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Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

thatslifehey

#1Jun 18th, 2008

So I moved to Montreal 4 months ago for graphic design work, or any work in the creative art industry... and so far all i have been able to get is freelance jobs.... that dont pay so well.. now i am experienced, and have the qualifications, and educational background, and skilled what could i be lacking? uhuuu french maybe!???

living in montreal and not knowing a word of french i know im at a disadvantage to get an "ANY" job. but why is it sooo hard to get a creative arts job in montreal. Do you have to be bilingual to work as a designer in this city?

From my personal experience, i dont think that the people in montreal do such a good job at welcoming outsider. i have had people be rude to me and mock me because i wasnt able to reply back in french. why are the people in montreal so harsh towards people who cant speak french! its doesnt really motivate them to learn the language.

lone wolf

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Jun 18th, 2008

Bill 101

Scott Free

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Jun 18th, 2008

I just can't imagine what the problem might be

Chinglish

--

It might not be so wise to hire someone who doesn't speak the language.

no color

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Jun 19th, 2008

Quote: Originally Posted by thatslifehey

So I moved to Montreal 4 months ago for graphic design work, or any work in the creative art industry... and so far all i have been able to get is freelance jobs.... that dont pay so well.. now i am experienced, and have the qualifications, and educational background, and skilled what could i be lacking? uhuuu french maybe!???

living in montreal and not knowing a word of french i know im at a disadvantage to get an "ANY" job. but why is it sooo hard to get a creative arts job in montreal. Do you have to be bilingual to work as a designer in this city?

From my personal experience, i dont think that the people in montreal do such a good job at welcoming outsider. i have had people be rude to me and mock me because i wasnt able to reply back in french. why are the people in montreal so harsh towards people who cant speak french! its doesnt really motivate them to learn the language.

It depends on what part of the city you live in. If you live in the east end, then yeah, you will have many French speakers who will not speak to you in English. There is however the north part of the east end which does have a significant number of English speakers (you can tell by the numerous English schools inthe area). However if you reside and work on the west side of the city, especially the West Island, the English speakers outnumber the French speakers and you should not have any trouble in your line of work if you don't speak any French. That is provided you do not work in the public service, in which case you absolutely have to be bilingual. I myself was born in and grew up in Montreal and was educated in English, and therefore my knowledge of French is very limited. I've had no problems in my line of work as I do not work in the public service.

CriticalUnity

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 17th, 2008

Absolutely not!

Being English is a PLUS! - There are plenty of companies that are predominantly English.

Welcome to Montreal

CriticalUnity

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 17th, 2008

Quote: Originally Posted by thatslifehey

I have had people be rude to me and mock me because i wasnt able to reply back in french. why are the people in montreal so harsh towards people who cant speak french! its doesnt really motivate them to learn the language.

I grew up in Ville St Laurent, & it's pretty much english there, so I speak English, & I have endured what you say above for 25 years... And it makes me sick! - It is quite limiting & living in a bubble to refuse to learn English, & then quite insulting to then demand that we learn French. The history of Quebec is that the English won the War, & let the French stay here.

Mais maitenant, I have learned French (no choice) ... And it opens doors, & when someone calls me a pepper, I reply in English, & show them how wrong they were, & when someone calls me a 'square head' I reply in French, then English, then French, & then I'd add a bit of Spanish, but I havn't learned that yet

Last edited by CriticalUnity; Oct 17th, 2008 at 01:58 AM..Reason: I felt like it

no color

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 18th, 2008

Quote: Originally Posted by CriticalUnity

I have learned French (no choice)

No choice? Sure you have a choice. You can keep the language of your ancestors. Unless you work in the public service in Montreal, in which case you absolutely have to be bilingual, I don't see why there is a need to learn French otherwise? Most folks in Montreal do speak English.

CriticalUnity

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 19th, 2008

Quote: Originally Posted by no color

No choice? Sure you have a choice. You can keep the language of your ancestors. Unless you work in the public service in Montreal, in which case you absolutely have to be bilingual, I don't see why there is a need to learn French otherwise? Most folks in Montreal do speak English.

I was refering to my own personal situation where I lived & worked in the heart of the beast of the East... - Hardly any English, & everyone keeps saying 'tu viens de ou, toi?

It's hilarious, but you're right, you are free to speak only chinese if you want, but not according to our loving Government; They force you to go to school in french. - I was lucky to have gone to English schools, but now things just are not the same.

scratch

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 19th, 2008

Quote: Originally Posted by CriticalUnity

I grew up in Ville St Laurent, & it's pretty much english there, so I speak English, & I have endured what you say above for 25 years... And it makes me sick! - It is quite limiting & living in a bubble to refuse to learn English, & then quite insulting to then demand that we learn French. The history of Quebec is that the English won the War, & let the French stay here.

Mais maitenant, I have learned French (no choice) ... And it opens doors, & when someone calls me a pepper, I reply in English, & show them how wrong they were, & when someone calls me a 'square head' I reply in French, then English, then French, & then I'd add a bit of Spanish, but I havn't learned that yet

I was raised and educated in Hudson Heights, Quebec.
I can understand your comments (probably better than most).
I lived in St-Laurent on Cote Vertu as well as Alexis Nihon, and Beaconsfield.
Both of you should hang in there.
Portuguese might be a better third language, from my experience.

Quebec is great. Don't sell it short!

Regards & Good luck.

scratch

Last edited by scratch; Oct 19th, 2008 at 07:32 AM..

eh1eh

#10

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 19th, 2008

You could come back to Canada where you are free to speak whatever language you want.

scratch

#11

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 19th, 2008

Quote: Originally Posted by eh1eh

You could come back to Canada where you are free to speak whatever language you want.

Try that in Cornwall,ON or Alexandria,ON or in NB.

Besides Quebec is just one part of Canada.

scratch
....just an observation

Andem

#12

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 19th, 2008

As nocolor said, working in the West Island wouldn't be so difficult without French but I'd highly suggest you take some courses in French to atleast be considered a "basic french speaker".. it can make all the difference.

scratch

#13

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 19th, 2008

Quote: Originally Posted by Andem

As nocolor said, working in the West Island wouldn't be so difficult without French but I'd highly suggest you take some courses in French to atleast be considered a "basic french speaker".. it can make all the difference.

If you are ambitious....it's a must!

Regards,
scratch

Machjo

#14

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 19th, 2008

Quote: Originally Posted by eh1eh

You could come back to Canada where you are free to speak whatever language you want.

What planet are you on? If I knew not a word of English, there'd be no way I could possibley get any decent job in English Canada.

In that respect, you have more language freedom in Montreal job-wise than you do in Ottawa.

eh1eh

#15

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 20th, 2008

Quote: Originally Posted by Machjo

What planet are you on? If I knew not a word of English, there'd be no way I could possibley get any decent job in English Canada.

In that respect, you have more language freedom in Montreal job-wise than you do in Ottawa.

Sure you do. Try to put up an English sign or have your children educated in English.

Your language choice is legislated in Quebec. It's the other provinces that have language freedom.

scratch

#16

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 20th, 2008

Quote: Originally Posted by eh1eh

Sure you do. Try to put up an English sign or have your children educated in English.

Your language choice is legislated in Quebec. It's the other provinces that have language freedom.

If you were educated in the English system, legislation is meaningless.

regards, scratch

missile

#17

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 20th, 2008

Of course you don't need to know french to be an artist, but you'd be so damn much cooler if you did

scratch

#18

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 20th, 2008

Quote: Originally Posted by missile

Of course you don't need to know french to be an artist, but you'd be so damn much cooler if you did

...on the `ball` today

scratch

scratch

#19

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 20th, 2008

Quote: Originally Posted by scratch

If you were educated in the English system, legislation is meaningless.

regards, scratch

btw,

Try putting up an `English` only sign anywhere in the Ottawa Valley area.....

regs,
scratch

missile

#20

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 20th, 2008

`I can't speak french, but am surprised by the amount of the language i've picked up due to my province being bilingual..even our street signs are in 2 languages.

scratch

#21

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 20th, 2008

Quote: Originally Posted by missile

`I can't speak french, but am surprised by the amount of the language i've picked up due to my province being bilingual..even our street signs are in 2 languages.

.....Yo missle....never hurts to have another language....

scratch

Nuggler

#22

Re: Do you need to know how to speak french as an artist living in Montreal???

Oct 31st, 2008

Quote: Originally Posted by CriticalUnity

I grew up in Ville St Laurent, & it's pretty much english there, so I speak English, & I have endured what you say above for 25 years... And it makes me sick! - It is quite limiting & living in a bubble to refuse to learn English, & then quite insulting to then demand that we learn French. The history of Quebec is that the English won the War, & let the French stay here.

Mais maitenant, I have learned French (no choice) ... And it opens doors, & when someone calls me a pepper, I reply in English, & show them how wrong they were, & when someone calls me a 'square head' I reply in French, then English, then French, & then I'd add a bit of Spanish, but I havn't learned that yet

What's a "pepper"??

"Square head" is a pejorative term for a German, is it not? Or are we "anglais" all referred to as square heads?

Getting an education today, by gar.

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