I've applied for the Québec Skilled Worker Visa, intend to live in Québec City, and am learning French in the interim. Everything I have access to (I'm in the US) teaches the European dialect. I spoke with many people while I was in Québec City last month and have heard every opinion from there not being much of a difference (from a friend living there that is originally from Paris!?) to some saying that they practically felt like they were learning a new language. I do not want to spin my wheels or give myself an accent that will cause problems in the future, ie getting a job or being socially accepted (and I would like to integrate fully into the culture as much as possible). Is it best that I just learn French in Canada when I get there or can I benefit from school French while I'm waiting or will it ruin me?
2007-12-25 08:09:41 · 7 answers · asked by nysa1033 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
french is a world language. the french of quebec is different from the french of paris, but then the french of paris is different from the french of benin, cote d'ivoire or congo.
also there really is no such thing as 'european french'. the french of paris is different from the french of geneva, and the french of geneva different again from the french of brussels.
parisian french is different enough from québecois that if you take parisian french to canada it will be a day or two before you find your feet, but only a day or two. if you don't speak french at all it will be more like six months or a year.
and wherever else you go it will be the same two or three days. i myself learned french mainly in southern belgium, but i have since been among algerians, beninois, congolese and real french. i was always glad i was able to hit the ground running.
french is one of the most useful languages to learn (as are spanish and portuguese). you will find more uses for it than you ever thought possible.
2007-12-25 08:36:54 · answer #1 · answered by synopsis 7 · 6⤊ 2⤋
1. learning French is never a waste of time.
2. learning the correct (European )French is definitely the best idea.
3. They are not different dialects, the pronunciation is slightly different and perhaps some words that you learn on day-to-day conversation, obviously.
Think like this: if you were french and decided to go to Scotland, would it be wrong to learn English from an English or American teacher? Sure the accent is Scotland is different and some words may be used differently, but that you learn when you go there. You need to have a solid knowledge as a base.
2007-12-25 08:19:10 · answer #2 · answered by cpinatsi 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
You're not wasting your time. There are some differences between Euro and Canadian French, but you will still be able to communicate effectively in Quebec if you know European French.
I think the difference between European and Quebec french is like the difference between English from the U.K and English from the U.S.
2007-12-25 08:16:15 · answer #3 · answered by Luken 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
French canadian is French. No main difference, except the accent. But you'll be understood in France, and people will understand you.(and smile, sometimes) Some expressions are different, but it's not serious.
No, you don't waste your time.
2007-12-26 01:44:50 · answer #4 · answered by Voltaire 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're not wasting your time. You'll be able to communicate with people in Quebec. The only difference is the accent and some colloquial expressions.
2007-12-25 12:39:15 · answer #5 · answered by chococherry 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It'd be best obviously learning Canadian French, but learning other French's will be nothing but helpful anyway
2007-12-25 08:27:12 · answer #6 · answered by Jonny 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
no,any language will help with any other!It raises your IQ
2007-12-25 10:02:51 · answer #7 · answered by Dr Chadderlee 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋