Newbie
Posts: 9 
October 11th, 2006, 12:51 PM
I was thinking about moving to Montreal from Toronto. I work as a Heating and Air Conditioning/refrigeration technician. I have to deal a lot with customers on my job. How hard would it be for me to work in Quebec if I cant speak french? Would anybody hire me? I have always wanted to learn it but I think the only way is to live in a french speaking place.
I was thinking about moving to Montreal from Toronto. I work as a Heating and Air Conditioning/refrigeration technician. I have to deal a lot with customers on my job. How hard would it be for me to work in Quebec if I cant speak french? Would anybody hire me? I have always wanted to learn it but I think the only way is to live in a french speaking place.
October 11th, 2006, 01:01 PM
It really depends on the area, in the English speaking areas, you may find work, but if you can't speak a lick of French, I bid you good luck. You have two hurdles to over come, the need to be able to speak it to do your job and the arrogance of those that will see you as a English speaking outcast.
It really depends on the area, in the English speaking areas, you may find work, but if you can't speak a lick of French, I bid you good luck. You have two hurdles to over come, the need to be able to speak it to do your job and the arrogance of those that will see you as a English speaking outcast.
Genius
Posts: 998
Location: Was Victoria, now Ottawa
Location: Was Victoria, now Ottawa
October 11th, 2006, 02:08 PM
I agree that the best way to learn a new language is to live in it. Montreal is a nice city. I've been there many times and it's easy to get around not knowing French. I was thinking of moving there as well to work in animation. But I decided against it because I don’t know French and even though I wouldn't have to deal with the public they don't hire you if your not already French or bilingual. If I were you I wouldn't make the move. Just my suggestion.
I agree that the best way to learn a new language is to live in it. Montreal is a nice city. I've been there many times and it's easy to get around not knowing French. I was thinking of moving there as well to work in animation. But I decided against it because I don’t know French and even though I wouldn't have to deal with the public they don't hire you if your not already French or bilingual. If I were you I wouldn't make the move. Just my suggestion.
Member
Posts: 97
Location: Montreal, Canada
Location: Montreal, Canada
October 11th, 2006, 07:25 PM
My advice is if you speak no French and you want to move to Montreal, pick the West Island. You'll feel right at home as the English speakers outnumber the French speakers in most West Island towns.
Quoting CDNBear
Nonsense. I was born and raised in Montreal and may also add that I don't speak any French (at least not enough to engage in a conversation). No one has ever called me an English speaking outcast. The city has publically funded English schools as well as French ones, so why would it come as a surprise to anyone that there are a substantial many folk here that speak English instead of French. There have been English speakers here for many generations as our community is not a new one to the city, but one that's been long established.
It really depends on the area, in the English speaking areas, you may find work, but if you can't speak a lick of French, I bid you good luck. You have two hurdles to over come, the need to be able to speak it to do your job and the arrogance of those that will see you as a English speaking outcast.
My advice is if you speak no French and you want to move to Montreal, pick the West Island. You'll feel right at home as the English speakers outnumber the French speakers in most West Island towns.
Bright Spark
Posts: 399
Location: hopelessly entagled
Location: hopelessly entagled
October 11th, 2006, 07:31 PM
Ah yes--i believe it was Charles the fifth of the holy roman empire/spain/germany who said
I speak spanish to......God
i speak german to ....men
I speak french to.... women
and i speak english to....my horse
moral---get yerself a french babe..
Ah yes--i believe it was Charles the fifth of the holy roman empire/spain/germany who said
I speak spanish to......God
i speak german to ....men
I speak french to.... women
and i speak english to....my horse
moral---get yerself a french babe..
Genius
Posts: 998
Location: Was Victoria, now Ottawa
Location: Was Victoria, now Ottawa
October 11th, 2006, 07:50 PM
To live in Montreal and not speak French is easy to do. But to work in the service industy is different. Sw works as a Heating and Air Conditioning/refrigeration technician. This is Sw's bread and butter. Can he afford to move to Montreal and not communicate to half the population while he learns French? This is a weighty choice.
I'm assuming SW is a dude. If you're a gal, my appologies.
To live in Montreal and not speak French is easy to do. But to work in the service industy is different. Sw works as a Heating and Air Conditioning/refrigeration technician. This is Sw's bread and butter. Can he afford to move to Montreal and not communicate to half the population while he learns French? This is a weighty choice.
I'm assuming SW is a dude. If you're a gal, my appologies.
October 12th, 2006, 05:53 PM
Umm, maybe you missed the part where I isolate who would give him a hard time and pointed out the English speaking enclaves.
BTW, you are not the only person to have any knowledge of the wonderfully supportive province of Quebec. They have an excellent record of treating the English with the same temperment as the Francias, they have an even better record of how they have treated the Natives.
I believe you when you say you have never experienced what I speak of, and I say you are the better for it, count yourself lucky.
But to try and tell all that it doesn't exist in good ol' merry Montreal, is well, a bit disturbing.
Quoting shannon
Nonsense. I was born and raised in Montreal and may also add that I don't speak any French (at least not enough to engage in a conversation). No one has ever called me an English speaking outcast. The city has publically funded English schools as well as French ones, so why would it come as a surprise to anyone that there are a substantial many folk here that speak English instead of French. There have been English speakers here for many generations as our community is not a new one to the city, but one that's been long established.
My advice is if you speak no French and you want to move to Montreal, pick the West Island. You'll feel right at home as the English speakers outnumber the French speakers in most West Island towns.
My advice is if you speak no French and you want to move to Montreal, pick the West Island. You'll feel right at home as the English speakers outnumber the French speakers in most West Island towns.
Umm, maybe you missed the part where I isolate who would give him a hard time and pointed out the English speaking enclaves.
BTW, you are not the only person to have any knowledge of the wonderfully supportive province of Quebec. They have an excellent record of treating the English with the same temperment as the Francias, they have an even better record of how they have treated the Natives.
I believe you when you say you have never experienced what I speak of, and I say you are the better for it, count yourself lucky.
But to try and tell all that it doesn't exist in good ol' merry Montreal, is well, a bit disturbing.
October 12th, 2006, 05:54 PM
Thanx Gonzo, you hit the nail on the head.
Quoting Gonzo
To live in Montreal and not speak French is easy to do. But to work in the service industy is different. Sw works as a Heating and Air Conditioning/refrigeration technician. This is Sw's bread and butter. Can he afford to move to Montreal and not communicate to half the population while he learns French? This is a weighty choice.
I'm assuming SW is a dude. If you're a gal, my appologies.
I'm assuming SW is a dude. If you're a gal, my appologies.
Thanx Gonzo, you hit the nail on the head.
Newbie
Posts: 9
November 4th, 2006, 07:05 AM
[quote=sw;736588]Thanks, SW is a dude and Cortex I have a french babe and thus the reason I want to move to Montreal. She lives in the Mount Royal area.It seems to pretty mixed with English and French around that area.[/quot
Correction, I HAD a french babe.
[quote=sw;736588]Thanks, SW is a dude and Cortex I have a french babe and thus the reason I want to move to Montreal. She lives in the Mount Royal area.It seems to pretty mixed with English and French around that area.[/quot
Correction, I HAD a french babe.
