Privacy Policy

1.Who we are

TheFrenchWay2PR ("we", "us", "our") is an online French school run by Jay Patel in Ontario, Canada. We teach live online French classes from A1 to B2, help learners prepare for TEF Canada and TCF Canada, and offer free practice tools on our website.

This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and the choices you have. It applies to our website, your free account, our courses, consultations, ebooks and emails.

We are responsible for personal information under our control, including information handled for us by service providers. We follow Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

2.Our 10 privacy principles

PIPEDA is built on 10 fair information principles. Here is how we apply each one.

3.Information we collect

We collect information you give us, information created when you use our services, and a small amount of technical information.

Account information

Your first and last name, email address, password (stored in encrypted, hashed form, so we cannot read it), optional phone number, your current French level, your target exam and date, and an optional display name.

Contact information and messages

When you email us, message us on WhatsApp or Instagram, fill in the contact form or book a consultation, we receive your name, contact details and what you write to us.

Payment confirmation details

We are paid by Interac e-Transfer. We receive the sender's name, email or phone number, the amount, the date and the reference number shown on the transfer. We never ask for or receive your online banking login, password or security answers. Your bank handles the transfer. When we add online card payments later, a card payment processor will handle your card details directly and we will name it in this policy. We will not store full card numbers.

Learning data

Your practice answers and scores, placement test results, Maple Leaf progress map, points and leaderboard position, study plan, class attendance and teacher notes about your progress.

Class recordings, voice and video

Live classes are recorded. A recording may include your name or display name, your voice, your video if your camera is on, and anything you type in the class chat. See section 7.

Community posts

If you are an enrolled student and post in the student community, we store your posts, comments and replies.

Technical data and cookies

Your IP address, browser and device type, pages visited, and the date and time of visits. We use cookies to keep you signed in and to count your free daily tests. See section 10.

We do not ask for your immigration file, passport, SIN, or bank login. Please do not send us these. If you share your exam or immigration goals with us, we use them only to plan your learning.

4.Why we use your information

We use personal information only for these purposes:

• To run your account: sign you in, save your progress, and limit free accounts to 5 tests a day.
• To teach you: place you at the right level, put you in a group of 1 to 3 students, run 4 live sessions a week (including a doubt-solving session), share class recordings, and give you feedback and a study plan.
• To run consultations: schedule and hold your 30-minute one-to-one call.
• To handle payments: match your Interac e-Transfer to your enrolment, confirm your seat, issue receipts and keep business and tax records.
• To communicate with you: send class links, schedule changes, reminders and answers to your questions.
• To send ebooks and our newsletter, if you ask for them (section 9).
• To show the leaderboard and community to other users, as explained in section 8.
• To keep the service safe and working: prevent misuse, fix bugs and understand which pages and tools are used.
• To meet legal obligations, such as tax record keeping.

If we want to use your information for a new purpose, we will tell you first and, where required, ask for your consent.

5.Consent and your choices

Under PIPEDA, we rely on your consent to collect, use and share personal information. How we ask depends on how sensitive the information is and what you would reasonably expect.

• Express consent: we ask you to tick a box or clearly agree when you create an account, enrol in a course (including to class recordings), join the community, or sign up for our newsletter.
• Implied consent: when you email us or book a consultation, we use your details to reply and to hold the call.

Withdrawing consent. You can withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contract limits and reasonable notice. Some things cannot work without certain information. For example, we cannot run your account without an email address, and live classes are always recorded for the batch. If withdrawing consent affects a service, we will explain what that means before you decide.

6.How we share information

We never sell or rent your personal information. We do not share it with advertisers.

We share information only with service providers who help us run the school, and only what they need to do their job:

• Email provider: to send account emails, ebooks and the newsletter.
• Video-call provider: to run live online classes and consultations, and to store recordings.
• Website hosting and database provider: to host the website and store account and learning data.
• Scheduling and messaging tools: to book consultations and answer messages.
• Payment processor: only once online card payments are added, and named here at that time.

We will list the providers we use on request. Jay to confirm Our providers must protect your information and may only use it to provide services to us.

We may also share information:

• with other users, only as described in sections 7 and 8;
• if required by law, such as a court order or a lawful request from a government authority;
• to protect the safety of a person in an emergency;
• if the business is sold or transferred, in which case the new owner must keep following this policy.

We do not share your information with IRCC or with the TEF Canada or TCF Canada exam providers. We are not affiliated with them.

7.Class recordings

Every live class is recorded so students can review it and catch up if they miss a class.

• Recordings are shared only with the enrolled students of that batch and the teacher.
• You may keep your camera off and use only your display name. Your voice will still be recorded if you speak.
• Recordings are for your personal study. Students may not download, share, post or sell them (see our Terms of Use).
• We do not use recordings in ads or public posts without your separate, written permission.
• We delete recordings 3 months after the batch ends. Jay to confirm

If you have a concern about a specific recording, contact us and we will look at removing or trimming the part that involves you.

8.What other users can see

Leaderboard

If you use the practice tools, the leaderboard shows your first name or display name and your points to other users. It does not show your last name, email, level test results or contact details. You can choose a display name in your account settings. You can also ask us to hide you from the leaderboard. Jay to confirm

Student community

The community is only for enrolled students. Your posts, comments, display name and profile picture (if you add one) are visible to other enrolled students. Please do not post private details such as your phone number or immigration file. You can edit or delete your own posts. We may remove posts that break our code of conduct.

In live classes

The other 1 or 2 students in your group can see and hear you during class, and can watch the class recordings.

9.Emails and newsletter (CASL)

We follow Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).

• Service emails (account, class links, schedule changes, receipts) are needed to provide the service you asked for.
• Free ebooks and our newsletter are sent only if you ask for them. When you request an ebook, you can choose to join the newsletter with a clear opt-in that is not pre-ticked.
• Every newsletter email names TheFrenchWay2PR, gives our contact details and has an unsubscribe link. We act on unsubscribe requests within 10 business days, and usually much faster.
• We keep a record of when and how you gave consent.

Unsubscribing from the newsletter does not stop service emails while you have an account or are enrolled.

10.Cookies

Cookies are small files saved by your browser. We use:

• Essential cookies to keep you signed in, remember your settings, and count your 5 free tests a day. The site does not work properly without them.
• Basic analytics to count visits and see which pages are useful. Where we can, we use settings that limit or anonymize IP addresses. Jay to confirm

We do not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, but some features, like staying signed in, may stop working.

11.How long we keep information

We keep personal information only as long as we need it for the purposes in this policy, then delete or anonymize it.

If you ask to see your information, we keep it long enough for you to use your access rights.

12.How we protect information

We use safeguards that match how sensitive the information is, including:

• encrypted connections (HTTPS) on our website;
• passwords stored only in hashed form;
• two-step verification on the email, hosting and video-call accounts we use;
• access limited to people who need it to teach or run the school;
• reputable providers that offer strong security.

No system is perfectly secure. Please use a strong password that you do not use anywhere else. If a privacy breach creates a real risk of significant harm to you, we will notify you and report it to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, as PIPEDA requires, and keep a record of the breach.

13.Storage outside Canada

Some of our service providers, such as email, video-call and hosting providers, may store or process information outside Canada, for example in the United States. While it is there, it is subject to the laws of that country and may be accessed by its courts, law enforcement or national security authorities.

We choose providers with strong privacy and security protections and require them to protect your information. You can ask us for more information about where your information is stored.

14.Your rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you and learn how it has been used and shared.
• Correct information that is wrong or incomplete. You can update most details in your account settings.
• Withdraw consent, for example to the newsletter or to appearing on the leaderboard.
• Ask us to delete your account and information. We will do so unless the law requires us to keep it (such as payment records).
• Complain about how we handle your information.

To make a request, email thefrenchway2pr@gmail.com. We may ask you to confirm your identity. We will reply within 30 days. If we need more time, or cannot do what you ask, we will tell you why. Requests are free.

If you are not happy with our answer, you can file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at www.priv.gc.ca.

15.Age requirement

Our services are for adults 18 years and older. Jay to confirm We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a person under 18 has created an account, contact us and we will delete it.

16.Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as our services or the law change. The "Last updated" date at the top shows the latest version. If we make an important change, such as a new purpose or a new type of provider, we will tell you by email or on the website before it takes effect and, where required, ask for your consent again.

17.Contact us

For any privacy question, request or complaint, contact our Privacy Officer:

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: www.priv.gc.ca