For Canucks!?

Question

I am moving to Montreal. What advice can you give for an English speaker whose French is deplorable? Jobs? Politics?

Answer 1

Je parle français, monsieur. Courriez-moi et j'assiste vous avec votre français. (I speak English as well).

Actually, *most* Francophones are pretty easy-going with Les Anglais, you may find the odd snotball unwilling to give you so much as a sideways glance. Many of the business signs will have English, but the English will be smaller printing than the French, by law, so look for it.

The drivers are insane - be prepared. We always call a trip through a Montreal a "ride on the white-knuckle" express.

The food is amazing. You are in for a treat! But go easy on the poutine, it clogs the artieries sumthin fierce.

As per jobs, I have no idea what the job situation is, but I can tell you your odds of getting a high-paying job while speaking no French, in Quebec, are slim and none.

As for politics, many Quebecois are seperatists - they wish to see Quebec as a nation seperate from the rest of Canada. I don't know what the exact numbers are, but it's a goodly portion anyway. This can be a very touchy subject, I'd leave it alone.

There are two ways to address a person, formal (vous, votre) and informal (tu, toi). ALWAYS USE THE FORMAL UNLESS YOU ARE TALKING TO A CHILD OR AN ANIMAL. Wait for the French person to use the informal before you use it, otherwise you risk offending the other person.

Speaking of offensive, here's a few words you might want to avoid:

baiser: to f*ck (je baise, tu baises, il baise, nous baisons, vous baisez...etc).
chier: to sh*t
con, putain: never mind.
merde: Sh*t! (As in, oh sh*t I just stubbed my toe). Merde! Je blesse mon l'orteil!

And a few phrases you might actually need:

Sil vous plait: Please
Merci beaucoup: Thank you very much.
Bienvenue: Welcome, you're welcome.
Ou est la salle de bain? Where is the bathroom?
Je veux un café: I want a coffee (add sil vous plait).
Combien? How much/many (as in cost, amount)
Taxi: taxi LOL
En chanté: My pleasure, when meeting someone for the first time, an introduction.
Ici: Here
Ou est moi: Where am I?
Quelle est la date: What day is it?
Comment vous-allez vous? How are you?
Comment vous-appellez vous? What's your name?
Je m'appelle... My name is...
Quelle heure est-il? What time is it?
Quelle heure est l'autobus partis? What time does the bus leave?
Je suis à... I am from (insert hometown here).
Je ne parle pas français. I do not speak French.
Je suis désolèe (sp?): I am sorry.
Okay: okay.
Je m'excuse: Excuse me (apologetic).

Also, I strongly suggest a books called Bescherelle. It's the French verb bible. You're gonna need it. And it's only like 10 bucks or something. Also, you should memorize directions (tournez à gauche, and so on) so you can understand which way you're supposed to go.

I knew a guy who lived in Quebec for 6 months and came out a bonafide Francophone. I knew a woman who lived there for 12 years, she was a doctor, and never picked up more than a few token phrases. It all depends on your motivation.

Bonne chance!

Answer 2

The Random residing house Dictionary notes that: "The term Canuck is first recorded approximately 1835 as an Americanism, initially referring especially to a French Canadian. This became probable the unique meaning, although in Canada and different international places, Canuck now greater in many cases refers to any Canadian."

Answer 3

Sorry, I can't help you, but thanks for asking this question. I'm an American. I speak decent French. My husband is a Francophone from Africa. I'm thinking when we leave China, where we presently live, it might be best to move to Quebec province so that my husband can get a decent job. I think I could find something because I am an English teacher. While they might not put English high on the list, they do teach it in the schools there.

The answers here were helpful to me.

Answer 4

Practice your French. Just little phrases like Parlez vous anglais (do you speak English), Je ne parle pas francais (I do not speak french), I am from Canada and my French is horrible. I am actually learning it in les Etats-Unis (the United States) If you just try to speak it they will appreciate it. Many people in Montreal speak good English so there probably won't be much of a problem.

Answer 5

For sure, rotate your pictures on your 360! Montreal is a real trip with the French. Visited once, not much help sorry!

Answer 6

Actually there are a lot of Anglophones in Montreal,you will have a ball.

Answer 7

i really dodnt see any problems for you i been to montreal before did not have any problems and i did not speck one word of french

Answer 8

Why worry about speaking French, just speak English !!!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

have fun reading the signs and remember they only count you as bilingual in Quebec if french was your first language

Answer 10

You're funny:
Canucks