whats it like being anglo in montreal?

Question

i heard that there is still alot of english people in montreal...how hard is it for them to live there if they dont speak french? do they only stay in english 'hoods? is there limited jobs for them? what if somebody downtown comes up to them on the street and starts talking in french?

Answer 1

I come from a family of anglo-Montrealers. I grew up somewhat freakishly isolated from French: we lived on the West Island, which even then wasn't totally English, but English definitely dominated, e.g., we spoke English with the French kids too. I went to school all in English (maybe 1/2 hr a day of French, more like an hour in high school). I don't know anyone under 40 who doesn't speak passable French, as in that they couldn't get a job which requires French conversation. Not everyone could get a job that requires good written French and in which French is the ONLY language of work, such as many government jobs.

My parents (well over 40) are (sort-of) old-guard English Montrealers. At least my mom is, she moved to Montreal when she was about 6 and had the same kind of English-only upbringing I did. She hasn't had a job since the 60s though. She can speak French but almost never does. Her opinion in stores is that the salesperson is there to serve her and should do so in her (my mom's) language. (She mostly shops on the West Island.) Her friends are mostly all people from church, and since it's an English church, obviously they're English speakers too. I was actually shocked a few months ago when she was talking about a camping trip and she said "I spoke French last week." (Huh? Last WEEK? And this is news? Don't you live in Quebec?) My dad has a bit more of an excuse, he's from England and only moved to Montreal when he was 29. I remember him taking French classes when I was a kid, but they never really stuck. But 40 years later he still sounds like he left England yesterday so people cut him slack and they get by with gestures--but then again, he hasn't worked actually in Montreal much since the 70s.

Basically though, my husband's French, my sister's husband is even more anglo than us but they send their kids to school in French. The real "this is my city too and you can't shove French down my throat" people are either geriatric or have moved to Ontario or better yet Alberta.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

I visit Montreal every year. Never have any problems speaking English. I wish I was that bilingual. My french is awful !

In fact I was in Quebec City for Xmas, and everyone told me horror stories, saying they would refuses to speak English to me but they were also very accommodating. But they did smile a lot when I attempted to speak french.

I don't know about employment, but I would assume there would be very few jobs where you could ONLY speak English.

On the street the pan handlers are all bilingual. Even the bums are better linguists then many of us !!

Answer 3

Well, I don't speak a lick of French and I travel Montreal quite easily.... My Mom lived and worked in Montreal for 10 years and doesn't speak French either... Never had any problems.

Answer 4

Montreal is bi-lingual and English is widely spoken.

However if you go even 20 miles away, you will feel the need to know French.

French is a lovely language. I suggest that go with an open mind and learn French on the way.

Answer 5

I'm not sure what you mean by "Anglo" exactly. But Montreal is very diverse. It doesn't matter what color are you. It's easy to get along in Montreal.