Originally Posted by jimf (Post 8333414)

ESL? FSL?

Originally Posted by jimf (Post 8333414)

ESL? FSL?

Originally Posted by jimf (Post 8333387)

However, we decided the risk just wasn't worth the marginal future benefit.

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 8333412)

Not the case here either I think.

Part of our reasoning in trying the kids in FI is that although I did French and German at school, in my case a few lessons a weeks was not enough for it to sink in. Same goes for my canadian educated better half, and shes an ESL teacher by trade, so knows a thing or two about both teaching languages and being immersed in an alien langage/ culture.

French fluency can certainly do no harm in the long term living in Canada, and the old style way of learning didnt work too well for me, not that I was particularly motivated back then.... Rather like emigrating, if you dont give it a go, then you will never know one way or the other...

Originally Posted by jimf (Post 8333442)

I agree it's a good thing to have ability in a foreign language (or two). Even if not for purely economic/functional reasons eg the job market there are cultural aspects etc that make language ability a good thing to have for it's own sake.

Originally Posted by JonboyE (Post 8333451)

One of my clients is French - real French from Bordeaux. When he deals with the government he always ticks the box to communicate in English. He says he can't understand a word of Canadian French.

Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 8333424)

Your choice, of course, but the benefit is only "marginal" if you assume the child will move on from Canada to a non-francophone country. Speaking French in Canada opens all manner of doors, rightly so, of course, it's an official language and learning it is something a diligent immigrant might be expected to do.

Originally Posted by jimf (Post 8333472)

The point I made was that it is perfectly possible to learn a foreign language without being in an immersion setting. Mrs jimf is fluent in two languages that way. My brother's French inlaws did the same - most of them also speak German as well as English. The benefit of FI is "marginal" if you can learn the language in a non immersion setting anyway.

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 8333463)

Thats not uncommon, its a language that went its own way 300+ years ago. Its probably a bit like us trying to hold a conversation with Shakespeare!

Hell, even withing Canada the Ontario Francophones cant understand the New Brunswick Francophones...my francophone neighbours chat in English!

Originally Posted by Souvy (Post 8333499)

Sorry mate, but that is complete crap. My experience over the last 15 years is that francophones, of any flavour, will stick to their own version when talking to like-tongued people. They can quite easily switch to "typical" French when they need to or want to.

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 8333524)

Its cant be "complete" crap, because thats exactly what happens when my neighbours talk to each other:confused: Its like a conversation between an unreformed glaswegian and a scouser. Perhaps its different among more educated francophones?

Originally Posted by Souvy (Post 8333540)

I suspect it's habit, not an inability to understand each other's French.

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 8333545)

Well, its possible, although thats not what Andre told me, he said he couldnt understand her accent:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by JonboyE (Post 8333451)

One of my clients is French - real French from Bordeaux. When he deals with the government he always ticks the box to communicate in English. He says he can't understand a word of Canadian French.