Why is montreal french

In fact, English was erased from signage. You will not find those words in Quebec. Learning English is not encouraged by the government. These days, in Montreal, people will speak English to an Anglophone when they can. In other towns, they may be more reticent to do so because their English is limited. Foreign-trained professionals, such as nurses and teachers, will find that they must pass a French proficiency exam to be hired.

All services must be provided in French, as speaking French is a requirement to work in any job that deals with the general public. But when you need an electrician or take clothes to a drycleaner, you may find that she or he speaks only French.

Unless children attend private schools, children must attend French language public schools unless they are specifically exempt from the requirement. One exemption is for children who are in Quebec temporarily. If permission to attend an English public school is granted, it will be for the permitted temporary stay.

In other words, if you speak French, you have a better chance of moving in. And the Ministry of Quebec offers free French language lessons to all immigrants, even ones specialized by field. So in cities like Montreal, French is not viewed as something to be guarded and protected, but something to be shared with others.

At a boulangerie in Montreal, even if you switch from French to English halfway through a sentence, or sprinkle Anglicisms into your French, no one will bat an eye, but will instead continue in whatever language you opened with until they are asked to switch. Taking a deep dive in a new language is important, but if you need some training wheels first, maybe save the trip to Europe for after your six-week intensive French course and instead head to the Great White North.

And other languages, too. For many Montrealers this merely reflects the increasing numbers of friends and family members who possess dual and multiple language identities in a place that has for some time been and will continue to be principally French-speaking and bilingual. Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Montreal Gazette, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Montreal Gazette Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. This website uses cookies to personalize your content including ads , and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Canada established its first Official Languages Act in , which was further refined in in order to outline the equal status of English and French at the federal level.

The two languages have also gradually reached a greater level of equality in most of the provinces, through concentrated French education programs and policies. New Brunswick is the only province in the country to have voluntarily opted to become officially bilingual, although there are pockets of French-speaking communities across every province in Canada.

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