Quebec and english

[daboy]

I saw Bonny, one of the i-n girls last thursday..and it got me thinking.Yea I know!!!

Bonny had no english skills at all.. a nice young lady, but very hard to talk to her. So I wonder ...Is english taught in Que at all and if not why.

If I was a parent in Que I would want my kid to learn english, if not their options in life would very limited in the ocean of english in North America.
If not is it a political ploy to keep the youth in Que and the population in essence a prisioner of language?

I bet the kids of the political elite and corporate elite all know english.

I wonder

daboy

 

[red]

no english is allowed in quebec. if you speak english they imprison you for cinq years

 

[Keebler Elf]

I think it's similar to rednecks who pass on their racism to their children. Some of the hardcore francophones probably go out of their way to NOT teach english to their children. But, that being said, I would think the majority of people in Quebec are bilingual. Especially those who have any intention at all of working with or outside of the province.

 

[TheNiteHwk]

IMO the English laws and attitude of some is really sad. I say sad because I like Quebec. If I did not like the place I would say it sucks. LOL.

To answer your question: No they do not teach English at French schools in Quebec. And of course almost all the schools are French.

When I lived in Ottawa for five years I use to visit Quebec a lot. It's not bad in some of the larger centres in most places you can get serviced in English or meet people who do have some English skills. In some of the more remote or smaller places though they do not speak English at all. In some places it's not that they do not know English it's that they simply just refuse to use or speak English.

I think it's sad because first and foremost I love French dancers. Also though I use to love driving into the outback as I use to call it. The countryside there is awesome. And at the same time I would always find some roadside Mom & Pop type place for a good meal. Unless of course you drive into some place where they don't like you because you don't speak French. I was saved the attitude sometimes because my GF at the time was French so I let her do all the talking. Sad.

 

[TheNiteHwk]

That's just too funny Sheik.

Of course we all know the one about the Newfie and the Frenchman on their way to Toronto to look for work. They came across a sign that said: Toronto Left


So they turned around and went back.

 

[Goober Mcfly]

Bonjour Quebec side-by-each. Tabarnouche. Les Habitents sont tres facile avec la pamplemousse dans le bibliotheque. J'ai oublier ma cahier d'exercises a la maison, s'il vous plait.

Merde.

 

[eyeofthedragon]

whats troll or asshat in french?

 

[Goober Mcfly]

whats troll or asshat in french?

Troll de chapeau d'âne

 

[TheNiteHwk]

whats troll or asshat in french?

troll = Goober

asshat = Sheik


<LMAO>

 

[eyeofthedragon]

Troll de chapeau d'âne

non-moderator goober = funny

 

[Berlin]

non-moderator goober = funny

Oui, c'est correct.

 

[Goober Mcfly]

Je ne suis pas un moderateur. Et la secousse n'est pas ma petite amie.

 

[AMWBT]

Swearing and insulting in French 101

trou de cul
espece de con
va t'en fourrer
va te faire foutre

"con" is actually quite useful, as in:

il est (tu es) con comme un balai
bande de cons
faire le con
gouvernement a la con
connard
connarde

it can also mean that English word that it resembles, kind've.

Those are actually more French and Quebecois, but I thought you guys had the sacrilegious thing down already.

 

[raverboy]

...To answer your question: No they do not teach English at French schools in Quebec. And of course almost all the schools are French.

TheNiteHwk, with all due respect, you are misinformed.

Yes, most schools are French but yes, they most certainly teach English at French schools:

See Page 4 of this link, a publication entitled "Programme de formation de l'école Québecoise" (Curriculum of the Quebec School) from the Ministère de l'Education du Québec. (Primary School Level) .... and ....

See Page 6 of this link, a publication entitled "Programme de formation de l'école Québecoise" (Curriculum of the Quebec School) from the Ministère de l'Education du Québec. (Secondary School Level)

By and large, the determining factor in spoken English capability (in Quebecers) is practice. Just like here in Ontario, French is taught in schools. Realistically, how many of those who have gone through the school system in Ontario speak French (at a respectable level) by the time they graduate? The language capability is lost because there isnt much of a need (or desire!) to use it here.

Likewise, if you grew up in Chicoutimi or Ste. Agathe des Monts for example, you'd probably receive English language instruction in school, but again, realistically, the only opportunity you're gonna get to use English in those towns is with the odd American or Canadian *ahem* tourist who is likely just passing through.

Result: "bein.... je parle pas Anglais, sti!"

 

[Goober Mcfly]

Could a moderator please change the title of this thread to "Quebec and Hinglish", SVP?

</pas un moderateur>

 

[TheNiteHwk]

I guess I sit corrected. I should have said no they do not have classes in English. By that I mean... for example you cannot study Math or Science in English. I was a tad confused... you are right. Reason being that when I was living in the area I remember a couple of friends of mine that were frustrated that they could not have their kids learn and (as you have pointed out) and apply or utilize more English in schools there.

As an aside: As a kid growing up in Northern Ontario where in my hometown it was about 30% French I was interested in learning French. Then when I reached high school though I dropped it simply cause I did not like the French teacher. Regret ever since. But... From having stayed at many a motel or hotel over in Quebec over the years I did learn one thing:

"Quell le numero du chambre?"


<LMAO>

 

[DateMasamune]

The languge you know is the lens you choose to see the world. If they want to see the world through Quebecois eyes, they should only learn French. If they want to see the world from "worldly eyes" (cause English is an international language), they should learn both. Yet, learning English will tint their vision with biasis of the Anglo world. However, they wish to preserve their French culture, what do they do? It's a double edge sword isn't it?

 

[Lil'Miss]

The languge you know is the lens you choose to see the world. If they want to see the world through Quebecois eyes, they should only learn French. If they want to see the world from "worldly eyes" (cause English is an international language), they should learn both. Yet, learning English will tint their vision with biasis of the Anglo world. However, they wish to preserve their French culture, what do they do? It's a double edge sword isn't it?

Learning a second language does not erase one's culture. Knowing English isn't going to make someone more "worldly". A language is just words. When someone learns a new language they don't suddenly know all about the country's culture and forget their own. The world looks the same no matter what language you speak.

Miss

 

[raverboy]

...

"Quell le numero du chambre?"

"Quel est le numero du chambre?" or if you wanna be more casual,
"Hei! C'est quoi le numero d'chambre, mon grand?!"

 

[raverboy]

... A language is just words.

I respectfully disagree. Until we learn how to communicate by telepathy, or learn a new skill by simply "programming" it into our mental mainframe (à la The Matrix), a language is a *bit* more than just words.

...The world looks the same no matter what language you speak.

I understand what you're trying to say by this statement, but in a more "microscopic" perspective for example, 'the world' in the eyes of a speaker of Tok Pisin, a pidgin language spoken by Melanesian tribal groups in Papua New Guinea, probably looks a *little* different to a native speaker of Catalan (spoken by 17% of Spain's population).

A small illustration of our diversity.