Australian in Montreal?

Question

I'm a social/youth/disability worker and want to spend some time living and working in Montreal. My French language skills are limited however. Will I be able to get by with english and some limited french? Will I be able to pick enough french up to get by after a few months? How well will I be recieved with these limitations?

Answer 1

I don't know about the legalities of your working in Canada, but assuming you have that sorted out, many of the social services in Montreal are organized (even segregated) along linguistic lines, so it won't necessarily be even an advantage to speak French to find work in your area. As for getting by otherwise, it would certainly help to speak French, but most Montrealers can speak English, and don't mind speaking English with foreigners (especially foreigners with sexy Australian accents...).

Your next question should be about winter, and the answer is: no, just because it's below freezing, doesn't mean it's "really cold".

Answer 2

You will be able to get by with what you know. Many people still speak only English in Montreal. You should be able to pick up more French by talking to other people and immersing yourself in the French speaking culture. Many people do it and understand and speak French fluently. Good luck! But I am sure you can do it.

Answer 3

You will most undoubtedly encounter some problems gaining employment if your French is not up to snuff. As for getting along in the city, Montreal is okay if you are unilingual and in the downtown core or Westmount areas (attitudes change a bit though after the tourist season).

If you have rudimentary French and are quick to pick up languages, you might be okay. They say the best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it.