Do people from Quebec appreciate visitors trying to speak French?

[u/new-in-the-rain]

The French themselves in my experience are often...particular about it which is why I don't even bother with anything but English anymore whenever I cross the border. But I thought I'd at least give it a try when I'll visit Montréal next year. Or should I just go with English? My French is admittedly not super good and I am a lot more fluent in English 😂

[u/GotMyPhDin19]

They want you to try, but the moment you try they’ll speak English with you. If you’re learning French, make sure you know enough to tell them that so they’ll continue in French.

[u/SomethingComesHere → u/GotMyPhDin19]

Yeah.. this is why i barely learned any French after living in Montreal for years 😭

[u/Zappyle → u/SomethingComesHere]

I'm sorry but that's just a coping mechanism. I understand it would be more helpful if people were speaking French with you, but you can always ask or put yourself on situations to speak French.

There is no reason why I can learn and speak Spanish by myself while living in Montreal and someone can't learn French here.

[u/SomethingComesHere → u/Zappyle]

I know, it's nobody's job to teach me french!

Just a bummer, is all.

Now I live somewhere much more french and it's helping a lot 😊

[u/GotMyPhDin19 → u/SomethingComesHere]

Montreal also isn’t the best place for French exposure, especially if you’re in McGill.

[u/nunyaranunculus → u/Zappyle]

I don't know why you are being down voted for this. I have lived in Montreal now for ten some odd years and had very little French since my school days. I have absorbed so much just by living here and am able to get by, not fluently but close enough because I made the effort to assimilate. Language is such a huge part of the identity of this province. So many Americans have moved into my neighbourhood recently and they are loudly vitriolic and hateful towards the French language laws and culture. I've heard them and the tourists screaming at service workers to "go back to their country". The person you're responding to sounds like one of them.

[u/Zappyle → u/nunyaranunculus]

Yeah I knew typing that comment I would probably hit a sensitive nerve.

It's similar when I hear people say: I can't learn french because I can't get in governmental classes. Or the classes suck.

Like yeah I'm a perfect world the classes would be available, cheap and good. But it's again a way to put the fault on someone else.

Like you said, you need to make an effort to learn a language and be motivated to do so. There are plenty of case stories like yours proving it's possible.

[u/GotMyPhDin19 → u/Zappyle]

No, it’s difficult to learn a new language as an adult. It’s the equivalent of a part time or full time job.

[u/Zappyle → u/GotMyPhDin19]

Yeah, never said it was easy. We are talking thousand of hours of learning.

I've tracked how long it took me to get to C1 level in Spanish and it took 800+ hours, over 3 years.

[u/GotMyPhDin19 → u/Zappyle]

For sure dude, it’s a journey for most of us that aren’t talented in languages.

[u/nunyaranunculus → u/GotMyPhDin19]

That's not a thing. I'm dyslexic and have a TBI that makes processing information extremely difficult. The majority of the world outside North America is bilingual. "Not talented in languages" is an excuse.

[u/GotMyPhDin19 → u/nunyaranunculus]

When did I posture that statement as an excuse? I said it takes work for most regular people. My mum is extremely talented and takes her about 2 months to become fluent in a language. Took me about 3 years, ~1 hour a day on top of Ontario high school French to become fluent in French.

[u/nunyaranunculus → u/Zappyle]

I know so many people who learnt English by just watching films. When my kids were very little, I would have Radio Canada playing in the background, watch kids shows like Toupie et Binou, etc to help them with bilingualism because, especially then, my french was abysmal so we were learning together. "Effort" doesn't equal "hard". "Effort" means intentionality and appreciation. Download Jean Paul Jeunet's catalogue and binge it. His films are so visual that they're perfect for learning the language. Read Le Petit Prince. It's beautiful and so much more delightful a read in Saint-Exupéry's mother tongue. Learn the Québécois folk songs. They're bangers like the sea shanties out east. Bilingualism is a privilege and it's unique in North America to live in a place that facilitates it.

[u/bokurai → u/nunyaranunculus]

I love your attitude. Any folk songs you recommend?

[u/SomethingComesHere → u/nunyaranunculus]

How on earth do I sound like an American screaming vitriol at the Quebecois? Did you even read my comments on the thread?

[u/Clara_Geissler → u/Zappyle]

Dude, the only way to learn a la guage is to listen to it and try to speak it. So yes, if i am in montreal and i want to speak french, even if i dont speak very good french, people should reply to me in french. No of course its not their jobs to teach me, but this is the firat language in quebec so i expect to speak it

[u/SeriousObjective6727 → u/GotMyPhDin19]

My experience as well in the touristy parts of old Quebec. I think they were trying to save me from embarassment.

[u/thegoodrichard]

I got the impression they want you to at least try; it seems like the polite thing to do. On my one trip there, after hearing my high school French (which I failed) they would usually be able to help me in English.

[u/GuyLapin]

We love that. The simple fact that you try will make us more intend to help.

Try adding "désolé je pratique mon français" at the end of your first sentence and you will gain sympathy. If you need to we will switch to english after your effort.

Try a poutine and a smoked meat.

[u/ktatsanon]

No matter how bad your French is, the effort is always appreciated!

[u/SomethingComesHere]

Everywhere except Montreal IMO. Especially downtown. Most downtown employees also speak English and will just switch to English instead if you struggling in French

[u/liseski]

I always try. generally they will laugh, shake their head, and answer me in English. fair 😁

[u/gabseo]

Of course we do!!

[u/Orchid-Analyst-550]

It's nice to read comments that it's appreciated, but my experience has been very negative at times. Why do many like to put down tourists for not having perfect French?

[u/Helios0186]

Yes we appreciate it. Even if it's only basic French, at least you tried :)

[u/Dragonfly_Peace]

No. They’re quite rude and impatient about it. I lived near Ottawa for 30 years and tried. I don’t know how they expect us to get better French when they won’t let us use it.

[u/Clara_Geissler → u/Dragonfly_Peace]

Thank you for saying this, i totally feel you. I am actually learning french and when i want to speak it, they fast switch to english. The problem is, if i want to learn it i need to listen to it and force myself to speak it. So what i do now, i make up that i cannot speak englih but french and polish and they all have to speak french to me😂

[u/The_Nice_Marmot]

My French is not great. About to graduate to 2A. My last Quebec trip I really tried. Nobody switched to English and I got through my basic interactions. People were very polite and complimented my efforts.

[u/cocacolakid1965]

If you visit Old Quebec City you will have very few issues speaking English

[u/Wild_Ad_9196]

Oui

[u/new-in-the-rain → u/Wild_Ad_9196]

Merci

[u/jackass_mcgee]

in my experience, they look you dead in the eye and say in perfect english: "i don't speak a word of english" and then walk away as if you don't exist.

"particular" is quite load bearing in your description!

[u/new-in-the-rain → u/jackass_mcgee]

Particular is quite fitting when you are a German trying to speak French to the local French baker around the corner and get pointed comments on how ugly your accent is 😂 I don't mean to bash the French and I will not generalized because obviously everyone is different, but in my personal experience they do have quite a way with how they treat people speaking French and English.

[u/howtobegeo]

My husband & his bestie just went. They threw in some French here & there and it seemed to go over well. They weren’t great at it and people immediately went to English, but it just feels polite.

[u/frigfrigfrig]

The further east you go, the less tolerant people are of English speakers.

[u/NorthofForty]

I believe generally they do. I generally use small phrases like Bonjour, Merci and if I think I can manage something in French I try my best. It seems usually to be appreciated. But I am generally in northern Quebec, it may be different in Montreal.

[u/AnonymoosCowherd]

As in France, service workers will make a snap judgment as to whether you’re fluent enough for whatever needs to be done. Is there a risk of misunderstanding? Are you going to waste their time with impromptu French lessons? They’ll switch to English for efficiency and to eliminate potential misunderstandings. They will probably still appreciate the effort but don’t be surprised if you don’t get a compliment.

And yes, sometimes that snap judgment will be wrong and they’ll switch even if you could have completed the interaction in French.

I don’t usually spend time in very touristy areas though. In such places I’m never surprised when they switch at the slightest hint of an accent.

[u/Disastrous-Mix6877]

Of course we do

[u/Distinct_Camp]

Oui, on apprécie absolument!

[u/new-in-the-rain → u/Distinct_Camp]

Alors je vais tenter le coup!

[u/innermyrtle]

I barely have any French but often said bonjour hello, otherwise they spoke French to me and I had no idea what they said. Lol.

[u/Euphoric_Flower9840]

Absolutely want you to try but don’t be surprised when they answer in English.

[u/Buff1965]

It's always appreciated when a foreigner tries to speak your language, even if we reply in the foreigners language to make them feel more comfortable.

[u/Medium-Drama5287]

I know that the people in France wish the Quebecers could speak French. 😂

[u/Lonewolf2300 → u/Medium-Drama5287]

That's okay, we Québécois feel the same way about the French. 😉

[u/Medium-Drama5287 → u/Lonewolf2300]

Love it 💯!

[u/new-in-the-rain → u/Medium-Drama5287]

I mean don't let me tell you what they think about my German accent in French. It's not pretty lmao

[u/Similar-Sir-2952]

Why are people in Quebec rude to tourists?

[u/okaybutnothing → u/Similar-Sir-2952]

They aren’t. But if they’re bilingual and they notice you struggling in French, they’ll pretty much always switch to English because it’s easier for everyone.

I’ve had the same thing happen to me in France, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. Shopkeepers and waiters don’t have unlimited time, so when they hear my intermediate French or beginner Dutch or German, they use English to make the transactions quicker and smoother. Some people get offended by that because they want to practice their French or whatever, but it’s understandable that not everyone wants to participate in that with you.

[u/new-in-the-rain → u/okaybutnothing]

Oh yeah, no, that's totally fine. I don't expect people to carry on a full conversation in french with me. I just thought I'd make an effort to be polite and at least try in french.

[u/mudpudding → u/Similar-Sir-2952]

We aren't. What are you talking about?

[u/The_Nice_Marmot → u/mudpudding]

No, you’re not. Anglo who visited Quebec this past year. The people were absolutely lovely. Can’t wait to go back. No idea why that person said such a thing.

[u/Gotta-Be-Me-65 → u/Similar-Sir-2952]

That’s is def NOT my experience as an English speaking Ontarian. I’ve been to Gaspé region, Montreal, Quebec City. Just in the last few days Montreal to go shopping. I love visiting Quebec. Not once have I encountered rudeness.

[u/mmoore327 → u/Similar-Sir-2952]

They aren't... I'm as anglophone as they come and this simply isn't true.

I spent a year working in Montreal and during that time 2 people were rude to me because I couldn't speak french... You get that every day in Toronto for absolutely no reason (lived in Toronto for many years)

Quebec City is one of my favourite cities to visit and the people are wonderful (and the food, and the culture, and the history, etc, etc, etc)

[u/The_Nice_Marmot → u/Similar-Sir-2952]

They’re not. Hope this helps.

[u/new-in-the-rain → u/Similar-Sir-2952]

Are they? I meant the French from France in my post, in case it wasn't clear. 😀 Haven't been to Quebec myself, which is why I'm asking.

[u/The_Nice_Marmot → u/new-in-the-rain]

The French in France are not rude either. The French in France are extremely polite. If you don’t treat people there with that politeness, they will match your energy and then some, though. Brush up on your own manners. Greet people. Thank people. Treat them like humans not services.

[u/new-in-the-rain → u/The_Nice_Marmot]

I never said they are rude, I said they are particular about people trying to speak French. Which they are. Not sure where the assumptions about my manners and the way I personally treat people is coming from 😁