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I can read and write very well; my speaking and listening skills are low-intermediate. My children are growing up bilingual (my husband is francophone) and I only speak English at home (except to my in-laws). We live in a francophone town (99%).
As an American, I'm often amazed at how awful Anglo-Canadians' French-language skills can be. I majored in French and have a master's in French lit, so I know the difference between "fluent" and "intermediate level." Too many Anglo-Canadians, even Ontarians, barely have an intermediate grasp of French. I don't think Americans do much worse in foreign-language acquisition than English-speaking Canadians do in French. I am even surprised by the (very) basic level of French among English-speakers in Montreal -- no better than that of the average U.S. student who took 2 years of high school French in Buffalo. Yet Canada is officially bilingual and French is (I'm told) a compulsory course in school, just as English is compulsory in Sweden or the Netherlands. Why such poor French in Toronto, Ottawa, or Winnipeg, in a nation with a pretty good public school system and compulsory French?
It is only compulsory until age 13 in BC. Also, no practice, and our teachers were not fluent. Canada is a bilingual country but the in the western half of the country (think anything west of the Dakotas/Colorado/New Mexico), French is not used in daily life and the (very few) francophone communities are completely integrated, you wouldn't even know it.
Why such poor French in Toronto, Ottawa, or Winnipeg, in a nation with a pretty good public school system and compulsory French?
Probably because outside Quebec its just not a language any one speaks so while they may have taken a few hours a week in school in reality the French language just isnt relevant for every day living.
Canada being bilingual is more to do with services being available in French and English in government offices and correspondence than it has to do with all Canadians being bilingual.
As an American, I'm often amazed at how awful Anglo-Canadians' French-language skills can be. I majored in French and have a master's in French lit, so I know the difference between "fluent" and "intermediate level." Too many Anglo-Canadians, even Ontarians, barely have an intermediate grasp of French. I don't think Americans do much worse in foreign-language acquisition than English-speaking Canadians do in French. I am even surprised by the (very) basic level of French among English-speakers in Montreal -- no better than that of the average U.S. student who took 2 years of high school French in Buffalo. Yet Canada is officially bilingual and French is (I'm told) a compulsory course in school, just as English is compulsory in Sweden or the Netherlands. Why such poor French in Toronto, Ottawa, or Winnipeg, in a nation with a pretty good public school system and compulsory French?
French isn't compulsary in schools. When I was in school(rural Manitoba) the second language taught was German. French is offered "where numbers warrant."
French isn't compulsary in schools. When I was in school(rural Manitoba) the second language taught was German. French is offered "where numbers warrant."
Some of my wifes family is from Macklin Sask. i remember her Aunt mentioning her choices for second language in school was German or Latin, i presume this was back in the 40-50's before Canada decided to brand itself a bilingual country as a goodwill gesture to appease Quebec..
Some of my wifes family is from Macklin Sask. i remember her Aunt mentioning her choices for second language in school was German or Latin, i presume this was back in the 40-50's before Canada decided to brand itself a bilingual country as a goodwill gesture to appease Quebec..
I went to school in the 70s (junior high). I'd have to look it up but I always thought the German was a sop to the fact that the Canadian government reneged on its promise to Mennonites to be able to conduct their schooling in German. German is still offered here but French is also an option.
I switched my the ipad to my laptop to search better and apparently the whole language issue in schools was because of the French. In 1897, legislation was passed that declared that "where ten of the pupils speak the French language (or any language other than English) as their native language, the teaching of such pupils shall be conducted in French (or such other language) and English upon the bilingual system."
Last edited by netwit; 07-17-2013 at 11:06 AM..
Reason: added more information
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