Member
Posts: 102 
Location: Toronto
Location: Toronto
January 24th, 2006, 10:59 AM
Ottawa is very bi-lingual.... you will not need French day-to-day but most jobs expect you to be bi-lingual, and if you are conducting business on your own it is expected that you will be able to conduct business in both languages.
This is pretty much a capital region anomoly, although there are two official languages in Canada, unless you go into government I don't think there are too many other large cities where you would have to know both languages.... for example French is my first language, but I've never had to use it in Toronto in any context.
Ottawa is very bi-lingual.... you will not need French day-to-day but most jobs expect you to be bi-lingual, and if you are conducting business on your own it is expected that you will be able to conduct business in both languages.
This is pretty much a capital region anomoly, although there are two official languages in Canada, unless you go into government I don't think there are too many other large cities where you would have to know both languages.... for example French is my first language, but I've never had to use it in Toronto in any context.
Council Member
Posts: 2,266 
January 24th, 2006, 12:13 PM
Will it make your life easier? Probably.
Quoting
Is it important? That depends. Why are you moving to Ottawa, and what do you plan to do there? If you're looking for work in a field that deals with gov't or the public, it would be a good idea.
Is it important to learn french? Will it make my life easier when moving to Ottawa?
Thanks
Diana x
Thanks
Diana x
Will it make your life easier? Probably.
Running out of ranks
Posts: 8,366
January 24th, 2006, 12:57 PM
Quoting
On my Dad's side they all speak it including my Dad....he just simply didn't have the scruples to see how passing it on to me would be beneficial....some people!
Jay
That's how Karra would have spelled it too! hahaha... brat!
It isn't in the writing, it is the sound of it....beautiful language....
That's how Karra would have spelled it too! hahaha... brat!
It isn't in the writing, it is the sound of it....beautiful language....
Genius
Posts: 859
Location: Whitby, Ontario
Location: Whitby, Ontario
January 24th, 2006, 01:03 PM
Of course it will make your life easier, you will be able to communicate with millions of more people around the world with ease.
It is an absolute necessity to living in Ottawa? No. But learning French will allow you to better embrace and enjoy the wonderful blend of Anglais et Francais that is Ottawa.
Quoting
Learning another language, especially an official language, is never a bad idea. How could learning French be bad.
Is it important to learn french? Will it make my life easier when moving to Ottawa?
Thanks
Diana x
Thanks
Diana x
Of course it will make your life easier, you will be able to communicate with millions of more people around the world with ease.
It is an absolute necessity to living in Ottawa? No. But learning French will allow you to better embrace and enjoy the wonderful blend of Anglais et Francais that is Ottawa.
Newbie
Posts: 7
Location: Ottawa
Location: Ottawa
January 24th, 2006, 01:23 PM
I live in Ottawa. I am not bilingual. I have not had a lot of trouble finding jobs, but I know I will never make it into the government.
There are lots of Customer Service jobs, and receptionist/secretary jobs, but other than that you have to be bilingual.
But if you go to Quebec, well then... okay I won't get into it. Damn Quebecers.
I live in Ottawa. I am not bilingual. I have not had a lot of trouble finding jobs, but I know I will never make it into the government.
There are lots of Customer Service jobs, and receptionist/secretary jobs, but other than that you have to be bilingual.
But if you go to Quebec, well then... okay I won't get into it. Damn Quebecers.
Yo
Posts: 3,537
Location: Counting Flowers on the Wall
Location: Counting Flowers on the Wall
January 24th, 2006, 01:35 PM
I live in Ottawa, and over 90% of the jobs I apply for have bilingual listed as an "asset". This can mean a number of things, such as 1. there are other french people who can deal with french clients, paper work etc, but it would be nice if you could do this too, although not crucial or 2. the office is primarily french, although using that language on your job is not necessary, they'd just prefer a french person because they are french.
I'm not really bilingual, but would probably not be far off saying that for every resume I submit, there are probably 5 people who at least speak french.
I can also say that I've never been treated so badly by a group of people while looking for a job. One time, this women started speaking to me so quickly, I couldn't tell what language she was speaking. When I asked her to repeat what she just said, she became annoyed and said french is a requirment for the job and why didn't I understand her if I wanted to applying for the job? (She didn't speak english well!) When I mentioned the position was advertised "bilingual asset", she actually said that wasn't the case and it was a requirment. But who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and not encounter that sort of BS.
I live in Ottawa, and over 90% of the jobs I apply for have bilingual listed as an "asset". This can mean a number of things, such as 1. there are other french people who can deal with french clients, paper work etc, but it would be nice if you could do this too, although not crucial or 2. the office is primarily french, although using that language on your job is not necessary, they'd just prefer a french person because they are french.
I'm not really bilingual, but would probably not be far off saying that for every resume I submit, there are probably 5 people who at least speak french.
I can also say that I've never been treated so badly by a group of people while looking for a job. One time, this women started speaking to me so quickly, I couldn't tell what language she was speaking. When I asked her to repeat what she just said, she became annoyed and said french is a requirment for the job and why didn't I understand her if I wanted to applying for the job? (She didn't speak english well!) When I mentioned the position was advertised "bilingual asset", she actually said that wasn't the case and it was a requirment. But who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and not encounter that sort of BS.
Clever Clogs
Posts: 531
Location: in the belly of the mouse
Location: in the belly of the mouse
January 24th, 2006, 02:38 PM
Bilingualism is definitely a BIG help in Ottawa. You will find that many jobs here are occupied by Francophone Canadians because they are the most likely to be bilingual. Are they prejudiced against anglophones? There are bigots in every group, so yup,some are. My job requires that I speak a fairly fluent level of French, but I have an accent and make frequent grammatical errors mostly masculin/feminin from rushing, since I often train francophones. I have found my co-workers and the clientele I deal with to be very supportive and understanding. You don't need French here, but it helps.
Bilingualism is definitely a BIG help in Ottawa. You will find that many jobs here are occupied by Francophone Canadians because they are the most likely to be bilingual. Are they prejudiced against anglophones? There are bigots in every group, so yup,some are. My job requires that I speak a fairly fluent level of French, but I have an accent and make frequent grammatical errors mostly masculin/feminin from rushing, since I often train francophones. I have found my co-workers and the clientele I deal with to be very supportive and understanding. You don't need French here, but it helps.
Member
Posts: 72
Location: Beauharnois, Québec
Location: Beauharnois, Québec
January 24th, 2006, 03:06 PM
Most of the educated french that I know do at least, read, write and understant english moderately well. We may have some trouble speaking it due to a lack of practice.
Those who won't communicate to you in english are either: under educated, hard core nationalist or just having fun at your expense.
Quoting
Since the francophone in Canada are litterally surounded by anglophone on this continent we have no choice but to learn english. We start getting english class at the third grade (going down to the first grade this year) and up to the end of college.
Bilingualism is definitely a BIG help in Ottawa. You will find that many jobs here are occupied by Francophone Canadians because they are the most likely to be bilingual. Are they prejudiced against anglophones? There are bigots in every group, so yup,some are. My job requires that I speak a fairly fluent level of French, but I have an accent and make frequent grammatical errors mostly masculin/feminin from rushing, since I often train francophones. I have found my co-workers and the clientele I deal with to be very supportive and understanding. You don't need French here, but it helps.
Most of the educated french that I know do at least, read, write and understant english moderately well. We may have some trouble speaking it due to a lack of practice.
Those who won't communicate to you in english are either: under educated, hard core nationalist or just having fun at your expense.
Newbie
Posts: 23
January 24th, 2006, 05:32 PM
I think being English can sometimes make us lazy in that we expect everyone to speak our language. I'm not saying that about everyone but most. Especially people from England!!
Thanks again
Diana
Quoting
Of course it will make your life easier, you will be able to communicate with millions of more people around the world with ease.
It is an absolute necessity to living in Ottawa? No. But learning French will allow you to better embrace and enjoy the wonderful blend of Anglais et Francais that is Ottawa.
It's never a bad thing to learn a lanquage and I never implied it was, I was just asking how important it was. Someone mentioned about the business side of things being able to communicate to all customers and that is something that I didn't think about so thank you. It's on my list of things to do ....LEARN FRENCH!!!! Quoting
Learning another language, especially an official language, is never a bad idea. How could learning French be bad.
Is it important to learn french? Will it make my life easier when moving to Ottawa?
Thanks
Diana x
Thanks
Diana x
Of course it will make your life easier, you will be able to communicate with millions of more people around the world with ease.
It is an absolute necessity to living in Ottawa? No. But learning French will allow you to better embrace and enjoy the wonderful blend of Anglais et Francais that is Ottawa.
I think being English can sometimes make us lazy in that we expect everyone to speak our language. I'm not saying that about everyone but most. Especially people from England!!
Thanks again
Diana
Newbie
Posts: 23
January 24th, 2006, 05:33 PM
Quoting
Will it make your life easier? Probably.
Run my own design company as well as other things.
Quoting
Is it important? That depends. Why are you moving to Ottawa, and what do you plan to do there? If you're looking for work in a field that deals with gov't or the public, it would be a good idea.
Is it important to learn french? Will it make my life easier when moving to Ottawa?
Thanks
Diana x
Thanks
Diana x
Will it make your life easier? Probably.
Newbie
Posts: 23
January 24th, 2006, 05:36 PM
Quoting
Would you want to work there anyway with that type of attitude?
I live in Ottawa, and over 90% of the jobs I apply for have bilingual listed as an "asset". This can mean a number of things, such as 1. there are other french people who can deal with french clients, paper work etc, but it would be nice if you could do this too, although not crucial or 2. the office is primarily french, although using that language on your job is not necessary, they'd just prefer a french person because they are french.
I'm not really bilingual, but would probably not be far off saying that for every resume I submit, there are probably 5 people who at least speak french.
I can also say that I've never been treated so badly by a group of people while looking for a job. One time, this women started speaking to me so quickly, I couldn't tell what language she was speaking. When I asked her to repeat what she just said, she became annoyed and said french is a requirment for the job and why didn't I understand her if I wanted to applying for the job? (She didn't speak english well!) When I mentioned the position was advertised "bilingual asset", she actually said that wasn't the case and it was a requirment. But who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and not encounter that sort of BS.
I'm not really bilingual, but would probably not be far off saying that for every resume I submit, there are probably 5 people who at least speak french.
I can also say that I've never been treated so badly by a group of people while looking for a job. One time, this women started speaking to me so quickly, I couldn't tell what language she was speaking. When I asked her to repeat what she just said, she became annoyed and said french is a requirment for the job and why didn't I understand her if I wanted to applying for the job? (She didn't speak english well!) When I mentioned the position was advertised "bilingual asset", she actually said that wasn't the case and it was a requirment. But who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and not encounter that sort of BS.
