LEARNING FRENCH

Hey Lucifer what if Saskatchewan leaves your regime and IPSCO steel is used to build the fircest fleet of armoured vehicles in North America

I have no problem with people wanting to learn a second or third language, French included. However, I think the region you live in and the languages present in that region should have priority over a language that really has no connection to the region.

Here in BC, the majority speak one of four languages. English is the most popular, followed by in no particular order, German, Chinese, and one of 125 dialects of East Indian. It makes more sense for the folks to stick to these languages and benefit from them rather then taking time to learn a language that really isn't true French. While in Paris, my girlfriend and I got ourselves lost and stopped a well dressed older lady to ask for directions. My girlfriend, who I thought spoke perfect French, asked her in French for directions to the train. The woman got a real disgusted look on her face and said something which was too fast for me to catch. I asked my GF what the lady had said. At which point the lady turn to me and said in perfect English "I told her to learn how to speak proper French instead of that gutter French from Canada!". This was a good life lesson for me. I learned that no matter where you go on this globe you'll always find an asshole who just doesn't understand patients and international relations. Second; I learned that being raised in Quebec City does nothing to ensure your French is understood by those outside Canada.

So, while I still feel their is a use for the Quebec French, i don't feel that it should be pushed upon to the rest of Canada. Each province has it's own cultural make up that requires something other than french and if people think their French will get them directions in France, I'd be prepared to be insulted for using it. This is not to say that learning French is a bad thing. It's a great way to start off teaching your brain to wrap around a different language. just don't be afraid to learn something else that may be of more benefit, like Chinese.

Don't make to much out of what that lady said. Parisien French isnt even understood the people in France outside of Paris. French is different from one region to another, different accents and words. Just like Australian, British, and American english.

Parisiens though, they are on a world of their own.

how rigedly are the policies of L'Accadamie Frncais observed in Canada, or by the Parisiens for that matter.

We enjoy the our trip to France even though my lady got bitch slapped for her French. But I must ask, if there are so many different dialects of French, why do we bother learning it? It seems to me that Canada is wasting money if this is the situation. Why not simply impose a law that states each province has the right to decide if it wants a second language...other than french.

They can NWT has 6 or so offical languages. I think 3 European and 3 aborigenal but I'm not sure

I also question how many actual "French" people of natural heritage are left in the province of Quebec. It's true that Quebec has 23% of Canada's population, but immigration there is extremely high. I think the 2006 census can help answer a whole lot of questions that Canada really needs to have answered. I think I'll be writing a few access to information forms later this year and find out. I think 23% is way to high a number these days. I think we should be more realistic and put the officials on the spot about our true second most popular language. I realize there are a few million frnech speaking people, but how many are truly French and how many were forced to give up their true heritage to fit unto the socialist government of Quebec. Perhaps it's time to fire the French Language police and force them to speak and write Farcy! :wink:

As I can see this thread has been hijacked!!!

Want to learn french ? move to a part of the country or the world were thats the main language thats spoken.

Or just get a french girlfriend thats how I learned it.

I would have to agree with you on that Bodah. I spent 6 months learning it. After my course I was sent to the West Coast of Canada where I promptly forgot most of it. A buddy of mine who was on my course with me was sent to Baggotville Quebec where he went from knowing less than I to sounding like he grew up in a french household. He told me that when he started dreaming in French that he figured he was bilingual. I guess the theory of total submersion is right.

I heard that the military spends about 40 million a year to train people to dream in both languages...Imagine how many bullets and airplanes that could buy. In my mind its a waste of money and time. If someone wants to learn the language, send them to whichever language area they want to learn in. My daughter is now in Thailand learning the culture. I'm told that in 11 months she will be capable of speaking and partially capable of writing in Thai. The cost to the tax payers...Zero! The cost to me is about $7,000 and a whole lot of time missing her. :wink:

Due to the nature of my world studies and future travel plans, I need to pick up basic Chinese, Japanese, some Korean, German, Hindi, Arabic, Spanish, and brush up on my French......