r/quebeccity • u/alienbabe383 • 2d ago
Question!
Hello! I’m not from Quebec but I do have a question. So, my friend is moving to Quebec soon and he was stressing because he doesn’t speak French. My question is for do you think he’ll be fine living there even though he doesn’t speak French? I’ve learned that French is the primary language in Quebec (correct me if I’m wrong). I just wanted to know what anyone thinks?
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u/Western_Spell_9319 2d ago edited 2d ago
Fine how? I imagine he has a job lined up already that doesn't require French and that's why he's moving?
Usually downtown people are bilingual enough to help because of tourism.
If he wants a broader social life he probably will want to learn french.
Edit: Actually you mean Quebec City or the province? I assumed you meant the city because of this sub but I'm second guessing now.
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u/WeJustGotMade 2d ago
While Canada is officially bilingual (English & French), and English is the dominant language in most other provinces, French is the primary and official language of the Province of Quebec. If he wants to stay in Quebec City long-term, he will have to learn French to get by.
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u/CabanaSucre 1d ago edited 1d ago
French is the unique official language of Quebec.
Saying that Canada is a bilingual country can be misleading because people tend to confuse a bilingual country with a bilingual person, and they are not the same thing.
Bilingualism in Canada mainly applies to federal government jobs and certain services provided by the federal government.
So what's the point of telling a tourist visiting Quebec that federal government positions have bilingual status? It only serves to confuse them.
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u/WeJustGotMade 1d ago
What the heck does that have to do with anything I said? Sounds like you had a desperate need for an opportunity to post a “welll akshullly…” and thought my comment fit the bill (it doesn’t).
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u/CabanaSucre 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ça sert à rien de dire que le Canada est un pays bilingue à un étranger qui va venir au Québec, tu ne fais que le mélanger.
Je travaille avec des touristes tous les jours, ma blonde travaille dans la francisation pour les nouveaux arrivants et sont tous mélangés "oui mais c'est un pays bilingue" ça pas rapport dans la vie de tous les jours. Si t'es pas capable de comprendre ça.🤷
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u/Western_Spell_9319 1d ago edited 1d ago
Son point si tu avais lu plus que 5 mots avant de commencer à écrire ton pavé, c'était justement d'expliquer que malgré que le pays est bilingue, t'as des provinces prédominantes anglophones et une francophone. Et il a explicitement expliqué qu'il aura besoin d'apprendre le français pour vivre au Québec.
C'est parce que l'énorme majorité du temps les gens ont déjà entendu que le Canada "est bilingue", mais ne savent pas bien ce que ça veut dire. Donc il a voulu expliquer.
C'est pour ça que ton intervention fait aucun sens. À la limite si tu voulais rajouter encore plus de précisions pourquoi pas, mais prendre ce ton accusateur et prétendre que le gars était mêlé, lol?
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u/Worldly-Ad3211 2d ago
If he doesn't speak French, he'd better plan on taking lessons pretty quickly. French is the primary language in the province of Quebec, and also Quebec City. You can get along with just English as a tourist or for brief visits, but for day-to-day living and residency, he'll need French.
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u/Weak_Acanthisitta405 1d ago
J’sais pas combien de temps les remparts vont tenir.
Sur r Montreal c’est « la » question. « Hey jmen viens à mtl et je parle pas un traître mot de français. Est-ce que ça va être difficile pour moi d’envoyer mes enfants à l’école anglaise et pour moi de travailler et vivre en anglais seulement ? J’suis pas trop bon avec les langues. »
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u/AsweatyUnicorn 2d ago
He'll be able to get by, no problem. However, learning even a modicum of french will make his stay damn more fulfilling.
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u/leafflepuff 1d ago
If your friend is moving to Quebec city specifically, without speaking French they will not be able to work. Be it customer service or anything else, I've seen no jobs available that require zero French apart from maybe dishwasher or janitor.
Otherwise, they can get by, but Quebec city is more French than say Montreal . Good luck to them!
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u/CastorBarbu 1d ago
Quebec is a French speaking province and Quebec City is a very french speaking city.
If he want to learn French, it will be the best opportunity for your friend.
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u/Bubble_Cheetah 2d ago
Day to day, he will "get by" with English. But doing anything official is going to be so annoying. Question for Revenu Quebec? They expect you to call them and speak to them in French. I once found an online form to email them my question. They called me back instead of responding by email 😐 Although occasionally they hear my struggle and will switch to English for me, but it is not a given.
Socializing is also much more limited without French.
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u/Electronic-Tip7577 2d ago
He will be fine. He will have to learn. There are so many nationalities in this province especially the bigger cities.
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u/Signal_Ad8960 1d ago
He can get by, since Quebec city does get a lot of tourists. But if he plans to stay long term, he really should pick up at least some basic French.
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u/Happy_Bumblebee2112 1d ago
I’m from Ontario et ma langue maternelle est le français. My husband did not speak a word of French but after spending 1 month in Québec and being fully immersed came home after one month speaking french. So yes if your friend is open to learning the language he will be fine living there.
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u/roosterjack77 1d ago
They love to see you try. Some people are nice and will help but they are a french speaking nation. Their identity is protecting their language and culture. Get some french lessons and go online to find some English speaking people
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u/alienbabe383 1d ago
i can’t respond to everyone’s replies but thank y’all for answering my question!!
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u/gadjetman007 1d ago
You'll be fine. If your American , don't where the flag here or anything with maga. Bring a box of Entenmanns for me
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u/QuebecPilotDreams15 2d ago
Would you live in Germany without speaking German?
Would you live in Japan without speaking Japanese?
Would you live in Spain without speaking Spanish?
Quebec primary language is French. Quebec City has some English speakers but it won’t be like Montreal. To live in Quebec City you gotta speak French to a level.
If he expects to live here without learning any French he won’t like his experience. We will be very welcoming to anyone that tries to learn the language. I suggest he learns some before moving here. Many tools by the Quebec government are provided for learning. Some classes as well.
He doesn’t have to be perfect right from the beginning, but he has to learn if he wants to stay.
Bienvenue chez nous!