People come to Canada for Canada or the U.S
Jan 9th 2014, 12:49 am
#166
Still alive
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 28,994
Re: People come to Canada for Canada or the U.S
My sister lived in England for about 10 years (London, Manchester Sheffield) and and said the British were the most racist people she's ever met.
Jan 9th 2014, 1:44 am
#167
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: South of Calgary
Posts: 13,374
Re: People come to Canada for Canada or the U.S
The basic fact seems to remain that academically smarter kids seem to do well in FI, perhaps because they are challenged more, perhaps because their parents are more pushy in the first place, or perhaps because the teachers dont have as much dead weight slowing the class down after the initial self selection phase.
Jan 9th 2014, 2:09 am
#168
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: People come to Canada for Canada or the U.S
None of the kids I referred to above could ever be described as "smart", nor are they remotely artistic or athletic. In fact, they appeared to be completely unremarkable, except for their ability to act in a completely rude fashion. I agree that it was a euphemism. I just prefer to be honest and call them shits.
I did not intend to make any comment about your use of "less gifted" and, if you thought my comments were aimed at your "less gifted" comments, I apologise.
I don't doubt this at all, although I have no actual personal experience of the FI system. The only experience I have of those that have actually gone through the FI system are those lawyers that I know that attended FI, all of whom believe that learning French was a complete waste of time as they don't use it in day to day life at all. I am sure that the ability to be able to read food packaging without having to turn it over is not seen as a significant benefit by them,
I did not intend to make any comment about your use of "less gifted" and, if you thought my comments were aimed at your "less gifted" comments, I apologise.
I don't doubt this at all, although I have no actual personal experience of the FI system. The only experience I have of those that have actually gone through the FI system are those lawyers that I know that attended FI, all of whom believe that learning French was a complete waste of time as they don't use it in day to day life at all. I am sure that the ability to be able to read food packaging without having to turn it over is not seen as a significant benefit by them,
Jan 9th 2014, 11:20 am
#169
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Toronto, Canada - Darwin NT - Newcastle NSW - Toronto - Townsville QLD - Brisbane - Toronto
Posts: 201
Re: People come to Canada for Canada or the U.S
I'm from Toronto currently living in North Queensland ... I agree that winter in Toronto can be depressing, it used to get to me too...alot!
We've had close to 60 days of over 30+C weather! While it's nice to be warm, the constant heat also wears on you and you can't spend time outside during the day, it's too damn hot. I'm actually tired of it and am over it. I came here expecting to be outside more, but it doesn't and hasn't happened. The recent ice storm and deep freeze in Toronto is unusual....I don't ever remember experiencing that growing up.
Anyway, Australia is a beautiful country, and yes, you earn more here, but it is FAR from the rest of the world. I live about 20 minutes from the beach and we never go there.
I actually miss the change of seasons. I'm heading back to live around July/August and I know I will be cursing next winter but for me, Toronto is home and Australia is just where I live.
BTW, I've been to Melbourne and it wasn't my cup of tea...much prefer Sydney!
We've had close to 60 days of over 30+C weather! While it's nice to be warm, the constant heat also wears on you and you can't spend time outside during the day, it's too damn hot. I'm actually tired of it and am over it. I came here expecting to be outside more, but it doesn't and hasn't happened. The recent ice storm and deep freeze in Toronto is unusual....I don't ever remember experiencing that growing up.
Anyway, Australia is a beautiful country, and yes, you earn more here, but it is FAR from the rest of the world. I live about 20 minutes from the beach and we never go there.
I actually miss the change of seasons. I'm heading back to live around July/August and I know I will be cursing next winter but for me, Toronto is home and Australia is just where I live.
BTW, I've been to Melbourne and it wasn't my cup of tea...much prefer Sydney!
Jan 9th 2014, 11:46 am
#170
Slob
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Ottineau
Posts: 6,342
Re: People come to Canada for Canada or the U.S
Surely these didnt come as a surprise to someone thats been in Canada a while?
If they had just changed the law and you had to retrofit the bilingualism to an existing design then sure, its a hassle, but its been that way for as long as I can recall so should have been thought of right from day one of the project rather than seen as an "additional" thing to have to tack on?
I suppose it does mean one label for Canada and one for the US...
If they had just changed the law and you had to retrofit the bilingualism to an existing design then sure, its a hassle, but its been that way for as long as I can recall so should have been thought of right from day one of the project rather than seen as an "additional" thing to have to tack on?
I suppose it does mean one label for Canada and one for the US...
Jan 9th 2014, 11:57 am
#171
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: People come to Canada for Canada or the U.S
I'm looking at a calendar featuring scenes of Northern Ireland, Norn Iron is not known for diversity and there's no legal requirement for any particular language and yet the months are named in English and Polish. Food items purchased in the US are often labelled in English and Spanish, probably Norwegian too, if you buy them in Minnesota.
I, of course, think the signage laws in Quebec are a bollocks and gain nothing from French language labels in Canada but, at the same time, a policy of selling ice cream to English speakers only eliminates even the Eskimo market.
Jan 9th 2014, 12:38 pm
#172
Slob
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Ottineau
Posts: 6,342
Re: People come to Canada for Canada or the U.S
It seems a bit parochial to me, to assume that English will always do for labels.
I'm looking at a calendar featuring scenes of Northern Ireland, Norn Iron is not known for diversity and there's no legal requirement for any particular language and yet the months are named in English and Polish. Food items purchased in the US are often labelled in English and Spanish, probably Norwegian too, if you buy them in Minnesota.
I, of course, think the signage laws in Quebec are a bollocks and gain nothing from French language labels in Canada but, at the same time, a policy of selling ice cream to English speakers only eliminates even the Eskimo market.
I'm looking at a calendar featuring scenes of Northern Ireland, Norn Iron is not known for diversity and there's no legal requirement for any particular language and yet the months are named in English and Polish. Food items purchased in the US are often labelled in English and Spanish, probably Norwegian too, if you buy them in Minnesota.
I, of course, think the signage laws in Quebec are a bollocks and gain nothing from French language labels in Canada but, at the same time, a policy of selling ice cream to English speakers only eliminates even the Eskimo market.
Jan 9th 2014, 1:18 pm
#173
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: People come to Canada for Canada or the U.S
It seems a bit parochial to me, to assume that English will always do for labels.
I'm looking at a calendar featuring scenes of Northern Ireland, Norn Iron is not known for diversity and there's no legal requirement for any particular language and yet the months are named in English and Polish. Food items purchased in the US are often labelled in English and Spanish, probably Norwegian too, if you buy them in Minnesota.
I, of course, think the signage laws in Quebec are a bollocks and gain nothing from French language labels in Canada but, at the same time, a policy of selling ice cream to English speakers only eliminates even the Eskimo market.
I'm looking at a calendar featuring scenes of Northern Ireland, Norn Iron is not known for diversity and there's no legal requirement for any particular language and yet the months are named in English and Polish. Food items purchased in the US are often labelled in English and Spanish, probably Norwegian too, if you buy them in Minnesota.
I, of course, think the signage laws in Quebec are a bollocks and gain nothing from French language labels in Canada but, at the same time, a policy of selling ice cream to English speakers only eliminates even the Eskimo market.
The US has no requirement, its totally up to the company to decide what language to supply, some have indeed started to use more dual English/Spanish labeling, but most products overall are just in English.
But the US on a federal level has no official language.
Jan 9th 2014, 2:21 pm
#174
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: People come to Canada for Canada or the U.S
Isn't the French on labels in Canada required though by law?
The US has no requirement, its totally up to the company to decide what language to supply, some have indeed started to use more dual English/Spanish labeling, but most products overall are just in English.
But the US on a federal level has no official language.
The US has no requirement, its totally up to the company to decide what language to supply, some have indeed started to use more dual English/Spanish labeling, but most products overall are just in English.
But the US on a federal level has no official language.
Jan 9th 2014, 2:41 pm
#175
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Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: People come to Canada for Canada or the U.S
They are also oversubscribed where I am in Maryland and I wouldn't say that French is particularly advantageous here either (Spanish would be a much more useful language in the US). I think parents like the idea of their kids being multilingual but it's also a way to get them into more exclusive schools away from the typical problems associated with the public school system. Also, learning languages at school the traditional way rarely works for most people so immersion is seen as a much better alternative.
Jan 9th 2014, 6:06 pm
#176
"In cruce vincam"
Joined: May 2010
Location: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Posts: 3,232
Re: People come to Canada for Canada or the U.S
It seems a bit parochial to me, to assume that English will always do for labels.
I'm looking at a calendar featuring scenes of Northern Ireland, Norn Iron is not known for diversity and there's no legal requirement for any particular language and yet the months are named in English and Polish. Food items purchased in the US are often labelled in English and Spanish, probably Norwegian too, if you buy them in Minnesota.
I, of course, think the signage laws in Quebec are a bollocks and gain nothing from French language labels in Canada but, at the same time, a policy of selling ice cream to English speakers only eliminates even the Eskimo market.
I'm looking at a calendar featuring scenes of Northern Ireland, Norn Iron is not known for diversity and there's no legal requirement for any particular language and yet the months are named in English and Polish. Food items purchased in the US are often labelled in English and Spanish, probably Norwegian too, if you buy them in Minnesota.
I, of course, think the signage laws in Quebec are a bollocks and gain nothing from French language labels in Canada but, at the same time, a policy of selling ice cream to English speakers only eliminates even the Eskimo market.
If alienating or excluding any minority demographic is the price to pay for clearer, single language labelling then bring it on! I would at least like the right to choose whether our labels are in one, or many, languages. It's me after all that would bear the consequences.
Jan 9th 2014, 6:46 pm
#177
.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20,185
Re: People come to Canada for Canada or the U.S
They are also oversubscribed where I am in Maryland and I wouldn't say that French is particularly advantageous here either (Spanish would be a much more useful language in the US). I think parents like the idea of their kids being multilingual but it's also a way to get them into more exclusive schools away from the typical problems associated with the public school system. Also, learning languages at school the traditional way rarely works for most people so immersion is seen as a much better alternative.
Jan 9th 2014, 8:32 pm
#178
Dive Bar Drunk
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 8,649
Re: People come to Canada for Canada or the U.S
Jan 10th 2014, 1:46 am
#180
BE user by choice
Joined: Oct 2010
Location: A Briton, married to a Canadian, now in Fredericton.
Posts: 4,854
Re: People come to Canada for Canada or the U.S
I don't think so.
French comes well down the list in terms of speakers. Behind English, Chinese variants, Farsi, Portugese, Italian, Russian, Urdu, Spanish, Tagalog and Tamil.
In other words, French is a pretty minor language in Toronto. It just has more special status than it probably ought to. On a province wide basis French comes in 2nd...but in Toronto it's not even in the top 10
French comes well down the list in terms of speakers. Behind English, Chinese variants, Farsi, Portugese, Italian, Russian, Urdu, Spanish, Tagalog and Tamil.
In other words, French is a pretty minor language in Toronto. It just has more special status than it probably ought to. On a province wide basis French comes in 2nd...but in Toronto it's not even in the top 10