What is Jack doing at the beginning of the dialogue?

W: Hello, Jack. What are you doing here secretly? Is that really a French book?
M: Well, I’m trying to teach myself some French.’ For I want to go to Montreal next semester, I don’t want to sound like just another tourist. Most of the people there can speak English and French.
W: Leave Boston to go to Montreal? I don’t know our university had a program in Canada.
M: It doesn’t. I’m planning to take a short leave of absence from school so I can go there on my own.
W: What’s the reason for this sudden interest in Canada?
M: Well, actually I’ve been thinking about going for some time. I know someone there who’s been waiting me to visit.
W: A relative?
M: An old friend of my uncle’s runs a chemical engineering department there. So I’m hoping he can help me register some interesting courses.
W: If you want those credits transferred back here later on, you’d better arrange for it before you leave. Don’t forget what happened to Susan after she came back from Rome.
M: Yeah. But her situation was different. I already have all the credits I need to graduate.
W: So you’ll be taking the courses just for the sake of learning?
M: That will be a nice change of pace, won’t it?