Alex Dong '20: French Immersion Alumni Spotlight

At WIC, our connection with students doesn’t end at graduation—we’re proud to share their successes beyond WIC. 

 

How has the French Immersion Program influenced your education, career, or personal life?

First and foremost, it made me appreciate a lot of different subjects—whether that’s literature, history, or even science—from a more multicultural and global perspective. 

Being in a system that encourages you to think and write in different languages uses different parts of your brain, and that was something I really enjoyed. Even now, listening to French music brings back a sense of nostalgia. 

In terms of my educational journey, I loved learning, and I loved my French classes because they came from a more unique perspective. I was able to understand Canadian history through a bilingual lens. 

I also think the smaller class sizes created a really tight-knit community. That starts right from the beginning in Grade 7, when you’re immersed in this environment with teachers who truly care about your growth and your trajectory. Being part of these close groups was really special. 

Professionally, being able to speak another language has a lot of benefits. You can connect with people from different cultures, backgrounds, and countries. As someone going into medicine, you never know when knowing another language will be useful. 

But beyond that, learning French gives you a sense of intellectual humility—the ability to seek knowledge and ask questions beyond what feels comfortable in your native English language. That attitude applies to medicine, law, engineering, or any field. You’re meeting people where they are, listening, and being open.  

What is one fond memory from your time at WIC? 

I have a few, so I’ll share a couple. 

One was the French Immersion trip to Quebec in Grades 7 and 8. I believe it was my first time in Quebec. After learning French for six years in elementary school, it was incredible to actually use it in a real city, without parents, just with friends and teachers. We explored, went to museums, and learned together. It made me think, “Wow, this is actually really useful.” I have so many fond memories from that trip. 

Another big one was the French festival I organized in Grade 12. That was during the 2019–2020 year, when I was President of Student Council. Alongside Mme Berezowski, I wanted to create more events that celebrated La Francophonie and French culture. 

We put together a showcase with food like maple taffy on snow, activities in both gyms, and cultural experiences. It felt like a capstone moment—something that brought people together and allowed us to share French culture beyond just our smaller French Immersion class. 

And honestly, just being with my classmates. The French Immersion class was extremely close. Even now, we still get together for Christmas or New Year’s gatherings. That sense of community is something I really appreciated. 

 

How has being bilingual benefited you since graduation? 

I took two French courses at Yale. One was a French language course to keep up my skills, and the other was a French literature class focused entirely on Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. It was amazing—one full class on that single book. 

The course wasn’t taught in French, but we read the book in English and discussed French culture, history, and literature extensively. In one of my essays, I even wrote part of it in French. Keeping the language alive felt important because I had invested so much time and energy into it. 

I think my French Immersion experience also helped me appreciate humanities courses more broadly. Even small lessons we learned in French class—like the differences between Quebec French and France French—taught me something bigger. 

For example, in Quebec you don’t say “le weekend,” you say “la fin de semaine,” because Quebec is very protective of the language. That small lesson reflects a larger idea: experiences can differ widely even within the same culture or language. 

That understanding creates humility. You might feel knowledgeable about a subject, but there’s always more to learn, and someone else’s experience may be very different from yours. That mindset is especially important in medicine. When you meet a patient, you don’t know what they’ve been through, what experiences or trauma they carry. French Immersion helped cultivate that attitude of listening, presence, and openness. 

What advice would you give to current or future French Immersion students at WIC? 

For incoming students, I’d say: really embrace it. If you’re going to commit to something, commit fully and give it your best effort. It might feel difficult at first, especially when you’re starting a new school and continuing to learn another language, but if you stick with it, it will serve you well in the future. 

For current students, I’d say don’t limit French to just the school setting. It can feel very academic, but there are so many other ways French can enrich your life—through music, writing, poetry, or professional opportunities. It doesn’t have to be just a class. Language becomes part of who you are. 

What are you up to now?

After graduating from WIC, I went to the U.S. to attend Yale University. I double majored in Biomedical Engineering and the Humanities, and I also completed a certificate in Journalism. 

I graduated from Yale in 2024 and am now a medical student at Harvard Medical School. I’m currently in my second year, rotating through the different medical specialties in the hospital full-time while conducting clinical research in health policy and surgery. 

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Contributor

Lauren Somerville
Advancement Officer