Is The Language Barrier a Problem in Quebec?
 

How hard is it to get around and see the sights in Quebec if you don't know any French,since almost all of the signs are in French and that is the official language?

In the city of Quebec, language is no problem around the restaurants and other tourist attractions. If you get out into the hinterlands, you may not find anyone who understands much English.<BR>In the National Parks, the wardens and the other staff members speak English.<BR><BR>We drove around the Gaspe Peninsula, spending two nights enroute. (We needed 3 actually because the road was slow and we stopped several times.) I had a bilingual friend make the motel reservations for me. On the south shore of the Gaspe there is a little more English spoken because several of the towns were originally settled by Loyalists.<BR>There was one funny incident when we wanted to buy some ice for our little ice chest. My phrase book had no words for ice cubes. I remembered that near the border with Vermont I had purchased a bag of ice and that it had labelling in both English and French. So I hastened out to the car, pulled that wet bag out, looked at the French language side of the bag and came up with the magic word Glace, with an accent mark on the e. I hastened back into the store and spoke my one word of French, and we got the ice. <BR><BR>

For the most part, you will have no problems with speaking English in Montreal or Quebec City and the locals will appreciate you trying to speak Quebecois better then Parisians. Don't worry.

Unless the Language Police hear you speaking anything but French then they will rip out your tongue and shove it down your throat.

I don't even speak school girl french except for 'merci' and I had no problems travelling through Quebec. Admittedly we stayed only in Montreal and Quebec city but still, everyone was very friendly and helpful. At the end of the day, a lot of these place exist on and for tourism and despite the official language of French, English is by far the most common language and the locals appreciate this. <BR>I know you will have a wonderful time. Don't stress, just enjoy. <BR> <BR>Anne in Australia

Three of the four people who have already posted accurately describe the situation. I'm a French teacher who travels in Québec a lot, and I can tell you that wherever there are tourists, there is English, especially in the cities. It really is appreciated, however, if you at least start with words like Bonjour and Merci. A phrase book is always helpful because you can point to the English and the locals can point to the French. <BR> <BR>The tourism ministry has a pamphlet called Happy Motoring with signs, laws, and explanations that are helpful to anglophones. Signs can be a problem: once I was driving with someone who doesn't know French and I forgot to explain that all those "Pont Fermé" signs meant that the bridge was closed ahead. A small dictionary could help with this. <BR> <BR>Yes, don't stress. Smile, say S'il vous plaît (see voo play--please) a lot. The locals will adore you.

Hi Friends! <BR> <BR>Quebec City alone gets about 10 times its population in tourists from all over the world! <BR> <BR>Tourists come for the beauty, the charm of this unique city, the only city in North America declared part of the World Heritage by the UNESCO (United States)! <BR> <BR>The cradle of the French culture in North America where citizens from all cultures and languages are welcomed and respected. <BR> <BR>We appreciate the large contribution of the English, the Irish, the Scots, the Indians and the immigrants who came after the Wars. <BR> <BR>There is no feeling of racism here! <BR>Except from the mouth of extremists! <BR> <BR>Our school systems are French or English. <BR> <BR>The English-speaking citizens and their descendants have full education systems, from primary schools to university..reciprocity of this is not available to French-speaking citizens in other provinces of Canada! <BR> <BR>All English-speaking citizens have garantied full medical and hospital services in English..which is denied to French-speaking citizens in other provinces of Canada! <BR> <BR>Our courts speak English when citizens of English language are concerned...other provinces speak English only, no French! <BR> <BR>I consider that the anonymus comments of Devon ([email protected]) made above, to be blantly racist and contrary to the truth. <BR> <BR>Yes, we have such extremists, but most people in Quebec, of all origins, live happily and are respected fully, each citizen being equal with equal rights. <BR> <BR>Yes, Quebec is a nation composed of all its citizens, no matter their cultural origins. Every one is equal and protected in same manner. <BR> <BR>French is the official language of Quebec which is composed of more than 85% of its citizens of French culture. <BR> <BR>As a nation, Quebec has its own civil code, its own laws, its own history going back to the 1500. <BR> <BR>The English language gets a full respect in Quebec, while French has no place in the other provinces of Canada, a country discovered by my French ascentors who opened all parts of North America,in French! <BR> <BR>Devon, please speak the truth!

Good for you Michel. Thank you for educating the world on the issues that are important to Quebec. Can't wait to visit.

Michel, <BR>Thanks for clearing some misconceptions that many non-Canadians (and possibly some Canadians) have about Quebec. It is truly a beautiful and charming part of Canada, and should not be missed. I personally spent 4 years of my life there, and enjoyed it very much. <BR> <BR>However, I do want to correct you on a few things. When you say the following: <BR>1. "The English-speaking citizens and their descendants have full education systems, from primary schools to university... reciprocity of this is not available to French-speaking citizens in other provinces of Canada!" <BR> <BR>2. "All English-speaking citizens have garantied full medical and hospital services in English..which is denied to French-speaking citizens in other provinces of Canada!" <BR> <BR>3."Our courts speak English when citizens of English language are concerned...other provinces speak English only, no French!", and <BR> <BR>4."The English language gets a full respect in Quebec, while French has no place in the other provinces of Canada" <BR> <BR>...I have to take exception to these. While Quebec is officially the only French-speaking province in Canada, New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province. In NB, citizens of French descent have full access to french schools from primary to University, french-speaking health and medical services, and french-speaking courts and legal services. <BR> <BR>I am only saying this because your implications that all of Canada, aside from Quebec, does not recognize, appreciate, and accomodate french society, culture and language is simply not true. <BR> <BR>To keep this post in line with the spirit of the thread, the language barrier is not a problem in most of Quebec. The people in Quebec are typically friendly people, and although they may appreciate an effort to converse in french, it is not a necessity. Learn a couple of french words and phrases that you may frequently use, and enjoy yourself in this beautiful part of Canada. <BR> <BR>Tim

Thanks Tim! You said it very well.

Michel, <BR> I wholeheartedly DISAGREE with you and your attempt at Quebecois propaganda. I am a Montrealer. There are no equal rights between French and English in Quebec. You do not speak the truth.

I am sorry to see that Michel has been brainwashed by our politicians and French medias in Quebec...and probably never lived outside the province of Quebec. <BR> <BR>The truth is that there is a lot of French speaking people outside of Quebec and they can send their kids to French schools, have services in French in the Federal Governement offices and elsewhere. <BR> <BR>But you will find the greater number of French speaking people living in the Quebec Province. <BR> <BR>You should not have any problems finding your way and getting understood in the touristic areas. <BR> <BR>Montreal and the Eastern Township is very bilingual (Montreal is very multicultural) <BR> <BR>Most of the signs are international (stop signs are red and have the same shape but it's written "Arret" on it) <BR> <BR>Don't forget that Quebec is the only province that don't let you turn right on a red light!

Michel, <BR>Give me a break!!!! I think you are way out of line posting all this crap on a travel forum. Do you think this will make people WANT to visit Quebec?

I'll be traveling to Montreal for about the 10th time in my life at the end of the month. I have never had any problem with the language, but I try to open any conversation with the few French words I know. It is appreciated by the populace. I will be spending two weeks with my wife north of Quebec City this summer. I always enjoyed the people and places of Quebec. More Americans should travel to Quebec.

Micheal,
I am from Ontario. Are you telling me that the French schools I have attended since JK don't exist? Because that would be news to me. Are you telling me that the health services my grandparents used to use are fake? This would also be news to me. They're not as numerous as Québec but if you look, you will find that services in French can be acquired. You're the one spreading Québec propoganda. Language barriers happen everywhere for the French as well as English.
And, to be useful to travelers, I've been to Québec and it's a generally friendly place. Only problem I had was that I went during a very damp and rainy season.

Franco did you realize this thread is 11 years old?

Plus ce change...:)

Oh, whoops. No, i didn't see the date lol. Still that guy just got on my retro nerves heehee :P

I had the same sentiment Franco and only upon reading traveller69's message did I realize as well how old this thread is....I was going to make a grand response also!

Hopefully, there have been some positive changes for Michel in the past 11 years!

There's a language barrier with two locks. Bonjour & merci are the keys.

je parles tres mauvais francaise. however on a drive from victoria to toronto, we stopped in wawa to see the giant goose. we were having lunch in a pub when an older women in the booth behind us said " je voudrais le moutarde si vous plais. my ability to speak une petite peu de francaise got us a round of beers from les anciennes! the prairies are spotted w/ french enclaves. as always even a bit of french is appreciated by francophes and my gain one some unexpected hospitality

AndrewDavid

As a western Canadian Anglophone, some of these posts are just disturbing.
First of all, Canada is a bilingual country. All official government services, must, by law, be offered in French and English. Unfortunately, the demographics here do not make this logical. Virtually 90% of francophones live in Quebec. I live 1500 miles from Quebec and there are almost no French people in Alberta. So what are we supposed to do? Build french schools with no students? I took french in high school, and when I graduated, I could have carried on a conversation in French.But I never had the opportunity to use it, so have lost it. Unfortunately, that is just the way it is in Canada.
The situation in Quebec is much different. English on public signs is illegal. If I moved to Quebec to start a business, and put my sign up in my native tongue, I could be arrested.
In museums and public places, there is NO english on signs, even though it is well know that there are huge numbers of English speaking tourists and residents. There was more english on signs in France when I went there than there are in Quebec. Quebec has been threatening to separate from Canada for decades-and almost did it last time. What message does that give to the rest of Canada?
Anyway, having said all that I also know that it is a bunch of political BS, and I personally love Quebec and the french culture there. Individual people are warm and helpful, and Montreal is an example to the whole world of how multiculturalism (and not just French-English) can work and be integrated into an incredible society and city. Last time I was there with my wife and in-laws, we were having trouble with the tokens on the subway. A french man, around 30 years old, who barely spoke english, came over and showed us how to do it. He then asked us where we were going, and proceeded to escort us to the proper trains, and, in broken english told us where to go when we got to our destination, what to do there, and asked about our families and children. When we finally parted, he insisted on giving us his email so that we could text him if we had any more difficulties or got lost.
I am very very proud of Quebec and the french culture that is a part of my country, and we must do everything we can to stick together. As I read somewhere once: "if anyone ever asks you what is the difference between the culture and history of the US vs Canada, answer them in french".

@jimmoi, this is so interesting to me. This is the first thread I have read on this forum, and I am fascinated.

I am (so they tell me) perfectly bilingual after having lived for five years in France, so the language isn ot a barrier. I find it fascinating that the signs are only in French. Even in Brussels, they are in French and Flemish.

The more I read, the more I look forward to visiting.

"If I moved to Quebec to start a business, and put my sign up in my native tongue, I could be arrested."

That is not true.

I was born and brought up in Montreal. Twenty years ago we decided to leave and move south.

Last week we were back in Montreal for an event.

On a different thread I posted my observations. I'll try to remember what I wrote.

There are very many pay phones on the streets. In fact, on one corner I saw them on diagonal corners. I don't know why as I never saw anybody using them.

Montreal appeared a lot more French speaking than I remember. However, the French-speaking population appeared to be a lot less militant and more friendly to English speaking people. In fact, the were very friendly.

Although it was probably my biggest expense, I found the street parking in Montreal very easy to use and convenient as it took my credit card. Conversely, the parking meters in Westmount took Canadian change only (my fault for not having Canadian change on a short visit) so not convenient.

No right turn on red (understandable) almost got me a few times.

Some street that went left to right now go right to left.

Sensible stop signs added and some even in the middle of a block. Also, a fair number (good) over the mountain near Beaver Lake and the Chalet.

Montreal is still beautiful especially when the weather is sunny and 80 (F) as we had it. Unfortunately, the season for that type of weather is too short.

I saw quite a few of those Telus bike stands but not that many people using them. How long has that been around and how successful is it?

Quebec City - Perhaps (In the less tourist areas of course)
Montreal - Usually not a problem
Small Town - Usually a big language barrier

If you are just visiting Montreal or Quebec City, It will not be a problem. Just be friendly and polite and they will assist you in your language.

Oh my, I just realized I was replying to a poster of 01' Dang..