Montreal language
Sep 30th 2002, 8:11 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Montreal language
It seems that Montreal official language is French, but is
it possible to live there speaking English and with some
basic knowledge of France?
Merci! :-)
Mitsuru
it possible to live there speaking English and with some
basic knowledge of France?
Merci! :-)
Mitsuru
Sep 30th 2002, 8:31 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Montreal language
Mitsuru Shimizu wrote:
> It seems that Montreal official language is French, but is
> it possible to live there speaking English and with some
> basic knowledge of France?
> Merci! :-)
> Mitsuru
Absoluement! Parts of Montreal are very Anglophone, and the city centre
is extremely bilingual.
That said, if you are immigrating and considering chosing Quebec as your
place of landing, then you might have some problems. Better to come
elsewhere in Canada and move to Quebec later if you so choose if your
French won't stand up to the Quebec specific requirements.
> It seems that Montreal official language is French, but is
> it possible to live there speaking English and with some
> basic knowledge of France?
> Merci! :-)
> Mitsuru
Absoluement! Parts of Montreal are very Anglophone, and the city centre
is extremely bilingual.
That said, if you are immigrating and considering chosing Quebec as your
place of landing, then you might have some problems. Better to come
elsewhere in Canada and move to Quebec later if you so choose if your
French won't stand up to the Quebec specific requirements.
Sep 30th 2002, 11:11 pm
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Montreal language
Mitsuru Shimizu wrote:
>It seems that Montreal official language is French, but is
>it possible to live there speaking English and with some
>basic knowledge of France?
Mochiron!
I've found that in Montreal, the "default" langauge that people
use is French, if they don't already know which language you
speak. I myself will reply in whatever language I'm spoken to in,
unless it's painfully clear that the person speaking to me is an
Anglophone speaking French. However, certainly in the city
centre, most people you encounter will be quite adept in both
languages, and as long as you take care not to live in an overly
French section of town you will find that you're able to get
around with only your English knowledge (with the understanding
that on rare occasions you may have to do some smiling and
pointing).
Montreal is a great city; I wish I could live there, but alas
there are even less tech jobs there than there are here.
--
- awh
http://www.awh.org/
>It seems that Montreal official language is French, but is
>it possible to live there speaking English and with some
>basic knowledge of France?
Mochiron!
I've found that in Montreal, the "default" langauge that people
use is French, if they don't already know which language you
speak. I myself will reply in whatever language I'm spoken to in,
unless it's painfully clear that the person speaking to me is an
Anglophone speaking French. However, certainly in the city
centre, most people you encounter will be quite adept in both
languages, and as long as you take care not to live in an overly
French section of town you will find that you're able to get
around with only your English knowledge (with the understanding
that on rare occasions you may have to do some smiling and
pointing).
Montreal is a great city; I wish I could live there, but alas
there are even less tech jobs there than there are here.
--
- awh
http://www.awh.org/
Oct 1st 2002, 10:15 pm
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Montreal language
> Absoluement! Parts of Montreal are very Anglophone, and the city centre
> is extremely bilingual.
> That said, if you are immigrating and considering chosing Quebec as your
> place of landing, then you might have some problems. Better to come
> elsewhere in Canada and move to Quebec later if you so choose if your
> French won't stand up to the Quebec specific requirements.
Thanks for your answer.
What I didn't understand is that if Montreal is also anglophone,
why is that important to speak French in order to be "approved" by
the Quebec immigration officers (considering, of course, that I
intended to live in Montreal)?
> is extremely bilingual.
> That said, if you are immigrating and considering chosing Quebec as your
> place of landing, then you might have some problems. Better to come
> elsewhere in Canada and move to Quebec later if you so choose if your
> French won't stand up to the Quebec specific requirements.
Thanks for your answer.
What I didn't understand is that if Montreal is also anglophone,
why is that important to speak French in order to be "approved" by
the Quebec immigration officers (considering, of course, that I
intended to live in Montreal)?
Oct 1st 2002, 10:31 pm
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Montreal language
Mitsuru Shimizu wrote:
> > Absoluement! Parts of Montreal are very Anglophone, and the city centre
> > is extremely bilingual.
> >
> > That said, if you are immigrating and considering chosing Quebec as your
> > place of landing, then you might have some problems. Better to come
> > elsewhere in Canada and move to Quebec later if you so choose if your
> > French won't stand up to the Quebec specific requirements.
> Thanks for your answer.
> What I didn't understand is that if Montreal is also anglophone,
> why is that important to speak French in order to be "approved" by
> the Quebec immigration officers (considering, of course, that I
> intended to live in Montreal)?
The Language issues in Quebec date back to the battle of Quebec when
Wolfe beat Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham! French is the first
language of Quebec. That there are many anglophones in Quebec and
particularly in Montreal is a thorn in the side of les separatistes.
Officially Quebec is francophone and is desparately trying to remain
that way ... attempting to control direct immigration is one way they
see to try to influence that and to stop anglophones from entering
Quebec to reduce the support for separation from Canada.
> > Absoluement! Parts of Montreal are very Anglophone, and the city centre
> > is extremely bilingual.
> >
> > That said, if you are immigrating and considering chosing Quebec as your
> > place of landing, then you might have some problems. Better to come
> > elsewhere in Canada and move to Quebec later if you so choose if your
> > French won't stand up to the Quebec specific requirements.
> Thanks for your answer.
> What I didn't understand is that if Montreal is also anglophone,
> why is that important to speak French in order to be "approved" by
> the Quebec immigration officers (considering, of course, that I
> intended to live in Montreal)?
The Language issues in Quebec date back to the battle of Quebec when
Wolfe beat Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham! French is the first
language of Quebec. That there are many anglophones in Quebec and
particularly in Montreal is a thorn in the side of les separatistes.
Officially Quebec is francophone and is desparately trying to remain
that way ... attempting to control direct immigration is one way they
see to try to influence that and to stop anglophones from entering
Quebec to reduce the support for separation from Canada.
Oct 2nd 2002, 2:11 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Montreal language
French is the OFFICIAL language in Quebec. As English is in Ontario and all
the other provinces. Only NB is bilingual. Montreal is in the Province of
Quebec.
The current Quebec government, PQ, is a separatist one. They have tried
hardly to separate from Canada, but it did not work. Last time, Oct. 1995,
they lost by a slim margin. 49.5 for an independent Quebec, 50.5 for Canada.
The anglophones and most of the immigrants made the real difference.
Chris
"Mitsuru Shimizu" wrote in message
news:2dc35933.0210011415-
[email protected]...
> > Absoluement! Parts of Montreal are very Anglophone, and the city centre
> > is extremely bilingual.
> >
> > That said, if you are immigrating and considering chosing Quebec as your
> > place of landing, then you might have some problems. Better to come
> > elsewhere in Canada and move to Quebec later if you so choose if your
> > French won't stand up to the Quebec specific requirements.
> Thanks for your answer.
> What I didn't understand is that if Montreal is also anglophone,
> why is that important to speak French in order to be "approved" by
> the Quebec immigration officers (considering, of course, that I
> intended to live in Montreal)?
the other provinces. Only NB is bilingual. Montreal is in the Province of
Quebec.
The current Quebec government, PQ, is a separatist one. They have tried
hardly to separate from Canada, but it did not work. Last time, Oct. 1995,
they lost by a slim margin. 49.5 for an independent Quebec, 50.5 for Canada.
The anglophones and most of the immigrants made the real difference.
Chris
"Mitsuru Shimizu" wrote in message
news:2dc35933.0210011415-
[email protected]...
> > Absoluement! Parts of Montreal are very Anglophone, and the city centre
> > is extremely bilingual.
> >
> > That said, if you are immigrating and considering chosing Quebec as your
> > place of landing, then you might have some problems. Better to come
> > elsewhere in Canada and move to Quebec later if you so choose if your
> > French won't stand up to the Quebec specific requirements.
> Thanks for your answer.
> What I didn't understand is that if Montreal is also anglophone,
> why is that important to speak French in order to be "approved" by
> the Quebec immigration officers (considering, of course, that I
> intended to live in Montreal)?
Oct 2nd 2002, 8:52 am
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Montreal language
I'm a French Canadian and I live in Montréal. This town is way more pleasant than many other cities in Canada. I don't hesitate to recommand it to any newcomer. I would at least suggest you to stay away from Toronto.
The Québec government makes a big fuss with this issue and it takes 2 more months and $250 and more paperwork, that is over the Canadian federal immigration requirements.
So land everywhere except in the Province of Québec. Then come in Montréal (nothing required) and you'll like it very much! If you speak English only makes no difference at all for your integration here.
WELCOME IN MONTRÉAL!
The Québec government makes a big fuss with this issue and it takes 2 more months and $250 and more paperwork, that is over the Canadian federal immigration requirements.
So land everywhere except in the Province of Québec. Then come in Montréal (nothing required) and you'll like it very much! If you speak English only makes no difference at all for your integration here.
WELCOME IN MONTRÉAL!
Oct 2nd 2002, 9:02 am
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Montreal language
By the way, don't be fooled by these posters in this newsgroup who still carry the old idea that the Québec government is doing this because it is a way to get the Province of Québec separated.
Most Quebecers don't want this separation, not only immigrants but native French Canadians like me too! This even made the Parti Québécois (political party still in power) renounce its separatist stance.
The official point of view is that since this is the only and last French society in North America, it needs to be protected in order to keep its cultural identity.
I'm Québecer!
I'm Canadian!
I'm Montréaler!
I'm happy!
Most Quebecers don't want this separation, not only immigrants but native French Canadians like me too! This even made the Parti Québécois (political party still in power) renounce its separatist stance.
The official point of view is that since this is the only and last French society in North America, it needs to be protected in order to keep its cultural identity.
I'm Québecer!
I'm Canadian!
I'm Montréaler!
I'm happy!
Oct 2nd 2002, 12:04 pm
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Montreal language
Mitsuru Shimizu wrote:
>What I didn't understand is that if Montreal is also anglophone,
>why is that important to speak French in order to be "approved" by
>the Quebec immigration officers (considering, of course, that I
>intended to live in Montreal)?
Language is a very political issue in Canada. I don't think I can
think of another issue that has been as contentious over the past
30 years. Language has been at the heart of two Quebec seperation
referendums, not to mention the talks surrounding the repatriation
of the constitution, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms. To this day, Quebec still refuses to sign the
Constitution, despite the concessions made, and has a policy
of invoking Section 33 (the "notwithstanding clause", which allows
provinces to ignore the Charter) of the Charter with every single
one of its laws.
The current Quebec government is a seperatist one. They would
like nothing more than to form Le Pays du Quebec and be rid of
Canada once and for all, so they could then ban the use of English
altogether. Unfortunately, this government lies to their
constituents about what would happen if Quebec seperated. "Oh, of
course Canada would still let us use their military." "Oh, of
course Canada would forgive our share of the national debt." "Oh,
of course Canada wouldn't charge us for the use of their
services." Even so, they have yet to be able to convince the
population to vote YES to seperation.
Basically, the current government's wish is to get rid of any and
all English within their province, and also to get enough
Francophones in the province that they can convince them to vote
yes to seperation. Allowing non-French-speaking immigrants of
course is orthogonal to this goal.
--
- awh
http://www.awh.org/
>What I didn't understand is that if Montreal is also anglophone,
>why is that important to speak French in order to be "approved" by
>the Quebec immigration officers (considering, of course, that I
>intended to live in Montreal)?
Language is a very political issue in Canada. I don't think I can
think of another issue that has been as contentious over the past
30 years. Language has been at the heart of two Quebec seperation
referendums, not to mention the talks surrounding the repatriation
of the constitution, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms. To this day, Quebec still refuses to sign the
Constitution, despite the concessions made, and has a policy
of invoking Section 33 (the "notwithstanding clause", which allows
provinces to ignore the Charter) of the Charter with every single
one of its laws.
The current Quebec government is a seperatist one. They would
like nothing more than to form Le Pays du Quebec and be rid of
Canada once and for all, so they could then ban the use of English
altogether. Unfortunately, this government lies to their
constituents about what would happen if Quebec seperated. "Oh, of
course Canada would still let us use their military." "Oh, of
course Canada would forgive our share of the national debt." "Oh,
of course Canada wouldn't charge us for the use of their
services." Even so, they have yet to be able to convince the
population to vote YES to seperation.
Basically, the current government's wish is to get rid of any and
all English within their province, and also to get enough
Francophones in the province that they can convince them to vote
yes to seperation. Allowing non-French-speaking immigrants of
course is orthogonal to this goal.
--
- awh
http://www.awh.org/
Oct 2nd 2002, 12:16 pm
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 113
Re: Montreal language
That's very true. Since in Quebec 15% are immigrants, it is obvious that if french-canadians wanted to part from Canada they could have done so.
What i don't understand are the people who want to immigrate to a province whose official language they cannot speak. Quebec has to keep its french identity and the government is doing a good job.
What i don't understand are the people who want to immigrate to a province whose official language they cannot speak. Quebec has to keep its french identity and the government is doing a good job.
Last edited by Sumatra; Oct 2nd 2002 at 12:22 pm.
Oct 2nd 2002, 1:42 pm
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Montreal language
Mitsuru -
definetly! No big deal if you just speak basic french. Just keep in mind - french Canadians don´t speak french from France! Big difference, they´ll explain it to you.
Anyway, I went to Montreal a couple of times because of my canadian boyfriend. My mother tongue is german, second language english, no french at all. But it worked pretty well. If you try to talk french to them, they don´t bother talking english to you. Not at all!
Have fun - Montreal is best ever and if I could live there I would rather move today then tomorrow.
Good luck to everybody who moves there - if I would have the chance I would do it! Take me with you - I am serious!!!
Bye bye Birgit
definetly! No big deal if you just speak basic french. Just keep in mind - french Canadians don´t speak french from France! Big difference, they´ll explain it to you.
Anyway, I went to Montreal a couple of times because of my canadian boyfriend. My mother tongue is german, second language english, no french at all. But it worked pretty well. If you try to talk french to them, they don´t bother talking english to you. Not at all!
Have fun - Montreal is best ever and if I could live there I would rather move today then tomorrow.
Good luck to everybody who moves there - if I would have the chance I would do it! Take me with you - I am serious!!!
Bye bye Birgit
Oct 2nd 2002, 10:14 pm
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Montreal language
Thank you all for the clarification.
On the Quebec immigration site, even if a person answers
that he/she does not speak French at all, he/she could get the
necessary points to apply as a Quebec immigrant (although a window
pops up alerting that Quebec is a francophone province and you should
start to learn French if really intend to go there).
Do you think that is it really possible they could accept a candidate
with only a basic French knowledge?
-- mits
On the Quebec immigration site, even if a person answers
that he/she does not speak French at all, he/she could get the
necessary points to apply as a Quebec immigrant (although a window
pops up alerting that Quebec is a francophone province and you should
start to learn French if really intend to go there).
Do you think that is it really possible they could accept a candidate
with only a basic French knowledge?
-- mits
Oct 3rd 2002, 5:12 am
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Montreal language
Do you think that is it really possible they could accept a candidate
with only a basic French knowledge?
-- mits
Do you understand what has been told to you here? Do you understand English at all? Do you try to abuse, play dummy or something?
N O , N O, N O !!! If you don't master French, the Québec government will not allow you in if you apply with a specified port of entry under its juridiction! There is very little chance they will and even then just don't take the risk!
I told you (and others too) apply everywhere else in Canada where it is possible to spend a day or two, then after being stamped, move in the Province of Québec right away. Nobody and nothing can stop you from doing that!
Got it?!!!
with only a basic French knowledge?
-- mits
Do you understand what has been told to you here? Do you understand English at all? Do you try to abuse, play dummy or something?
N O , N O, N O !!! If you don't master French, the Québec government will not allow you in if you apply with a specified port of entry under its juridiction! There is very little chance they will and even then just don't take the risk!
I told you (and others too) apply everywhere else in Canada where it is possible to spend a day or two, then after being stamped, move in the Province of Québec right away. Nobody and nothing can stop you from doing that!
Got it?!!!
Oct 3rd 2002, 10:16 am
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 113
Re: Montreal language
Originally posted by tadahh:
Do you think that is it really possible they could accept a candidate
with only a basic French knowledge?
-- mits
Do you understand what has been told to you here? Do you understand English at all? Do you try to abuse, play dummy or something?
N O , N O, N O !!! If you don't master French, the Québec government will not allow you in if you apply with a specified port of entry under its juridiction! There is very little chance they will and even then just don't take the risk!
I told you (and others too) apply everywhere else in Canada where it is possible to spend a day or two, then after being stamped, move in the Province of Québec right away. Nobody and nothing can stop you from doing that!
Got it?!!!
Do you think that is it really possible they could accept a candidate
with only a basic French knowledge?
-- mits
Do you understand what has been told to you here? Do you understand English at all? Do you try to abuse, play dummy or something?
N O , N O, N O !!! If you don't master French, the Québec government will not allow you in if you apply with a specified port of entry under its juridiction! There is very little chance they will and even then just don't take the risk!
I told you (and others too) apply everywhere else in Canada where it is possible to spend a day or two, then after being stamped, move in the Province of Québec right away. Nobody and nothing can stop you from doing that!
Got it?!!!
That is not true. There are many that were accepted without french. If you score enough points, there should not be a problem.
Oct 3rd 2002, 4:01 pm
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Montreal language
Originally posted by Sumatra:
That is not true. There are many that were accepted without french. If you score enough points, there should not be a problem.
That is not true. There are many that were accepted without french. If you score enough points, there should not be a problem.
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