Montreal...it ain't just strip clubs

[GRoca]

Hi MTLover

 

I am a dual citizen ( born American and just became a

Candian citizen last year). I have a tiny studio

near the village that I stay at whenever I am there,

which is every 2 months, or so.I plan to move there

permanently by next year, as it is too expensive

to live in NY, anymore. I speak enough french to get by,

and I know if I can just stay there for a month straight,

I will speak and respond in Quebecois much more fluently.

 

As a new citizen, and resident of Quebec, I am entitled

to take a free intensive french course for 7 months-

everyday.I really look forward to that, as I love the

language and want to master it.

 

By the way, that book on the Quebecois language

is not enough. I own that book and 3 other shelves of both

french and Quebecois books. One needs to speak it in

conversation. I see myself improving with each visit, but

that course will be the key for me.

[MTLover]

GRoca--

Thanks for the information. I'm truly envious of your pending 'permanent' move to Montreal. I would certainly make good use of that language course offered if I am able to make the move myself one day. Best wishes for a smooth transition.

 

Newatthis--

Thanks for the link to the website on Quebecois-French. (The profanity section alone was worth the visit.) My greatest challenge tends to be the speed at which the folks there speak, making it difficult to differentiate words/sounds. (Why, oh why didn't I pay more attention in French class.)

[+ newatthis]

>My greatest

>challenge tends to be the speed at which the folks there

>speak, making it difficult to differentiate words/sounds.

 

I've found that once I understood what the sounds shifts are from "standard" French, I could sometimes play back words or sentences I had heard and figure them out. This is hard to do in a sustained conversation, but helps a lot with question and answer kinds of things, like the time the concierge in my hotel told me that something was going to happen on "zeudi".

[Guest JohnPela]

Why biggest concern about going to Montreal is whether the locals are friendly to people who do not speak French? Even though I am 25% French-Canandian (LaRocque family name), I do not speak any French, other than a couple of words. In Paris, people can be very cold to you, if you do not speak French.

[marc anthony]

>Why biggest concern about going to Montreal is whether the

>locals are friendly to people who do not speak French? Even

>though I am 25% French-Canandian (LaRocque family name), I do

>not speak any French, other than a couple of words. In Paris,

>people can be very cold to you, if you do not speak French.

 

Not at ALL like Paris in Montreal. The locals appear to appreciate American tourists, and I have never felt anything but welcome in that great city.

[marc anthony]

>Why biggest concern about going to Montreal is whether the

>locals are friendly to people who do not speak French? Even

>though I am 25% French-Canandian (LaRocque family name), I do

>not speak any French, other than a couple of words. In Paris,

>people can be very cold to you, if you do not speak French.

 

Not at ALL like Paris in Montreal. The locals appear to appreciate American tourists, and I have never felt anything but welcome in that great city.

[Guest JohnPela]

>Not at ALL like Paris in Montreal. The locals appear to

>appreciate American tourists, and I have never felt anything

>but welcome in that great city.

 

Thanks Mark Anthony for the encouragement. I need to go to Montreal. I was there last when I was a young man and now I have read so much about the strip clubs. So I am looking forward to it. I have distant relatives in various places in Quebec Province to look up also.

[Guest JohnPela]

>Not at ALL like Paris in Montreal. The locals appear to

>appreciate American tourists, and I have never felt anything

>but welcome in that great city.

 

Thanks Mark Anthony for the encouragement. I need to go to Montreal. I was there last when I was a young man and now I have read so much about the strip clubs. So I am looking forward to it. I have distant relatives in various places in Quebec Province to look up also.

[Karl-G]

RE: Nice Parisians

 

The people of Montreal are friendly and nice, welcoming to Americans. Everyone, but everyone, in Montreal, speaks and understands English - bus drivers, waiters, salespersons, people you meet on the street, etc. But you must be nice. The official and actual language of the province is French; you are a guest/visitor in their territory. It would be nice and appropriate if you could use a "Bonjour" when you meet someone and not automatically expect an English word and a "merci" in appreciation of help or service given. If you make a slight effort to show respect for their language and culture, they will go out of their way to be nice to you.

 

In many years of visiting Paris and France, I have never met a rude Frenchman. For years I led tours to Europe, and I would always begin by teaching my tourees a few words and then phrases in French. If they used these in their contacts with French waiters, salespersons, taxi drivers, etc., they encountered no rudeness at all. And it became particularly interesting to watch the interactions of French service personnel with German and Japanese tourists, who these days have the money and the arrogance. The term "ugly American" really has had no meaning for a number of years, although "ugly . . . " certainly does have currency.

 

Always remember, you are a guest in someone else's country. How would you feel if someone came to the U.S. refusing to learn a single word of English and expecting that people would automatically be able to greet you in Japanese or Chinese or whatever? The French and Montrealers are happy to meet us and earn our money, just as the hotel owners and restaurant owners in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando are happy to earn tourist money, but the least we can do is learn a few words of French if we are in France or Montreal and be courteous and discreet as visitors in their country. But you will have no problems with language in Montreal as long as you are courteous and pleasant. Beyond that, all the people you will meet want to earn your money, and they have made special efforts to know English well.

[Karl-G]

RE: Nice Parisians

 

The people of Montreal are friendly and nice, welcoming to Americans. Everyone, but everyone, in Montreal, speaks and understands English - bus drivers, waiters, salespersons, people you meet on the street, etc. But you must be nice. The official and actual language of the province is French; you are a guest/visitor in their territory. It would be nice and appropriate if you could use a "Bonjour" when you meet someone and not automatically expect an English word and a "merci" in appreciation of help or service given. If you make a slight effort to show respect for their language and culture, they will go out of their way to be nice to you.

 

In many years of visiting Paris and France, I have never met a rude Frenchman. For years I led tours to Europe, and I would always begin by teaching my tourees a few words and then phrases in French. If they used these in their contacts with French waiters, salespersons, taxi drivers, etc., they encountered no rudeness at all. And it became particularly interesting to watch the interactions of French service personnel with German and Japanese tourists, who these days have the money and the arrogance. The term "ugly American" really has had no meaning for a number of years, although "ugly . . . " certainly does have currency.

 

Always remember, you are a guest in someone else's country. How would you feel if someone came to the U.S. refusing to learn a single word of English and expecting that people would automatically be able to greet you in Japanese or Chinese or whatever? The French and Montrealers are happy to meet us and earn our money, just as the hotel owners and restaurant owners in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando are happy to earn tourist money, but the least we can do is learn a few words of French if we are in France or Montreal and be courteous and discreet as visitors in their country. But you will have no problems with language in Montreal as long as you are courteous and pleasant. Beyond that, all the people you will meet want to earn your money, and they have made special efforts to know English well.

[mercury40]

RE: Tourism #1 resource

 

Tourism is the #1 or 2 industry in many of these countries, without it, jobs would be lost, hotels closed, more homeless and escorts sleeping in the parks, and tour guides would be unemployed. Basically, their economy would severly suffer. I hope these countries appreciate how generous Americans benefit their lives. Thank you!

[mercury40]

RE: Tourism #1 resource

 

Tourism is the #1 or 2 industry in many of these countries, without it, jobs would be lost, hotels closed, more homeless and escorts sleeping in the parks, and tour guides would be unemployed. Basically, their economy would severly suffer. I hope these countries appreciate how generous Americans benefit their lives. Thank you!