I don't speak French but want to visit Montreal. Any advice to make the most of it and be a polite visitor?

Answer 1

In my experience (I'm a native English-speaking Montrealer): Well first of all plenty of Montrealers (I don't think it can be 50% though, but perhaps a third) speak English as their first language. Those of us under 40 or 50 though will not advertise that fact. (People like my parents, yes.) At least another third speak good enough English to not be annoyed about it.

So you only have about one-third of all Montrealers to worry about at all, less than a million people in all. (LOL ok that's a fair number.) Very few of them would be employed in tourism-related jobs, including restaurants and stores in touristy areas, because most of those jobs require bilingualism or at least discourage outright aggression. (There are a couple exceptions in Old Montreal!)

And even among the anti-English contingent, they do tend to have varying expectations of French proficiency, depending where you come from. My mom would be the worst-case scenario, has lived there most of her life but refuses to speak French unless absolutely necessary. Next you have my dad, who's also lived there almost half his life but still has the British accent so he seems to have an excuse. English Canadians from outside Quebec are slightly more tolerable, plus if they do visit Montreal it's normally because they're prepared to make an effort. Americans who at least say "Bonjour" (hello) and "Merci" (thank you) are appreciated (though sometimes condescendingly). And then people from non-English and non-French speaking places are always appreciated for speaking English rather than Japanese, German or whatever.

Bon voyage!

PS: Smoked meat places and bagel stores--all English

Answer 2

Most people in Montreal are bilingual, and you won't have a problem during your visit.

You can say "Bonjour" (hello) when you walk into a shop or restaurant, and "merci" (thank you). This will show you as a polite and respectful visitor, who is making an effort, even though you don't speak the language.

Have a good visit!

Answer 3

You don't need to speak French to go to Montreal, like 50% of the population speaks English natively. Now, if you don't speak French at all, my best advice is: don't even try to speak it, better stick with English. If you go by pretending to speak French some people might be offended or simply ignore you.

Answer 4

Alot of people do speak english in Montreal...just try to speak a little french and when they realize that you are totally messing up the language they will speak in english to you.

Answer 5

The city of Montreal has so many different cultures, it doesn't matter. They will alway speak in french first, but switch to english for you. Don't worry. I used to live there.

Answer 6

Get own the Internet and look up french words or take foreign language

Answer 7

Take it from someone who was born and raised there.....get a english/french dictionary.

Answer 8

if anyone ever asks you something in french you have to say this if you wanna be a polite visitor: Va te faire foutre toi et ta ostie de famille, va chier avec ta mère tabarnac! je me calisse de votre ostie de langue! if you say this then everybody will respect you...have fun :)))

Answer 9

When I went there, everyone spoke to me in English. They're all bilingual.