Bilingual?
 

I'm wondering whether to refresh some very rusty French and take some lessons in preparation for a move to Canada. Does anyone have any experience of how valued being bilingual would be in the general job market outside of Quebec?

Re: Bilingual?
 

In Alberta it might be a point against you. Hey, I'm just kidding. But seriously, knowledge of French would be of little use in this province.
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Re: Bilingual?
 

No great value in day to day life here in Manitoba, unless you plan on living in the St Boniface (the French quarter), or some of the "French" villages outside the City.

Ukrainian, Tagalog, Korean or Punjabi would most probably be more useful.

Re: Bilingual?
 

If the second language was Mandarin, Cantonese or Punjabi it might help here in Calgary. ;)

Re: Bilingual?
 

I sometimes wonder why Canada still calls itself a bilingual country.

In Quebec, northern New Brunswick, and the Ottawa / Gatineau region, French is useful if not essential.

But it is virtually unknown in other parts.

Re: Bilingual?
 

It could still be useful if you wanted to work for a branch of a Quebecois company, or if you want to work for the Federal government. Otherwise, in BC you could live your whole life and never speak, understand, or even hear a word.

Cantonese or Mandarin would be a much, much more useful second language.

Re: Bilingual?
 

Although there's little point in learning Chinese if you're not a native speaker as there are going to be half a million (or so) people who are genuinely bilingual ahead of you.

I'm frequently impressed by the number of languages banks will advertise that they can communicate in. A far cry from the UK where there'd be an outcry if any such concessions were made to immigrants.

Re: Bilingual?
 

And long may that continue!..An extremely expensive aspect of Canadian life...which for the majority of Canadians is just a waste of Federal funding that could be better spent on more productive enterprises!:thumbup:

Re: Bilingual?
 

Is it?

Re: Bilingual?
 

It is often said that you can hear 50 different languages on the streets of Toronto. But none of them are french.

That said, if you want to work for the guvmint, bilingual is the way to go.

Re: Bilingual?
 

Nope.

Re: Bilingual?
 

Thought so.

Re: Bilingual?
 

Well actually, according to some, it is!

See http://www.languagefairness.org/Ineq..._of_Canada.php

Make up your own mind pilgrims...whatever...:cool:

Re: Bilingual?
 

Interesting link

A 'must read' for most new immigrants here.

It takes about 45 minutes to go through it.

Re: Bilingual?
 

$500 million per year - so about $20 each. I don't think I'm going to miss that.