Starting the journey
 

Hi all,
Firstly apologies if what I say has already been covered many times prior but hopefully someone can direct me to the appropriate place. So here goes: after numerous years of consideration I finally decide that I along with my family wife and children will endeavour to emigrate to Quebec. As with all things I start to realise I should have started the journey earlier as I have lost valuable points as I turn 40 in a couple of months. As a result of this I now require to score A2 high beginner in French. I generally score well in other areas and we have many family relatives who live in Quebec. My concern is what is the most effective way to learn French in order to attain the standard in a relatively short time. Living in Birmingham there is limited if any access to organisations that prepare you for the tests.
Would appreciate any advice including any software that is worthwhile.
Thanks

Re: Starting the journey
 

I have started re-learning French (did it at school) using Rosetta Stone.

It's great fun and doesn't send me to sleep, like it did at school, lol.

Wife is doing Polish for a laugh :D

Welcome to the forum by the way :)

Re: Starting the journey
 

I would think it depends how quickly you want to move to Canada. Also how fluent you need to be...
Do you have to move to Quebec? Why not move to Ontario near Quebec then you don't need to learn French and the age isn't so critical?

Re: Starting the journey
 

One thing that really helps when learning a foreign language, is to have a radio station (the speaking kind preferably) in your chosen language in the background whenever you can. Also try and listen to half an hour 'properly' several times a week. It seems an obvious thing to say but most people don't think of it.

For French, I recommend France Inter, you can listen to an online stream: http://www.franceinter.fr/.

No adverts, various topical, political, entertainment programmes, sort of an equivalent to Radio 4 except less stuffy ;) I am sure they also have podcasts.

Also, perhaps listening to Quebec radio stations to get used to the accent would be a good idea! Try Première Chaine radio Canada: http://www.radio-canada.ca/radio/

Am in the last stages of the PR process via Quebec skilled worker stream, feel free to ask if you have any questions. Good luck!

Re: Starting the journey
 

Hi All,

Thank you for the quick replies, you guys make me feel like I have a whole new family of support.
Since actively looking to emigrate ie the last 3 weeks I have spent so much time researching, learning and getting so many opinions that I decided to hire an immigrant attorney $3k cost! add that to the fees plus all the other costs ie language tests, medicals etc this was going to be an expensive experience especially if it does not come off.
I am not continuiung with the consultant as I feel that it was a hard sell and they were not fully sincere when assessing my credentials in particular this requirement to learn french. Currently requesting my initial payment to be refunded.
I would love to apply through Ontario but the category ie FSW would apply only for one job category ie provide professional services to business managers. My employment history could be argued to be business improvement manager (continuous improvement specialist)/operations manager. However, the 500 applications in this area got filled in the first 5 days of opening, I was told.
I do however work for a Corporation that has large facilities in Canada but I am told they are not recruiting at present and would be unlikely to fill from abroad.
One of the main reason for emigrating but not the only one is that regarding my children I feel that the cost to put them through university is going to be far less than if they were to study in the uk.

If anyone has any thoughts on how I could still apply for Ontario that would be great. Otherwise, I have to learn french and score A2 plus interview to have any chance and all of this has to be done in the next 6 months!!
:o

Re: Starting the journey
 

You are aware that FSW is only one of approx 50 routes to a visa for Canada? Why not look in to other ways if you don't actually want to go to Quebec and don't speak fluent French?

I would also double check uni fees in Canada if that's one of your primary reasons for going, as they're rarely cheaper than even the max £9k a year in the UK - for instance, my husband looked at doing a masters at UBC and it was $30k a year.

Have a read of the Wiki to understand your other visa options, perhaps a study permit for your wife (which would give you an open work permit), or a job offer for you? Those are the two routes that spring to mind, but without knowing everything about you it's difficult to say which may suit best.

Good luck!

Re: Starting the journey
 

Hi.
Thank you for your response. I did look into undergraduate degrees and they are a fixed cost Quebec is nearly half the cost if Ontario but these are being increased. Still much cheaper than uk. Masters is a different story.
Am I able to pm you? Not sure how to do this.

Re: Starting the journey
 

By the way could not find the wikis. Not fully conversant with the site yet. Really encouraged by the responses and geuinity thanks to all who have replied thus far.

Re: Starting the journey
 

In UK we learn Parisian French, in Canada it is Quebecois french. I understand there is a difference. But i have idea if it is important. :-)

Re: Starting the journey
 

Oh indeed there is a difference.
In addition there is also Acadian french, spoken mainly here in the Maritimes, which is quite different from Quebecois which is not the same as Parisian. I speak very passable french but have a hard time understanding some of it here.

Re: Starting the journey
 

Can anyone recommend Michael Thomas for French learning?

Re: Starting the journey
 

We are here on Provincial Nomination but there doesn't seem to be a program in Ontario I don't think.

I speak fluent European French having grown up in France. I genuinely think that you will struggle to master it in 6 months if on top of it you have a full time job and a family to juggle.

How about those labs where you go and sit with lots of other people with headphones on? No idea what they're like...:o

Re: Starting the journey
 

Follow the link in my signature - or read the big sticky thread entitled 'Newcomers to the Forum, please read me before posting'. ;):lol:

I'm amazed that uni fees are cheaper than in the UK, they're normally more, didn't realise they were fixed in Quebec though (most of Canada it varies from college to college). Even a 'normal' degree at UBC was $36k a year, total estimated cost (with books, living expenses etc) $52k a year. It'll also depend on whether your children are PR's or not, as to whether they have to pay international tuition fees - how old are they now?

:)

Re: Starting the journey
 

Hi. Children are between 16 to 6 yrs old. I need to attain low beginner score in the tefaq test but there is no school in Birmingham. The consultants say that is pretty straight forward but I am not so sure. Quebec is a route in and I have my in laws in Montreal.

Re: Starting the journey
 

Can vouch for the Michel Thomas approach big time; go for the complete set beginner through to advanced - start on a Friday and you will be making coherent French sentences by Sunday lunchtime. Sentences that mean something, not just asking the time or 'directions to the metro'.

As I write here in Montreal, I can hear the student protesters outside banging saucepans over Charest's proposal to increase fees. They are ridiculously low here in Quebec, but will rise. Thus to base too much of your emigration decision on Univ options would be unwise; we have a 3 year old here and by the time she hits higher education - assuming she wants to - the game will be totally different. And I say that as the head of Education for a firm here.

Good luck and remember Je prend is used more commonly than Je Voudrais. And here i do not drive a voiture, here in Quebec it is a char!?