Ici, on parle francais !
More than 80 percent of the population of Quebec speaks French as a first language. In Montreal, which has a more balanced linguistic makeup, the ratio is about 50 percent Francophone. While it is possible to get by in the city by only speaking English, to do so over the long term would cause you to miss out on many of the cultural and societal offerings that make living in Montreal so great. Fortunately, there are many different ways you could learn to speak French. Let’s take a look at a few.
Language Courses
Given that Montreal is a city filled with learning institutions, it is no surprise that there are many different levels of French language instruction courses that you can take here. These courses are generally divided up into three types: university courses, CEGEP courses and private instruction at language centers or from private tutors. Universities typically offer two types of French courses: those that are oriented towards obtaining a diploma in the French language and those offered by the department of continuing education. Continuing education courses are more oriented towards acquiring a functional understanding of the language, and usually offer flexible course schedules for multiple levels of comprehension. Almost all CEGEP courses are done through continuing education departments.
Private language centers such as Lingua Service and the Montreal Language Center provide for French language instruction outside of the traditional education system, and while the methods of teaching may be more advanced or at least different than a CEGEP or University, they most resemble the courses given through continuing education. Private tutors can give you a one-on-one French teaching experience, as well as take you out into the city to help you practice your French in real world situations.
The Quebec government provides funding and subsidies for immigrants to Quebec who wish to learn French, making it inexpensive to adapt to the linguistic environment.
French Immersion
The ultimate in real-world French is of course a French immersion program. French immersion involves surrounding yourself entirely with French speakers and being forced to speak only French during a fixed period of time, usually lasting several weeks. While this might resemble the ‘sink or swim’ method of learning, French immersion can be very effective, whether you choose to go to a specific French language camp or stay in the city and do it at an institution. One of the best ways to continue to hone your French language skills is to ‘immerse’ yourself in the Francophone aspects of Montreal: watch French movies and television, listen to French music and make friends with Francophones. All of these activities, especially conversing with friends, will have you picking up the rhythm and flow of the French language, as well as the speed with which it is spoken in every day situations.
Living in Montreal is a unique opportunity to expand your horizons and learn and use a new language. Don’t be afraid to explore any of the educational options that are available to you, and don’t worry about how you sound while speaking as a beginner – everyone who speaks a second language started out just like you.
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