One by one, the graduates made their way to the front of the room wearing black caps and gold-lettered sashes.

They shook hands with their teachers, were handed certificates and switched their tassels from right to left to mark a rite of passage.

When Gloria Sandy’s name was called, the 78-year-old retired nurse slowly and carefully declared: “J’ai la confiance maintenant pour parler français.”

The audience clapped and cheered.

Sandy is among nearly two dozen anglophone seniors showing that it’s never too late to learn French in Quebec. A ceremony was held Wednesday at the LaSalle D&D 50 Centre to celebrate the accomplishments of the first cohort of students in their Fast Track French program.

Funded by the Grace Dart Foundation, it offers practical language training to older anglophones who need more encouragement, patience and nurturing along the way.

Diane Doonan, vice-president of the LaSalle D&D 50 Centre, said the program addresses a need among a population that didn’t have opportunities to learn French earlier in life for a variety of reasons. Many of them now feel left behind as French has become increasingly necessary in Quebec.

“Our seniors, you have no idea how eager they are — and always have been — to speak French. But they need support and they can’t just go out suddenly overnight and speak French,” said Doonan. “When they come to the centre, they have that safe space of knowing ‘I’m here and I can speak English and it’s comfortable. But I can also venture out and I can actually function in the larger francophone community with a bit more confidence.’”

The participants are not only busting myths that older anglophones are uninterested or unwilling to speak French, they’re also overcoming obstacles, including shame, guilt and nerves.

“The biggest barrier to learning — as an older person — is fear,” said Doonan. “Fear of public ridicule. ‘In French, will I sounds stupid?’ This is what I hear. ‘Is my accent too thick? Will they actually really understand what I’m saying? Will I come through? Will people laugh at me?’

“So the sessions — I hesitate to call it a course — are designed to undo those barriers, to........

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