fundamentals of computer applications and file management for an office environment. Focus is placed on software features and functions for email scheduling, calendar management, collaboration, and time and task management. Further emphasis is placed on presentation software and online tools.

      This course is designed to develop accurate touch-typing techniques and document formatting skills. Emphasis is placed on efficient and accurate keyboarding skills, features and functions of word processing software, common Canadian business documents, and producing appropriately formatted professional documents using word processing software.

      This course is designed to build on previously acquired skills of document formatting and keyboarding.  Focus is placed on developing the advanced formatting and word processing skills used to produce professional business documents. Learners continue to develop keyboarding speed and accuracy.

      Prerequisites:

      • SAAL1866A

      This course is designed to introduce basic spreadsheet concepts. Focus is placed on creating, editing, formatting, saving, moving, copying, and calculating data using spreadsheet software. Course topics include summarizing data using formulas and functions as well as presenting results visually using various chart types.

      This course is designed to develop advanced spreadsheet skills. Focus is placed on the creation and management of tables and charts, the manipulation of multiple worksheets and workbooks, as well as advanced, logical, lookups, nested IFs, and conditional functions.

      Prerequisites:

      • SAAL1870A

      This course is designed to develop the skills required to prepare a variety of French and bilingual documents, respecting correct presentation in each language. Emphasis is placed on managing office tasks including presenting to audiences and transcribing and formatting business documents in a bilingual environment. 

      Prerequisites:

      • SAAL1866A
      • LANG1435A
      • LANG1436A

      A safe and healthy workplace is the responsibility of the employer and the employee. This course introduces students to the importance of working safely and addresses how employers and employees can control the hazards and risks associated with the workplace. Students will also learn about the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders including WorkSafeNB, the employer and the employee in ensuring workplaces are safe.

      NOC Codes

      13102 - Payroll administrators
      13110 - Administrative assistants
      14100 - General office support workers
      14111 - Data entry clerks

      Articulation Agreements

      Institution: University of New Brunswick - Saint John
      Information: Bachelor of Applied Management Degree (BAM)
      NBCC graduates of any 2 year diploma program with a GPA of 70% or greater receive 2 years full credit toward this degree and will be eligible to enter year 3 of the 4 year Bachelor of Applied Management (BAM) program.
       

      External Certifications

      Administrative Professional: French Language Training graduates may have an opportunity to acquire the following external certifications upon meeting the external agencies certification requirements and paying any required fees to the external agency:

      Institution: Department of Post-Secondary Education and Training
      External Certification: Linguistic Services
      Information: An Oral Proficiency Evaluation will be administered by Linguistic Services at the end of the second year of the program.

      Disclaimer: This web copy provides guidance to prospective students, applicants, current students, faculty and staff. Although advice is readily available on request, the responsibility for program selection ultimately rests with the student. Programs, admission requirements and other related information is subject to change.

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