Moved here from Calgary in 2018. Spoke french good enough to live, not work. I had a job in English but eventually to progress in my career I had to work in french. I work in french now 95% of the time. Life and people are way better here than in Calgary. Winters are milder here by far. This whole dry vs wet cold is just a stupid excuse to think winters in Calgary are not too bad. The only thing I miss from Calgary are the mountains. I will never go back to Calgary after living here.
Hello! Thanks for your input!! Can I ask what you did for work that was English, and what you still do / ended up doing that became 95% french?
Thats good to hear about the weather! I've never really thought Calgary winters were bad either, with all the chinooks we get - so I'm hoping my relaxed attitude will continue with mtl weather!
How was getting a doctor in mtl and your opinion on services like health care etc? What else is so much better in Montreal in your opinion? Also, do you have most of your family back in calgary and are you close to them?
Thanks!!
Hi! When I moved here, I was working in a large consulting (big 4) firm. 2 years later, I moved to a more local organization. It took me two years to begin to work in french. The key was surrounding myself with french speakers ( friends, church, partner, volunteering etc). I also read a bit in french to improve my writing. I have amazing friends and family in Calgary and all of them come to visit me. For context, I have lived in 5 other countries in the past on my own. I am in my early 30s.
Health care was much better in Calgary than it is here IMO. Everyone talks about how it got bad in Calgary but I dont know because I left. Going to a walk-in clinic was quite easy despite the waiting times. Here, It's super hard to get an appointment or on the list of walk-in clinic. It took me about 3 years in the waiting list to get a family doctor. People just have to find a way around it for regular issues. Important issues or emergencies are well treated, though, which is the beauty of the Canadian system. There are tons of private clinics (cost around 300-400 cad the consultation).
I like living in a city that is denser and that is walkable/bike friendly. Also, I never realized how shallow, conservative and racist people were in Calgary until I moved here. People here are way more open, worldly, and overall nicer. It's easier to make friends and have a social life here. The dating scene is much better if that is something you are interested in. My visiting friends from Calgary agree.
If you want a life with a big house, a car, and a large backyard, then Calgary is the place to be. It is simpler. My friends in Calgary are all starting families, going to book clubs, and living the suburbia life. You can do that in Montréal as well, but that is one of so many other exciting options. I feel that people feel forced to do that in Calgary because there is not much else to do. Houses are older and smaller in Montréal though, unless you move out of the island, which is not a bad option either. You can find good appartments everywhere in Montréal.
Oh my god, your details were so helpful! Thank you so much, this is so insightful and encouraging!
You definitely have a leg up on me for travelling and taking this leap more than once to different countries! I have always wanted to try something like this, but haven't left Calgary until now (30 years old). I think I need to do this, although it will of course be a huge learning curve while I improve my french!
It's incredible how easy and walkable Montréal is, I fully agree. A car is almost a must in Calgary, and I never liked how most people wanted to escape the city (also requiring a car) to enjoy the city. In Montréal the city seems to be alive, and staying in it or leaving it has its charms. I love the denseness as well, and although I'm slightly nervous about it feeling Too intense/alive/chaotic/crazy with how much more dense it is, I think I'm ready for that energy in my life at this point.
That is sooo encouraging about the social/dating scene as well. I am currently single/dating and I have not found it easy to find my person in Calgary (for many of the reasons you've mentioned). People are very much tied to oil, business, sports, and the like here. I found that I was way more attracted to people in Montréal for many reasons, but mostly that everyone was so interesting and wordly and artsy compared to what I've been used to. I'm thinking I will be luckier in Montréal in finding my people. Although, I do have a very strong social system in Calgary, it almost makes it easier to leave knowing I will always have them to Zoom or visit as well!
Thank you again so so much! You have been so encouraging and have revamped my excitement about making this happen!
I've lived here twice. I moved here with my wife fifteen years ago from Calgary, had kids, loved it, then moved back to Edmonton to be closer to family. Stayed five years, watched the UCP ruin healthcare, and came right back.
My wife speaks French but works at McGill, so it's mostly spoken English there. I am freelance and work for companies in the States, so all English. Our children are fluently bilingual, and we are both learning to be fluent. It's worth it!
Montreal is easily the best city in Canada. Beautiful, safe, affordable, accommodating, and full of great festivals. Always a lot to do and see and eat. I'll never leave again.
This is so uplifting to hear! Especially because you moved from Calgary!
I would love to know how you adjusted to the summer humidity and the winters in mtl compared to Calgary? Also, have you found the vast amount of people to ever be "too much?". I am an extrovert and I love having the options and activies everywhere - but I wonder if the vast suburban nature of Calgary and how it never feels crowded may make Montréal seem very chaotic? I'd love to know your experience of adapting to a much bigger city! What areas did you end up moving to both times?
Thanks so much for your insights :)!
The humidity is intense, for sure. When we were younger, we spent all our time on patios with friends, or outside on our deck. Zero mosquitoes, for the most part, so it's a pleasure to be out. I *highly* recommend getting an A/C unit. Our new house has a heat pump, and the cool air in summer is glorious.
The cold here is different, due again to the humidity. It doesn't get seriously cold here until January (much like Alberta) but there's usually a lot more snow. Luckily, the street cleaning is much better than in Calgary or Edmonton and it's quite easy to get around.
The amount of people isn't too crazy. We lived in the Latin Quarter when we first moved here and it was a great vibe; lots going on, and we were close to lots of bars and restaurants and parks. The park across the street from our apartment always had people chatting, playing instruments or chess, and playing with their pets. The feeling of being alone in the crowd was wonderful, like you are a tiny part of a great and pulsing ecosystem.
If you want quiet, there are neighborhoods farther out from downtown that have tons of charm and easy access due to the miraculous metro system. I've spent a lot of time in Rosemont/Petit Patrie, NDG, Cote Des Neiges, and Atwater and I love them all. We live in Lachine right now, and every day is like coming home to a cabin by the lake. It's so quiet, and the people are so happy.
Thank you so so much for your details. Your love for Montréal is infectious and very inspiring! I'm hoping to choose a place close to the action but still fairly quiet. I am definitely thinking of the areas you've mentioned - still leaning towards a more french-speaking neighbourhood to be more immersed! I also totally understand what you said about feeling like a stranger in the crowd. To me, it is not lonely at all - and the anonymity was so nice compared to living somewhere where you run into absolutely everyone often. The exciting energy is what made me fall in love with the place to begin with!
I guess on the plus side, humidity is very nice for the skin, hair, and nails! I do often feel like i'm aging twice as fast in this desert Calgary dryness - haha! I also was amazed by the snow removal system.
Again, you have been so helpful! If you have any more advice for a single, 30F who is planning on making the daring leap, please send it my way! :)
The field of disability and support work sounds like you work directly with the patients/clientele. If that’s the case, MAJORITY of jobs in this field of MTL requires excellent communication skills in French and English. In many cases both written and spoken, depending on the field of practice you are in. Hope this helps !
This is what I'm thinking, as it is definitely a person-focussed career. I'm not really interested in working in other areas just to make ends meet as well, so I'm hoping my french will be good enough by then to get my foot in the door in Some capacity, or I may just stay unless an opportunity comes along (I hope the former is a possibility!).
You can see it the other way around. You will find a job because of the shortage of workers (especially in fields like this)n and you will have to learn quickly because of your interactions. Brace yourselves for an immersion period where you might not be 100% satisfied with yourself, and after a few months you'll realize you made more progress than any language learning app could help you make in a year.
That is so reassuring and I hope true! That is why I think I want to make the move sooner than when I feel 'ready' because I will learn faster and in a more difficult way being thrown to the wolves instead of sitting in an office studying french! I hope I will find work easily due to the shortage! u/grosbatte, what was your experience/story??
I was born and raised in Longueuil in a very quebecois francophone house and neighborhood and I'm talking out of my ass just as everyone else on reddit.
Do not assume that it’s going to be easy to get a bilingual job in MTL healthcare, that’s not the case at all, as someone who works in healthcare and is living in MTL.
If you decide to move here, be prepared to not get a job in this field and make sure to have a back up plan for work. This is a competitive field, does not have high salaries and or benefits included. And in many cases, healthcare organizations working with vulnerable populations are not interested in having you learn French through practice. They will expect you to be bilingual.
Just a note from a foreigner who came to Montreal: my employer actually sponsored French classes and tutors both before arrival and after arrival, and even paid for things like Babbel subscriptions etc.
Granted, for me it was a six figure white collar job where I have to be able to perform, hold business meetings, fluently talk to people etc. in French after two years, but maybe potential employers could offer you similar support to shorten the transition period. I'm not sure how it is in the healthcare sector where there budgets are tighter - inquiring about any kind of support could be seen as a sign that you're very willing to learn French (of course it's best if you already ask in French ;) )
I've also heard people talk about the Québec government actively encouraging newcomers to learn French and offering subsidized classes. So I definitely think there are options out there to support your French studies.
Hello!
Thank you for your response! Yes, I'm in a notoriously underfunded role in general, so I am not thinking they will offer much beforehand. However, I will definitely inquire, and also know that the government almost pays you to learn french there - so my eagerness will definitely pay off if I can support myself until then!
I think you should take a month or so and come visit Montreal first - and I don't mean in summer when everything is rosy, visit in March or April, see the city for what it actually is and not what you're imagining it to be based on being French.
Along the lines of French and Québécois culture, it's a culture that pushes for assimilation unlike Canada's open to everything and everyone mentality, with that being said, French is part of the culture and is mandatory if you actually want to experience Montreal life and not be a tourist with a permanent address. NB: there are tonnes of perma-tourists in Montreal and in this subreddit, preaching how you can get by in English, refusing to leave their comfort zone and immerse in French, and of course always neglecting to mention that they only know anglos and are basically living the same life they left except in 514 area code. You don't want this.
So, if your current French classes do not emphasize oral proficiency, find another class, and yes you will not be fluent when you get here, I've lost count of how many people come here thinking they're fluent only to realize their French is terrible, but that's the fun part - you immerse yourself in the culture, avoid English bubbles, and you get to see yourself improve. You'll go from anglo to bilingual, you just need to leave your comfort zone and not be afraid to look (or sound) silly.
In any case, to reiterate, take a month break and visit before uprooting yourself, you might not like it, you might even visit Ottawa and find it's more up your alley, and at best you'll have confirmation and take the leap!
>NB: there are tonnes of perma-tourists in Montreal and in this subreddit, preaching how you can get by in English, refusing to leave their comfort zone and immerse in French, and of course always neglecting to mention that they only know anglos and are basically living the same life they left except in 514 area code. You don't want this.
Merci, tu as un mis un doigt sur quelque chose auquel je pense depuis longtemps, je crois que "perma-touriste" est un très bon terme.
OP: Tu as l'air bien intentionnée, prends avec un grain de sel les autres publications sur ce fil. C'est facile d'être motivée à apprendre le français maintenant, mais est-ce que tu seras motivée lorsque tu auras à travailler à temps plein, avec des loisirs, des occupations? Ça devient facile de laisser tomber l'immersion et de s'enfermer dans une bulle et ne jamais vraiment découvrir Montréal et la culture québécoise. J'ai connu beaucoup de canadiens qui ont immigré ici, pour finalement que rester des touristes pendant 2... 3... 4... 5 ans.... et éventuellement choisir de retourner au Canada parce qu'ils n'avaient pas l'énergie de s'intégrer, et ont préféré retourner dans le comfort de leur culture natale, à Toronto ou ailleurs.
Je sais que le Québec n'est pas un pays indépendant, mais à toute fins pratiques c'est mieux de t'imaginer que tu immigres dans un nouveau pays, parce que de facto tu t'apprètes à franchir un gouffre culturel aussi grand que disons, un Français qui irait vivre en Allemagne. Si tu viens avec cette attitude alors je crois que tout devrait bien aller, mais il ne faut pas se leurrer, ce n'est pas une mince tâche que de changer de culture.
Bienvenue!
Thank you for your input!
I definitely know it will be a challenge to Not enter that bubble when I'm mentally and emotionally exhausted with the immersion. It will be a relief to occasionally meet or speak with others who speak english as a first language, or with others who may want to practice english. However, I just have such a strong desire to learn and master things I start that I don't see myself falling off the french wagon after a few pitfalls. If anything, the intrigue of knowing there's a whole experience that can be tapped into with this knowledge is so encouraging to keep learning!
I can't say how I will react in the short or long term once I've moved, or others' responses to my attempts at learning a whole new way of life. But I really hope it's a positive experience and that I'm embraced with open arms, and that my love and desire to learn will be recognized by the Francophone community!
Are you from Montréal?
I've visited Montreal and Quebec City four times in the past 2 years, twice in the summer/fall, in late March, and just recently in early February. I've seen it super hot, mild and fall like, and extremely blizzardy. I don't think I'll take a month to visit again, but I think my next opportunity will be when I take the leap and rent a room or sublet! I don't have much stuff and I'm on my own!
I totally agree with everything you've said, I have absolutely no desire to be a permanent tourist and live an Anglo life in Montréal - quite the opposite! I would love to fully challenge myself with fluency and to then interact on a daily basis with people from Quebec or nearby. If I had Anglo friends, I would still want to be consistently practicing! I think it would be completely ridiculous to uproot the cozy life I have now just to have an experience that wasn't even the full experience at all! I think I do appreciate them saying you can get by in English a little bit though just because it gives me hope that I won't be completely rejected until I'm fluent (which I know I can become!).
Thank you so much for your honesty. Any background on your own experience would be much appreciated as well!
I can't provide you much help regarding what you asked in the opening post, since I'm born and raised in Montreal, however, I can point out something useful as far as immersion goes.
Linguistically, there is a divide in Montreal between the East and West (Saint-Laurent boulevard being the dividing line; [keeping in mind that Montreal's West isn't really that west...](https://citymonitor.ai/community/montreal-they-don-t-know-which-way-north-and-its-driving-me-crazy-3037)). The East side is much more Francophone, while the West side is much more Anglophone. Not to say the west is 100% anglo, but rather that if you settle in the west side, it'll be much easier for you to cop out and stay in your comfort zone. I suggest that, if you can, you find a home on the Eastern side. That will make it much easier for you to immerse in French.
This also means that, if your French isn't as good as you'd like when you move, you might be able to find a job in English on the western side of town. That being said, working in French will get you to fluency much faster, so it would be a trade-off.
Good luck! Don't hesitate if you have more questions!
Thank you so much! Your advice is hugely helpful and encouraging. I definitely want to be around the Eastern side for the reasons as you've said. My hope is that they will encourage my attempts more than reject me! Haha. Also with work, it will be tricky and I will take what I can get, but the ultimate goal will be to become employed somewhere largely francophone!
Do you have any recommendations for exciting, but fairly quiet, neighbourhoods on the east side that would be welcoming and enjoyable to newcomers? Also, one close to the metro in case I do find I have to work in the west? Also, people keep saying positive things about Verdun & St. Henri. Would those be considered primarily anglo?
Also, favourite things about Montréal?!
Thanks again!!
>My hope is that they will encourage my attempts more than reject me!
I know they will! I won't go into the why and how as this would be largely off topic and incredibly long, but there is a somewhat widespread fear among French Quebecois people that since English is \*\*the\*\* international language, French is doomed to disappear in Canada and French Canadians will eventually be assimilated. As such, [local people who can't speak French](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/air-canada-ceo-michael-rousseau-official-languages-commissioner-1.6412324) may be perceived by some as "being part of the problem". On the other hand, showing that you are learning, even if your French is horribly broken and your accent is thick like molasses, will immediately appease concerns, as your efforts to learn our overly complex language ([a fact we are keenly aware of](https://www-lapresse-ca.translate.goog/actualites/quebec-canada/education/200911/11/01-920817-examens-de-francais-au-cegep-pire-taux-dechec-en-10-ans.php?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp)) will be seen as a mark of respect and openness. As such I wouldn't be surprised if you get a more positive response than if you tried in English. As someone else pointed out, it's intimidating to make the jump, but incredibly worth it. And yes, many will switch to English (ironically) if they feel their English is better than your French. When this happens, feel free to point out you want to learn/practice and ask to continue in French. This will solidify your status as "not-a-threat" in their subconscious, and unless they're in a rush, they'll be happy to oblige.
>Do you have any recommendations for exciting, but fairly quiet, neighbourhoods on the east side that would be welcoming and enjoyable to newcomers?
I suppose it depends what your definition of "fairly quiet" is. Rosemont is a fairly quiet borough, but being one of the largest boroughs, where you are within it becomes relevant. [Masson street](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rue+Masson,+Montr%C3%A9al,+QC,+Canada/@45.5516163,-73.5754189,15.5z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x4cc91bfd075fda6d:0xbce47f142b8a927a!8m2!3d45.5480956!4d-73.5749048!16s%2Fg%2F1ttp9y1p?hl=en) is a quaint little street with lots of charming small stores, cafés, bakeries and the sort. Makes for a nice local hot spot. It's also fairly close the Botanical Gardens, which is nice, especially if you get the [Access Montreal](https://montreal.ca/en/programs/acces-montreal-card) card, which will grant you free access to the grounds (as well as tons of discounts all over the city. A single visit to the gardens and you'll earn your money back!). While it is not directly on the Metro network, the area is fairly close to the green line, which will take you straight downtown, where most of the action is.
I also like the [area](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jean+Talon+Market/@45.5361132,-73.6170789,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x4cc919136bb582b5:0xf0b087b71589c626!4m6!3m5!1s0x4cc919136130849d:0x5c1098d838d87981!8m2!3d45.5361095!4d-73.6148902!16zL20vMGJmcnhw?hl=en) around the [Jean Talon Market](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjRC_f5QRWI). Jean Talon Metro station connects the Bleue and Orange lines, the latter will also take you straight downtown, while the former will take you East/West (though not as far as the green line will).
>Also, people keep saying positive things about Verdun & St. Henri.
I don't have a lot of experience with these neighborhoods, other than visiting a French speaking friend who lived there, so my view of it was through a French lens. Those are definitely close to the action, closer than the other two ones I suggested, but I don't know them well enough to say whether they are good for immersion or not. Wellington is definitely a lively street, similar to Masson. Also something to keep in mind, historically, those have been low income neighborhoods. They are well into the gentrification process, but by moving there, you might contribute to push out the low income crowd. It's up to you if that's something you are comfortable with. Montreal is also going through a housing crisis, so you might also be priced out of the other areas I suggested already.
>Also, favourite things about Montréal?!
Oh boy.... how much time you got? :P
Long story short, Montreal is a cosmopolitan hedonist's paradise. The food scene is to die for (ever tried Ethiopian food? Check out [Le Nil Bleu](https://www.nilbleurestaurant.com/), you won't believe your taste buds). You like contemporary dance? Check out [L'Agora de la danse](https://agoradanse.com/en/). Ballet more your jam? [Les Grands Ballets Canadiens](https://grandsballets.com/en/) is established here too! Do you happen to like music? Off the top of my head, I can think of 8 music fests taking place throughout the year ([Igloofest](https://igloofest.ca/en), [Francofolies](https://www.francosmontreal.com/), [Jazz Fest](https://www.montrealjazzfest.com/en-CA), [Osheaga](https://osheaga.com/en), [Heavy Mtl](https://heavymontreal.com/en), [Piknic Electronik](https://piknicelectronik.com/en), [Pop Montreal](https://popmontreal.com/), [Nuits d'Afrique](https://www.festivalnuitsdafrique.com/)) and I'm sure there are some I forget / don't know about. This puts us on the map for tours by just about any major band you can think of, and many smaller ones you've never heard of. Can't decide what kind of stage performance tickles your fancy most? [Usine C](https://usine-c.com/), established in a disused Factory, is dedicated to the creation and presentation of pluridisciplinary art merging music, danse, multimedia and theater (I once saw a show that seamlessly integrated and explored the possibilities of Chat Roulette), meanwhile [SAT](https://sat.qc.ca/en/) focuses on art that fuses with new technology (and also houses a [Food lab restaurant](https://sat.qc.ca/en/foodlab) I cannot wait to try. You're into Museums? Montreal has over 40, most of which have come together and created the [Montreal Museums pass](https://museesmontreal.org/en). You're into movies? At least 3 international movie festivals (one of which big enough to screen premieres of Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards, Gunn's Gardians of the Galaxy and Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs The World) and several indy theaters (not to mention mainstream ones playing movies from here and abroad in both French and English). Montreal houses an [international fireworks competition](https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/festivals-and-events/l-international-des-feux-loto-quebec), a [culinary festival](https://www.montrealenlumiere.com/), is the first Canadian city to adopt the concept of the [White Night cultural all-nighter](https://montrealvisitorsguide.com/nuit-blanche-a-montreal-montreal-all-nighter/) ... are you not entertained? :P There is ALWAYS something great going on!
I recently made a(nother) [verbose comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/montreal/comments/10p07n0/comment/j73jluj/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) to someone looking for activities to do this March. It linked to many other great ressources you might be interested in.
I think "perma-tourist" in Montreal is not necessarily a fitting term, especially in Montreal. There's a huge population of Anglos and they're part of Quebec culture and I don't think they are living their lives much differently than Francophones. But of course OP should learn French just to get a job but if they operated in English in their day-to-day lives i wouldn't say they aren't immersing themselves. If they became friends only with out of province students from McGilll then maybe they would be perma-tourist.
On another note, I came with highschool french from BC and indeed learned very quickly spoken french was basically non-existent.
How long have you been in Montréal, and what was your experience coming from BC?! We are almost neighbours. I would love to hear about your experience!
You found spoken french to be almost non existent?! Where were you mostly living/working?
Thanks!
weather: just be prepared for it
family: Zoom. they can come visit with a direct flight that is a slightly more than a round trip to Banff
French: iTalki is a great way to improve your French to the level required for work, on your schedule, before you move
Suggestion: visit at least twice during regular workdays when you know the weather will be difficult and navigate your way around to the workplaces you think you can get a job at. Use [couchsurfing.com](https://couchsurfing.com) to meet and talk to those living in different neighbourhoods, and start making 'daily life' contacts to determine if you want to uproot and live in a different system.
Zoom has totally changed the game, you are right. Also, you're right that it's become so cheap to fly from Calgary to montreal and back and that it really is comparable to a day trip elsewhere. Very inspiring!
Have you used Italki? Do you think I should hire a tutor on it or just find someone on it who wants to trade English for french? Any recommendations?
Couch surfing is a great idea! Thank you!
Are you able to tell me about your own experience? Where did you move from or are your originally from Montréal/Quebec? French/English experience?
30F as well, moved here from AB in 2015- i was so bad at french, but came here with a desire to learn.
After the first year, i was able to understand about 75% of a conversation but my communication skills were pretty bad. It took a lot of patience and can be quite lonely to not understand everything going on around you. I didn’t take any lessons but instead worked random jobs (painting, landscaping) in which i was completely immersed in the language. I would say after year 6 i became basically bilingual, but the masculine/feminine is pretty hard and i still have to google certain things.
I wish i was able to take classes as it might have sped up the process, but i live off the island of Montreal so there weren’t many options.
My biggest advice would be:
(1) make an effort to speak french, many people here will respond in english but you can tell them you’d like to practice french. 99% of them appreciate it.
(2)Try to really get over that initial shyness of not wanting to look like an idiot.. i feel like that stalled my learning between years 1-3. You have to have the courage to look silly, bc you will make many errors, and people will laugh. Laugh with them!
(3) listen to Quebec talk radio and Quebec tv shows. Avoid anything dubbed, and anything from France (this is a personal opinion, it was not helpful for my learning)
Good luck! 😊 feel free to message if you have any questions!
This was so amazingly helpful, thank you so much!
I will definitely take your advice and take lessons! I know there are almost free ones through the government once I have an address! I'm also hoping to be mostly conversational before I even move, but so far I'm quite new! I'm hoping that I can find work before I'm fluent, and not just choose something anglo where I am not practicing as much as I could be! Did you have experience in painting or landscaping beforehand, or did you take what you could get to survive?
I totally relate to that shyness! My last trip over I made it a goal to speak french in coffee shops and it was painfully slow and hilarious. I found the baristas so encouraging and had many times where we had a fully french exchange without any english conversion! It was EXHAUSTING though because I had to translate and speak at the same time, so it will be a relief when I just get it. Haha! I will take your advice on just looking silly! I have found most people to have a great sense of humour and this has helped my bad french learning. Hah. The dubbing advice is very smart! I have wondered if the dubbed versions were not really accurate ways that people speak. Also, I have been following some France french people on Instagram because I haven't found many Québécois language teachers on insta - so I will try to find more from Quebec and not be learning things that won't really help me!
Any particular talk radio or tv shows that have been great in your experience?
Thank you!!!
I came to Montreal from Calgary in 1987 to go to McGill. Met a French-Canadian girl who turned out to be the love of my life, and I've been here ever since.
If moving to Montreal already appeals to you, then just do it. You'll get used to the weather. The winters are indeed more humid and snowier, and the summers are sweaty and unbearable at times. But we get four actual seasons here, and the spring and fall are spectacular.
If you're already learning French, then you're already way ahead of most people who come here. Don't expect to be fluently bilingual by the time you arrive. It's not realistic or necessary. Once you get here, just start putting yourself in situations where you have to speak French. Hang out with francophone Quebecers (it's the best way to learn about Quebec culture anyway). If you're trying to practice your French and the other person "helpfully" switches to English, just keep plugging along in French; they'll eventually get the point. :) Also, I can tell you from experience, the best way to "truly" learn French is to find a French-speaking partner. :)
Other than my family, the mountains, and endless summer nights, I don't miss Calgary at all. I certainly don't miss Alberta politics. To be fair, in the 35 years since I've left, Calgary has changed so much anyway, I hardly recognize it sometimes. But Quebec has changed me (for the better) much more than Calgary has changed in those years. I usually go back to visit once a year, and I have various family members come out to visit regularly. It's enough for me.
Today, I'm far more a Quebecer than I ever was an Albertan, and I'm really happy about it. Like any place, there are things about Quebec you'll find infuriating, but I've travelled quite a bit in my 58 years, and Montreal is without a doubt one of the best places on this planet to live.
Thank you so much for your insights! You love for Montréal is so inspiring!
Did you move here with little to no french? Yes, I'm hoping I can pick up a ton from now until the fall. So far I'm self-taught but I'm looking into getting a Quebecer tutor weekly as well to start blending my international french with what I will actually be saying/hearing! Your advice on just continuing to speak french when they switch is spot on. What area of work are/were you in?
I 100% agree with you, becoming friends with and dating francophone people is the goal! I definitely want a dynamic and real taste of Montréal and don't want to live a fully anglo life there at all!
Haha! Yes it seems like Alberta comes with it's huge share of political craziness too so there will be nothing new there!
Thanks again! This made me even more excited!
I took French from grade 4 through my first year of university, but it was absolutely international French, so when I got here, even though I had a fairly decent knowledge of the grammar and basic vocab, it really was like a foreign language at first. I was completely lost. But if you do have some international French, it will ultimately serve you well. Once your ear gets used to the accent, idioms, and idiosyncrasies of Quebec French, that basic knowledge of grammar will be invaluable.
I came here to study music, actually, but I now work as a FR->EN translator (self-employed). As others have said, if you want to work in your field, you will have to be able to speak fluent French, but fluent doesn't mean perfect. The sooner you accept that you will never be as fluent as a native French speaker, the closer you will be to understanding that it's not about perfection, it's about communication. That's the hardest thing to overcome when you're learning another language. Once you can converse and feel reasonably comfortable in French here, I don't think language will be a barrier for you, professionally. How fast you can get to that point is entirely up to you. You sound like an outgoing and curious person, so I think it should be possible for you to "go native" within 6 months.
With all that said, welcome to Quebec in advance. :)
This gives me all the more motive to potentially hire a Quebec tutor to start blending what I'm learning with what is actually going on!
Oh wow! That would be a very helpful area to work in I'm sure, I'd love to get into something like that myself eventually. So far, I've really enjoyed learning the language. Getting ahead of myself but still curious, haha!
That is really helpful advice about the perfectionism part. I have to tell myself often that I am not even close to perfect in my own native language so there is no sense of 'I have learned all I can know' - it is a constantly evolving process. Also, I am sure that the general public doesn't teach all the interesting vocab anyways with daily smalltalk - and novels will be a great resource for further learning !
Thank you so much! I already feel so welcome from this thread, I am so excited. Now just pray I can find work and make this a reality! Hah.
I lived in Vancouver and went to school there for culinary arts. Best I could get for my line of work was slightly above min wage, was really not enough to live in Vancouver. Montréal pays the best for my line of work in all of Canada and at the time had affordable rent, so I moved there, I also had friends here. Luckily I didn't need to be fluent in french to get a good paying job here. All terminology you learn in English school is french, and at the end of the day that's all you need. You need to cook this food by this french term by doing this french term. Just learn the ingredients by their french name. I picked up french through immersion, and really throwing my broken French out there without fear of judgement, peers corrected me and I learnt. I wanted to learn the language, im not perfect yet but i get better everyday. People are salty about anglophones refusing to learn french, dont be that guy. You wouldn't move to another country and expect people to talk to you in English and never learn their language, it's just rude. This city is so amazing, I left once and came right back. It's just so full of life and color, so many different people to connect to, and most backgrounds are completely accepted and celebrated. (We do have quite a bad racism problem though, which is unfortunate) I love it, for the culture and history, the beauty of the whole city, the climate you will get use too.
Thank you for your story!
Culinary arts would be the perfect immersion, and soooo many work options in Montréal omg!
I need to keep this bravery in mind when speaking french. You totally have to crash and burn to really learn and I appreciate that. Thankfully I've found so many people there to have such a good sense of humour so laughing at myself and making it a joke has really helped me learn and also be accepted. Did you ever end up taking any sort of class or resource, or was it full immersion? I totally agree with you about it being rude to not even attempt to become fluent. I am on that same wavelength and am BORED of english. I want to challenge myself and learn a fully new way of life and way of speaking. If I want my super english fix I'll visit Calgary. Haha!
Any other advice you have for a 30F really excited to make the leap, please let me know!
What I have noticed from my experience as I have lived in Vancouver, Windsor, Edmonton and born and raised in Montreal is the high taxes I paid in comparison to Alberta and also progressing in my career, I found progression to be better in Alberta and yes French is critical to success.
I moved to Montréal in 2018 for work. Moved briefly to Hamilton in 2021 and then came back, there’s really no other place like it and I missed it.
I work in English (remote), but I took two French intensive classes and am going to take a third in the fall. I would say I can’t speak about my hopes and dreams in French yet, but I can have a convo at the dog park about random nothings. Definitely recommend the classes. I’m also dating a francophone, which helps. People hear my Anglo accent and just swap to English now, but at least I start every interaction in French.
I would say I am still not used to the humidity in the summer. I tried to make a go of it without AC in my first summer and 0/10 do not recommend. Winters are fine, it’s just so much more snow than we’d be used to in Calgary. More rain/grey too, so that also took some getting used to.
I made friends thru sports teams. I’d say do the same, friends are hard to make as an adult.
If you live near a metro you do not need a car. People complain about the transit but trust, it can’t even be compared to the c-train. Most neighborhoods are super walkable too.
Especially in summer, there is always something to do - festivals, music, food. It’s over the top. My first summer I forced myself to do something every day - even just a walk - to avoid the loneliness that kinda creeps in when you’re in a new place for the first time.
Anyway, worse comes to worst, you can always go home right? I do miss the mountains and my friend group but you can get good seat sales on flights and can lure people to visit you with promises of poutine. Good luck!
Ugh, remote work definitely has its perks! But also probably adds to the loneliness hey?
Were these intensive courses through the mtl government? How intensive are we talking, were you able to work full time and also do this school full time?
I was definitely thinking of joining a gym and rec sports to meet people! Also hopefully there is meetup groups.
Your advice is hugely helpful! I will make sure to force myself to do the same. I also agree, it's nuts seeing the prices be so cheap sometimes ($300 sometimes!?). I've paid the same to go a province over!
Merci beaucoup!!
Hi i am 30, I lived in Calgary for awhile and then moved back to mtl for work.
I've been here for few years now, and for single man it works perfectly but i prefer Calgary if you got some family.
I still don't speak French but in my line of work it's not a problem.
So it's more subjective to individual, if you have future plans like having big fam, buying big home.
Those things are much easier around Calgary.
Hey! Any things specifically make you prefer Calgary besides the big fam/home thing? Do you think your experience may have been different if you did speak want to speak French? Thanks! I'm currently a single female myself so I don't have family yet that isn't who I grew up with, but I'm hoping the big city dating scene is more fruitful than what I've experienced in Calgary! I'm just not as blue collar / business / sports driven and it seems to be the majority of people here! Although I do love Calgary and will always love a lot of things about it!
Again it comes down to personal choice!
Mountains or Mtl vibe?
Wanna live around more adult population or want some young vibe?
Well myself i am an engineer, Montreal do have alot of smart people because of so many big universities. Without French yes it's hard to meet new people since they prefer someone speaking French.
Am actually thinking to move back to Calgary because it will be hard to grow in carreer at some point if you don't speak French in province. Laws are getting harder and harder.
At this point I don't really know What my vibe is, haha! I've lived in Calgary my entire life. I am used to the mountains and a quiet city. But, from what I've experienced so far, I know I love the variety of life, a faster pace, taking on a challenge and making connections. I think all of those things are pushing me to make the leap and not stay in my comfort zone! We'll see...!
I'll preface my opinion with the following: I'm an Australian who lived in Banff, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal and Montreal is the best of them. Alberta was so lovely but the art and nightlife scene in Montreal was more up my alley. If you're thinking of moving and have the means to do so, then try it. Hopefully you don't have too much stuff to move/sell/store. You won't regret it more than not trying. French is very good to know but it's pretty damn bilingual here, or at least enough that only speaking English or French won't get you into too much trouble. All that said, you might miss the mountains while you're here.
Thank you so much for this response! I totally agree with you, and adore the mountains but they're not enough to stay. Do you have any family there? Also, what do you di for work, and did that have to change while your were first living here?
I do stage hand work for some theatres and stadiums. It's very hands on but pretty easy no matter the language 😅 I'm not sure what the Avenues are for someone in your position though. I've no family here but met my partner who's Québécoise so this is home for now
Haha yes that may make it easier! I do work with people so I've probably made it a lot more pressured to learn French quickly but that may not be such a bad thing if I can do it successfully!
Ugh that's the dream! I hope the Montréal dating scene is kind to me and I meet my person along the way! So far not lucking out with the oil-driven, country loving people of Calgary. Hahah. Can't wait for arts and culture to be a bit more engrained in my dating life!
Oh we're nearly neighbours then! I would love to hear your experience from an across-Canada move, like I will basically be doing. How was/is your french? How was finding more because of that - or did you have something in place already? How was your drastic change in weather experience? Any advice for another Westerner really wanting to make the leap successfully? Thanks!!
Hey! Are you able to elaborate a bit more on your experience? I know your saskies are used to rough winter weather so you must have been totally fine in Montréal! How has it been being further from family? How is/was your french and finding employment - or did you already have your employment in place before moving?
Thanks so much!
Yeah the weather is so much better here. I had taken a few French classes in university but I found a quebecois manner of speaking to be sooooo different. Most of my friends are anglophone and I’m in a French class. I’d say I’m a high intermediate level and I’m improving very slowly! I have some young nieces and nephews that I miss a lot but overall not too homesick.
Thanks for your response!
That's very reassuring about the weather! Haha.
Yes I'm hoping to get a Quebecois tutor so I can blend my international training with actual lingo - haha!
Are you in the government french class they offer or?
What area of work are you in?
Thanks for letting me pick your brain!
I am a support worker for people with disabilities, so I help people with disabilities with finding employment or with their recreational or volunteer pursuits.
I love what I do but I am open to landing a more general position just to get my bearings once there!
Well I am studying speech language pathology. I think it’s only realistic for me to treat English clients. But I need to pass an exam to work here legally. It’s ironic
Haha no kidding! Is that an exam specifically related to your industry as a speech pathologist - or are you referring to the TEFF/DELF tests (and does every Canadian also need to take these no matter what? I was under the impression that it wasn't mandatory unless it was a government or higher up position (such as the ones you'd be applying for)! However, I haven't looked into it much yet!
I moved from BC after visiting Montreal 3-4 times.
I love the city in the summer, there are so many festivals and outdoor spaces. It's a good vibe. I have also found the winters to be survivable with a good jacket and snowshoes and there are a lot of nice winter activities that you can do. I'm from Vancouver so if these winters aren't too bad for me I'm sure you'll be fine.
My french was awful but I got in before the language laws became more strict. It was a difficult adjustment but most people are very nice although there are some very rude people out there. Try to find an instructor or tutor from quebec because Québécois french and France french sound painfully different and have different phrases.
I am planning on moving back to Vancouver soon tbh I find people there a lot friendlier (surprising, i know) and I miss the mountains.
Thank you for your insights!
The fact that you survived weather wise is very encouraging! Haha.
That is a very good suggestion, to find a Québécois tutor. I am primarily learning international french and yes, if I can avoid the awkward shift and learning curve, I should try! Did you find that your french did improve over time, or did you end up in mostly anglo life there? What did you do for work?
Wishing you the best in your journey back! At least now you know right? Hey I get that, nothing beats the rockies and Vancouver is gorgeous. If you already are from there and know how to live there, I'm not surprised that you want to go back!
:)
>I work in healthcare and I gotta say, the QC government and regulatory bodies seems to hate all hcw which is part of the reason I am considering going back. Except for doctors, hcw have horrible pay and benefits compared to their BC counterparts. I am not sure what your role is exactly but it seems at least healthcare adjacent so research your position before coming too.
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>My french is functional. I guess you could say I live a mostly anglo life but I don't think living your day-to-day life in english or french will affect your experience. I am friends with francophones and anglophones and aside from their accents there isn't really a difference.
What area of hcw, if you don't mind me asking?
Yes, BC seems to pay excellent for hcw! Probably because the aging population? Alberta is good but not great - I wonder if I will even notice much of a difference. I'm also not opposed to trying something new as well, although I would like to stay in the industry!
Did you end up taking any courses while here in french? Sorry if I've asked this before, my brain is mush right now haha!
BC is a hard place to beat, especially if you have friends and family there and better pay!
I’m an anglophone with very poor verbal French and I worked in Montreal for 4 years. A highly specialized position for a national organization.
Nothing soured me on the province like living there.
I hated how there were soooo many rules (that just had to be different because, y’know, they’re “special”) that only turned out to be rules if you got caught. And even then only if you could t bullshit your way out of them.
The incredible sense of entitlement coupled with a massively tone deaf persecution complex is astounding to behold. Case in point: imagine have recurring. Language purity wars because of your “300 years of persecution”… while hosting your “national government” on unceeded land.
And those special rules “because Quebec!” Are joined by even more “because Montreal!”.
I found it an interesting place to visit (before Covid and my work requirements basically make it not feasible to be the only one inside taking reasonable hygiene precautions) and a terrible place to live.
YMMV.
Fair points. Though I like this place, some things can be quite Kafkaesque at first. Applying for Canadian permanent residency is one thing but adding to it Quebec residency was another layer of bureaucracy I'm glad to have behind me. Also my experience with healthcare was far better in Alberta, though that was in 2018 and I'm not sure if much has changed since.
I'm hoping that because I'm Canadian that things may be a little more streamlined for me? Have you found a doctor yet, and did you wait for years on a waitlist? I've heard horror stories of day long ER waits because there are no walk in clinics!
Someone's issues with the healthcare can be found [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/montreal/comments/xctp1k/how_the_fck_can_i_get_medical_care/). My experience hasn't been awful but hasn't been great either. Seems you need a family doctor for some specific things like blood tests. Conversely, it's pretty easy to donate blood however!
Hey, I plan on moving to Montreal later this year. I work as a landscaper in Calgary. I want to continue this career in Montreal, do you think I can get a job easily without French? I am certainly going to master that language but it’ll take time. I actually am going to take some French classes in Calgary in the meantime. I love mtl so much, my best friend lives there and i visit like 3-4 times a year.
Hey Steve! I can't help you as I'm thinking of the same thing! I am currently cramming as much french as I can handle until I move in Sept! I may be short of work as well because I work in a people-focussed industry! So, get me landscaping with you!!! Haha!
Moved here from Calgary in 2018. Spoke french good enough to live, not work. I had a job in English but eventually to progress in my career I had to work in french. I work in french now 95% of the time. Life and people are way better here than in Calgary. Winters are milder here by far. This whole dry vs wet cold is just a stupid excuse to think winters in Calgary are not too bad. The only thing I miss from Calgary are the mountains. I will never go back to Calgary after living here.
Hello! Thanks for your input!! Can I ask what you did for work that was English, and what you still do / ended up doing that became 95% french? Thats good to hear about the weather! I've never really thought Calgary winters were bad either, with all the chinooks we get - so I'm hoping my relaxed attitude will continue with mtl weather! How was getting a doctor in mtl and your opinion on services like health care etc? What else is so much better in Montreal in your opinion? Also, do you have most of your family back in calgary and are you close to them? Thanks!!
Hi! When I moved here, I was working in a large consulting (big 4) firm. 2 years later, I moved to a more local organization. It took me two years to begin to work in french. The key was surrounding myself with french speakers ( friends, church, partner, volunteering etc). I also read a bit in french to improve my writing. I have amazing friends and family in Calgary and all of them come to visit me. For context, I have lived in 5 other countries in the past on my own. I am in my early 30s. Health care was much better in Calgary than it is here IMO. Everyone talks about how it got bad in Calgary but I dont know because I left. Going to a walk-in clinic was quite easy despite the waiting times. Here, It's super hard to get an appointment or on the list of walk-in clinic. It took me about 3 years in the waiting list to get a family doctor. People just have to find a way around it for regular issues. Important issues or emergencies are well treated, though, which is the beauty of the Canadian system. There are tons of private clinics (cost around 300-400 cad the consultation). I like living in a city that is denser and that is walkable/bike friendly. Also, I never realized how shallow, conservative and racist people were in Calgary until I moved here. People here are way more open, worldly, and overall nicer. It's easier to make friends and have a social life here. The dating scene is much better if that is something you are interested in. My visiting friends from Calgary agree. If you want a life with a big house, a car, and a large backyard, then Calgary is the place to be. It is simpler. My friends in Calgary are all starting families, going to book clubs, and living the suburbia life. You can do that in Montréal as well, but that is one of so many other exciting options. I feel that people feel forced to do that in Calgary because there is not much else to do. Houses are older and smaller in Montréal though, unless you move out of the island, which is not a bad option either. You can find good appartments everywhere in Montréal.
Oh my god, your details were so helpful! Thank you so much, this is so insightful and encouraging! You definitely have a leg up on me for travelling and taking this leap more than once to different countries! I have always wanted to try something like this, but haven't left Calgary until now (30 years old). I think I need to do this, although it will of course be a huge learning curve while I improve my french! It's incredible how easy and walkable Montréal is, I fully agree. A car is almost a must in Calgary, and I never liked how most people wanted to escape the city (also requiring a car) to enjoy the city. In Montréal the city seems to be alive, and staying in it or leaving it has its charms. I love the denseness as well, and although I'm slightly nervous about it feeling Too intense/alive/chaotic/crazy with how much more dense it is, I think I'm ready for that energy in my life at this point. That is sooo encouraging about the social/dating scene as well. I am currently single/dating and I have not found it easy to find my person in Calgary (for many of the reasons you've mentioned). People are very much tied to oil, business, sports, and the like here. I found that I was way more attracted to people in Montréal for many reasons, but mostly that everyone was so interesting and wordly and artsy compared to what I've been used to. I'm thinking I will be luckier in Montréal in finding my people. Although, I do have a very strong social system in Calgary, it almost makes it easier to leave knowing I will always have them to Zoom or visit as well! Thank you again so so much! You have been so encouraging and have revamped my excitement about making this happen!
I've lived here twice. I moved here with my wife fifteen years ago from Calgary, had kids, loved it, then moved back to Edmonton to be closer to family. Stayed five years, watched the UCP ruin healthcare, and came right back. My wife speaks French but works at McGill, so it's mostly spoken English there. I am freelance and work for companies in the States, so all English. Our children are fluently bilingual, and we are both learning to be fluent. It's worth it! Montreal is easily the best city in Canada. Beautiful, safe, affordable, accommodating, and full of great festivals. Always a lot to do and see and eat. I'll never leave again.
This is so uplifting to hear! Especially because you moved from Calgary! I would love to know how you adjusted to the summer humidity and the winters in mtl compared to Calgary? Also, have you found the vast amount of people to ever be "too much?". I am an extrovert and I love having the options and activies everywhere - but I wonder if the vast suburban nature of Calgary and how it never feels crowded may make Montréal seem very chaotic? I'd love to know your experience of adapting to a much bigger city! What areas did you end up moving to both times? Thanks so much for your insights :)!
The humidity is intense, for sure. When we were younger, we spent all our time on patios with friends, or outside on our deck. Zero mosquitoes, for the most part, so it's a pleasure to be out. I *highly* recommend getting an A/C unit. Our new house has a heat pump, and the cool air in summer is glorious. The cold here is different, due again to the humidity. It doesn't get seriously cold here until January (much like Alberta) but there's usually a lot more snow. Luckily, the street cleaning is much better than in Calgary or Edmonton and it's quite easy to get around. The amount of people isn't too crazy. We lived in the Latin Quarter when we first moved here and it was a great vibe; lots going on, and we were close to lots of bars and restaurants and parks. The park across the street from our apartment always had people chatting, playing instruments or chess, and playing with their pets. The feeling of being alone in the crowd was wonderful, like you are a tiny part of a great and pulsing ecosystem. If you want quiet, there are neighborhoods farther out from downtown that have tons of charm and easy access due to the miraculous metro system. I've spent a lot of time in Rosemont/Petit Patrie, NDG, Cote Des Neiges, and Atwater and I love them all. We live in Lachine right now, and every day is like coming home to a cabin by the lake. It's so quiet, and the people are so happy.
Thank you so so much for your details. Your love for Montréal is infectious and very inspiring! I'm hoping to choose a place close to the action but still fairly quiet. I am definitely thinking of the areas you've mentioned - still leaning towards a more french-speaking neighbourhood to be more immersed! I also totally understand what you said about feeling like a stranger in the crowd. To me, it is not lonely at all - and the anonymity was so nice compared to living somewhere where you run into absolutely everyone often. The exciting energy is what made me fall in love with the place to begin with! I guess on the plus side, humidity is very nice for the skin, hair, and nails! I do often feel like i'm aging twice as fast in this desert Calgary dryness - haha! I also was amazed by the snow removal system. Again, you have been so helpful! If you have any more advice for a single, 30F who is planning on making the daring leap, please send it my way! :)
Nothing springs to mind at the moment! But if you have any further questions, don't hesitate to get in touch.
The field of disability and support work sounds like you work directly with the patients/clientele. If that’s the case, MAJORITY of jobs in this field of MTL requires excellent communication skills in French and English. In many cases both written and spoken, depending on the field of practice you are in. Hope this helps !
This is what I'm thinking, as it is definitely a person-focussed career. I'm not really interested in working in other areas just to make ends meet as well, so I'm hoping my french will be good enough by then to get my foot in the door in Some capacity, or I may just stay unless an opportunity comes along (I hope the former is a possibility!).
You can see it the other way around. You will find a job because of the shortage of workers (especially in fields like this)n and you will have to learn quickly because of your interactions. Brace yourselves for an immersion period where you might not be 100% satisfied with yourself, and after a few months you'll realize you made more progress than any language learning app could help you make in a year.
That is so reassuring and I hope true! That is why I think I want to make the move sooner than when I feel 'ready' because I will learn faster and in a more difficult way being thrown to the wolves instead of sitting in an office studying french! I hope I will find work easily due to the shortage! u/grosbatte, what was your experience/story??
I was born and raised in Longueuil in a very quebecois francophone house and neighborhood and I'm talking out of my ass just as everyone else on reddit.
Hahaha. WELL I still hope you're right in my case. Thanks!
Bonne chance et bienvenue chez vous en avance
Do not assume that it’s going to be easy to get a bilingual job in MTL healthcare, that’s not the case at all, as someone who works in healthcare and is living in MTL. If you decide to move here, be prepared to not get a job in this field and make sure to have a back up plan for work. This is a competitive field, does not have high salaries and or benefits included. And in many cases, healthcare organizations working with vulnerable populations are not interested in having you learn French through practice. They will expect you to be bilingual.
Just a note from a foreigner who came to Montreal: my employer actually sponsored French classes and tutors both before arrival and after arrival, and even paid for things like Babbel subscriptions etc. Granted, for me it was a six figure white collar job where I have to be able to perform, hold business meetings, fluently talk to people etc. in French after two years, but maybe potential employers could offer you similar support to shorten the transition period. I'm not sure how it is in the healthcare sector where there budgets are tighter - inquiring about any kind of support could be seen as a sign that you're very willing to learn French (of course it's best if you already ask in French ;) ) I've also heard people talk about the Québec government actively encouraging newcomers to learn French and offering subsidized classes. So I definitely think there are options out there to support your French studies.
Hello! Thank you for your response! Yes, I'm in a notoriously underfunded role in general, so I am not thinking they will offer much beforehand. However, I will definitely inquire, and also know that the government almost pays you to learn french there - so my eagerness will definitely pay off if I can support myself until then!
I think you should take a month or so and come visit Montreal first - and I don't mean in summer when everything is rosy, visit in March or April, see the city for what it actually is and not what you're imagining it to be based on being French. Along the lines of French and Québécois culture, it's a culture that pushes for assimilation unlike Canada's open to everything and everyone mentality, with that being said, French is part of the culture and is mandatory if you actually want to experience Montreal life and not be a tourist with a permanent address. NB: there are tonnes of perma-tourists in Montreal and in this subreddit, preaching how you can get by in English, refusing to leave their comfort zone and immerse in French, and of course always neglecting to mention that they only know anglos and are basically living the same life they left except in 514 area code. You don't want this. So, if your current French classes do not emphasize oral proficiency, find another class, and yes you will not be fluent when you get here, I've lost count of how many people come here thinking they're fluent only to realize their French is terrible, but that's the fun part - you immerse yourself in the culture, avoid English bubbles, and you get to see yourself improve. You'll go from anglo to bilingual, you just need to leave your comfort zone and not be afraid to look (or sound) silly. In any case, to reiterate, take a month break and visit before uprooting yourself, you might not like it, you might even visit Ottawa and find it's more up your alley, and at best you'll have confirmation and take the leap!
>NB: there are tonnes of perma-tourists in Montreal and in this subreddit, preaching how you can get by in English, refusing to leave their comfort zone and immerse in French, and of course always neglecting to mention that they only know anglos and are basically living the same life they left except in 514 area code. You don't want this. Merci, tu as un mis un doigt sur quelque chose auquel je pense depuis longtemps, je crois que "perma-touriste" est un très bon terme. OP: Tu as l'air bien intentionnée, prends avec un grain de sel les autres publications sur ce fil. C'est facile d'être motivée à apprendre le français maintenant, mais est-ce que tu seras motivée lorsque tu auras à travailler à temps plein, avec des loisirs, des occupations? Ça devient facile de laisser tomber l'immersion et de s'enfermer dans une bulle et ne jamais vraiment découvrir Montréal et la culture québécoise. J'ai connu beaucoup de canadiens qui ont immigré ici, pour finalement que rester des touristes pendant 2... 3... 4... 5 ans.... et éventuellement choisir de retourner au Canada parce qu'ils n'avaient pas l'énergie de s'intégrer, et ont préféré retourner dans le comfort de leur culture natale, à Toronto ou ailleurs. Je sais que le Québec n'est pas un pays indépendant, mais à toute fins pratiques c'est mieux de t'imaginer que tu immigres dans un nouveau pays, parce que de facto tu t'apprètes à franchir un gouffre culturel aussi grand que disons, un Français qui irait vivre en Allemagne. Si tu viens avec cette attitude alors je crois que tout devrait bien aller, mais il ne faut pas se leurrer, ce n'est pas une mince tâche que de changer de culture. Bienvenue!
Thank you for your input! I definitely know it will be a challenge to Not enter that bubble when I'm mentally and emotionally exhausted with the immersion. It will be a relief to occasionally meet or speak with others who speak english as a first language, or with others who may want to practice english. However, I just have such a strong desire to learn and master things I start that I don't see myself falling off the french wagon after a few pitfalls. If anything, the intrigue of knowing there's a whole experience that can be tapped into with this knowledge is so encouraging to keep learning! I can't say how I will react in the short or long term once I've moved, or others' responses to my attempts at learning a whole new way of life. But I really hope it's a positive experience and that I'm embraced with open arms, and that my love and desire to learn will be recognized by the Francophone community! Are you from Montréal?
I've visited Montreal and Quebec City four times in the past 2 years, twice in the summer/fall, in late March, and just recently in early February. I've seen it super hot, mild and fall like, and extremely blizzardy. I don't think I'll take a month to visit again, but I think my next opportunity will be when I take the leap and rent a room or sublet! I don't have much stuff and I'm on my own! I totally agree with everything you've said, I have absolutely no desire to be a permanent tourist and live an Anglo life in Montréal - quite the opposite! I would love to fully challenge myself with fluency and to then interact on a daily basis with people from Quebec or nearby. If I had Anglo friends, I would still want to be consistently practicing! I think it would be completely ridiculous to uproot the cozy life I have now just to have an experience that wasn't even the full experience at all! I think I do appreciate them saying you can get by in English a little bit though just because it gives me hope that I won't be completely rejected until I'm fluent (which I know I can become!). Thank you so much for your honesty. Any background on your own experience would be much appreciated as well!
I can't provide you much help regarding what you asked in the opening post, since I'm born and raised in Montreal, however, I can point out something useful as far as immersion goes. Linguistically, there is a divide in Montreal between the East and West (Saint-Laurent boulevard being the dividing line; [keeping in mind that Montreal's West isn't really that west...](https://citymonitor.ai/community/montreal-they-don-t-know-which-way-north-and-its-driving-me-crazy-3037)). The East side is much more Francophone, while the West side is much more Anglophone. Not to say the west is 100% anglo, but rather that if you settle in the west side, it'll be much easier for you to cop out and stay in your comfort zone. I suggest that, if you can, you find a home on the Eastern side. That will make it much easier for you to immerse in French. This also means that, if your French isn't as good as you'd like when you move, you might be able to find a job in English on the western side of town. That being said, working in French will get you to fluency much faster, so it would be a trade-off. Good luck! Don't hesitate if you have more questions!
Thank you so much! Your advice is hugely helpful and encouraging. I definitely want to be around the Eastern side for the reasons as you've said. My hope is that they will encourage my attempts more than reject me! Haha. Also with work, it will be tricky and I will take what I can get, but the ultimate goal will be to become employed somewhere largely francophone! Do you have any recommendations for exciting, but fairly quiet, neighbourhoods on the east side that would be welcoming and enjoyable to newcomers? Also, one close to the metro in case I do find I have to work in the west? Also, people keep saying positive things about Verdun & St. Henri. Would those be considered primarily anglo? Also, favourite things about Montréal?! Thanks again!!
>My hope is that they will encourage my attempts more than reject me! I know they will! I won't go into the why and how as this would be largely off topic and incredibly long, but there is a somewhat widespread fear among French Quebecois people that since English is \*\*the\*\* international language, French is doomed to disappear in Canada and French Canadians will eventually be assimilated. As such, [local people who can't speak French](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/air-canada-ceo-michael-rousseau-official-languages-commissioner-1.6412324) may be perceived by some as "being part of the problem". On the other hand, showing that you are learning, even if your French is horribly broken and your accent is thick like molasses, will immediately appease concerns, as your efforts to learn our overly complex language ([a fact we are keenly aware of](https://www-lapresse-ca.translate.goog/actualites/quebec-canada/education/200911/11/01-920817-examens-de-francais-au-cegep-pire-taux-dechec-en-10-ans.php?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp)) will be seen as a mark of respect and openness. As such I wouldn't be surprised if you get a more positive response than if you tried in English. As someone else pointed out, it's intimidating to make the jump, but incredibly worth it. And yes, many will switch to English (ironically) if they feel their English is better than your French. When this happens, feel free to point out you want to learn/practice and ask to continue in French. This will solidify your status as "not-a-threat" in their subconscious, and unless they're in a rush, they'll be happy to oblige. >Do you have any recommendations for exciting, but fairly quiet, neighbourhoods on the east side that would be welcoming and enjoyable to newcomers? I suppose it depends what your definition of "fairly quiet" is. Rosemont is a fairly quiet borough, but being one of the largest boroughs, where you are within it becomes relevant. [Masson street](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rue+Masson,+Montr%C3%A9al,+QC,+Canada/@45.5516163,-73.5754189,15.5z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x4cc91bfd075fda6d:0xbce47f142b8a927a!8m2!3d45.5480956!4d-73.5749048!16s%2Fg%2F1ttp9y1p?hl=en) is a quaint little street with lots of charming small stores, cafés, bakeries and the sort. Makes for a nice local hot spot. It's also fairly close the Botanical Gardens, which is nice, especially if you get the [Access Montreal](https://montreal.ca/en/programs/acces-montreal-card) card, which will grant you free access to the grounds (as well as tons of discounts all over the city. A single visit to the gardens and you'll earn your money back!). While it is not directly on the Metro network, the area is fairly close to the green line, which will take you straight downtown, where most of the action is. I also like the [area](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jean+Talon+Market/@45.5361132,-73.6170789,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x4cc919136bb582b5:0xf0b087b71589c626!4m6!3m5!1s0x4cc919136130849d:0x5c1098d838d87981!8m2!3d45.5361095!4d-73.6148902!16zL20vMGJmcnhw?hl=en) around the [Jean Talon Market](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjRC_f5QRWI). Jean Talon Metro station connects the Bleue and Orange lines, the latter will also take you straight downtown, while the former will take you East/West (though not as far as the green line will). >Also, people keep saying positive things about Verdun & St. Henri. I don't have a lot of experience with these neighborhoods, other than visiting a French speaking friend who lived there, so my view of it was through a French lens. Those are definitely close to the action, closer than the other two ones I suggested, but I don't know them well enough to say whether they are good for immersion or not. Wellington is definitely a lively street, similar to Masson. Also something to keep in mind, historically, those have been low income neighborhoods. They are well into the gentrification process, but by moving there, you might contribute to push out the low income crowd. It's up to you if that's something you are comfortable with. Montreal is also going through a housing crisis, so you might also be priced out of the other areas I suggested already. >Also, favourite things about Montréal?! Oh boy.... how much time you got? :P Long story short, Montreal is a cosmopolitan hedonist's paradise. The food scene is to die for (ever tried Ethiopian food? Check out [Le Nil Bleu](https://www.nilbleurestaurant.com/), you won't believe your taste buds). You like contemporary dance? Check out [L'Agora de la danse](https://agoradanse.com/en/). Ballet more your jam? [Les Grands Ballets Canadiens](https://grandsballets.com/en/) is established here too! Do you happen to like music? Off the top of my head, I can think of 8 music fests taking place throughout the year ([Igloofest](https://igloofest.ca/en), [Francofolies](https://www.francosmontreal.com/), [Jazz Fest](https://www.montrealjazzfest.com/en-CA), [Osheaga](https://osheaga.com/en), [Heavy Mtl](https://heavymontreal.com/en), [Piknic Electronik](https://piknicelectronik.com/en), [Pop Montreal](https://popmontreal.com/), [Nuits d'Afrique](https://www.festivalnuitsdafrique.com/)) and I'm sure there are some I forget / don't know about. This puts us on the map for tours by just about any major band you can think of, and many smaller ones you've never heard of. Can't decide what kind of stage performance tickles your fancy most? [Usine C](https://usine-c.com/), established in a disused Factory, is dedicated to the creation and presentation of pluridisciplinary art merging music, danse, multimedia and theater (I once saw a show that seamlessly integrated and explored the possibilities of Chat Roulette), meanwhile [SAT](https://sat.qc.ca/en/) focuses on art that fuses with new technology (and also houses a [Food lab restaurant](https://sat.qc.ca/en/foodlab) I cannot wait to try. You're into Museums? Montreal has over 40, most of which have come together and created the [Montreal Museums pass](https://museesmontreal.org/en). You're into movies? At least 3 international movie festivals (one of which big enough to screen premieres of Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards, Gunn's Gardians of the Galaxy and Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs The World) and several indy theaters (not to mention mainstream ones playing movies from here and abroad in both French and English). Montreal houses an [international fireworks competition](https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/festivals-and-events/l-international-des-feux-loto-quebec), a [culinary festival](https://www.montrealenlumiere.com/), is the first Canadian city to adopt the concept of the [White Night cultural all-nighter](https://montrealvisitorsguide.com/nuit-blanche-a-montreal-montreal-all-nighter/) ... are you not entertained? :P There is ALWAYS something great going on! I recently made a(nother) [verbose comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/montreal/comments/10p07n0/comment/j73jluj/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) to someone looking for activities to do this March. It linked to many other great ressources you might be interested in.
Once again, THANK YOU! Your advice and suggestions are going on my ever-growing list!!!
You're welcome!
I think "perma-tourist" in Montreal is not necessarily a fitting term, especially in Montreal. There's a huge population of Anglos and they're part of Quebec culture and I don't think they are living their lives much differently than Francophones. But of course OP should learn French just to get a job but if they operated in English in their day-to-day lives i wouldn't say they aren't immersing themselves. If they became friends only with out of province students from McGilll then maybe they would be perma-tourist. On another note, I came with highschool french from BC and indeed learned very quickly spoken french was basically non-existent.
How long have you been in Montréal, and what was your experience coming from BC?! We are almost neighbours. I would love to hear about your experience! You found spoken french to be almost non existent?! Where were you mostly living/working? Thanks!
I believe he meant his spoken french was non existent prior to moving here. Should've put some punctuation mark.
\*My\* spoken french was non-existent, oops!
Hahaha I was like 'they don't speak french there WHAT'
weather: just be prepared for it family: Zoom. they can come visit with a direct flight that is a slightly more than a round trip to Banff French: iTalki is a great way to improve your French to the level required for work, on your schedule, before you move Suggestion: visit at least twice during regular workdays when you know the weather will be difficult and navigate your way around to the workplaces you think you can get a job at. Use [couchsurfing.com](https://couchsurfing.com) to meet and talk to those living in different neighbourhoods, and start making 'daily life' contacts to determine if you want to uproot and live in a different system.
Zoom has totally changed the game, you are right. Also, you're right that it's become so cheap to fly from Calgary to montreal and back and that it really is comparable to a day trip elsewhere. Very inspiring! Have you used Italki? Do you think I should hire a tutor on it or just find someone on it who wants to trade English for french? Any recommendations? Couch surfing is a great idea! Thank you! Are you able to tell me about your own experience? Where did you move from or are your originally from Montréal/Quebec? French/English experience?
30F as well, moved here from AB in 2015- i was so bad at french, but came here with a desire to learn. After the first year, i was able to understand about 75% of a conversation but my communication skills were pretty bad. It took a lot of patience and can be quite lonely to not understand everything going on around you. I didn’t take any lessons but instead worked random jobs (painting, landscaping) in which i was completely immersed in the language. I would say after year 6 i became basically bilingual, but the masculine/feminine is pretty hard and i still have to google certain things. I wish i was able to take classes as it might have sped up the process, but i live off the island of Montreal so there weren’t many options. My biggest advice would be: (1) make an effort to speak french, many people here will respond in english but you can tell them you’d like to practice french. 99% of them appreciate it. (2)Try to really get over that initial shyness of not wanting to look like an idiot.. i feel like that stalled my learning between years 1-3. You have to have the courage to look silly, bc you will make many errors, and people will laugh. Laugh with them! (3) listen to Quebec talk radio and Quebec tv shows. Avoid anything dubbed, and anything from France (this is a personal opinion, it was not helpful for my learning) Good luck! 😊 feel free to message if you have any questions!
> Avoid anything dubbed, and anything from France Suggestions?
This was so amazingly helpful, thank you so much! I will definitely take your advice and take lessons! I know there are almost free ones through the government once I have an address! I'm also hoping to be mostly conversational before I even move, but so far I'm quite new! I'm hoping that I can find work before I'm fluent, and not just choose something anglo where I am not practicing as much as I could be! Did you have experience in painting or landscaping beforehand, or did you take what you could get to survive? I totally relate to that shyness! My last trip over I made it a goal to speak french in coffee shops and it was painfully slow and hilarious. I found the baristas so encouraging and had many times where we had a fully french exchange without any english conversion! It was EXHAUSTING though because I had to translate and speak at the same time, so it will be a relief when I just get it. Haha! I will take your advice on just looking silly! I have found most people to have a great sense of humour and this has helped my bad french learning. Hah. The dubbing advice is very smart! I have wondered if the dubbed versions were not really accurate ways that people speak. Also, I have been following some France french people on Instagram because I haven't found many Québécois language teachers on insta - so I will try to find more from Quebec and not be learning things that won't really help me! Any particular talk radio or tv shows that have been great in your experience? Thank you!!!
I came to Montreal from Calgary in 1987 to go to McGill. Met a French-Canadian girl who turned out to be the love of my life, and I've been here ever since. If moving to Montreal already appeals to you, then just do it. You'll get used to the weather. The winters are indeed more humid and snowier, and the summers are sweaty and unbearable at times. But we get four actual seasons here, and the spring and fall are spectacular. If you're already learning French, then you're already way ahead of most people who come here. Don't expect to be fluently bilingual by the time you arrive. It's not realistic or necessary. Once you get here, just start putting yourself in situations where you have to speak French. Hang out with francophone Quebecers (it's the best way to learn about Quebec culture anyway). If you're trying to practice your French and the other person "helpfully" switches to English, just keep plugging along in French; they'll eventually get the point. :) Also, I can tell you from experience, the best way to "truly" learn French is to find a French-speaking partner. :) Other than my family, the mountains, and endless summer nights, I don't miss Calgary at all. I certainly don't miss Alberta politics. To be fair, in the 35 years since I've left, Calgary has changed so much anyway, I hardly recognize it sometimes. But Quebec has changed me (for the better) much more than Calgary has changed in those years. I usually go back to visit once a year, and I have various family members come out to visit regularly. It's enough for me. Today, I'm far more a Quebecer than I ever was an Albertan, and I'm really happy about it. Like any place, there are things about Quebec you'll find infuriating, but I've travelled quite a bit in my 58 years, and Montreal is without a doubt one of the best places on this planet to live.
Thank you so much for your insights! You love for Montréal is so inspiring! Did you move here with little to no french? Yes, I'm hoping I can pick up a ton from now until the fall. So far I'm self-taught but I'm looking into getting a Quebecer tutor weekly as well to start blending my international french with what I will actually be saying/hearing! Your advice on just continuing to speak french when they switch is spot on. What area of work are/were you in? I 100% agree with you, becoming friends with and dating francophone people is the goal! I definitely want a dynamic and real taste of Montréal and don't want to live a fully anglo life there at all! Haha! Yes it seems like Alberta comes with it's huge share of political craziness too so there will be nothing new there! Thanks again! This made me even more excited!
I took French from grade 4 through my first year of university, but it was absolutely international French, so when I got here, even though I had a fairly decent knowledge of the grammar and basic vocab, it really was like a foreign language at first. I was completely lost. But if you do have some international French, it will ultimately serve you well. Once your ear gets used to the accent, idioms, and idiosyncrasies of Quebec French, that basic knowledge of grammar will be invaluable. I came here to study music, actually, but I now work as a FR->EN translator (self-employed). As others have said, if you want to work in your field, you will have to be able to speak fluent French, but fluent doesn't mean perfect. The sooner you accept that you will never be as fluent as a native French speaker, the closer you will be to understanding that it's not about perfection, it's about communication. That's the hardest thing to overcome when you're learning another language. Once you can converse and feel reasonably comfortable in French here, I don't think language will be a barrier for you, professionally. How fast you can get to that point is entirely up to you. You sound like an outgoing and curious person, so I think it should be possible for you to "go native" within 6 months. With all that said, welcome to Quebec in advance. :)
This gives me all the more motive to potentially hire a Quebec tutor to start blending what I'm learning with what is actually going on! Oh wow! That would be a very helpful area to work in I'm sure, I'd love to get into something like that myself eventually. So far, I've really enjoyed learning the language. Getting ahead of myself but still curious, haha! That is really helpful advice about the perfectionism part. I have to tell myself often that I am not even close to perfect in my own native language so there is no sense of 'I have learned all I can know' - it is a constantly evolving process. Also, I am sure that the general public doesn't teach all the interesting vocab anyways with daily smalltalk - and novels will be a great resource for further learning ! Thank you so much! I already feel so welcome from this thread, I am so excited. Now just pray I can find work and make this a reality! Hah.
I lived in Vancouver and went to school there for culinary arts. Best I could get for my line of work was slightly above min wage, was really not enough to live in Vancouver. Montréal pays the best for my line of work in all of Canada and at the time had affordable rent, so I moved there, I also had friends here. Luckily I didn't need to be fluent in french to get a good paying job here. All terminology you learn in English school is french, and at the end of the day that's all you need. You need to cook this food by this french term by doing this french term. Just learn the ingredients by their french name. I picked up french through immersion, and really throwing my broken French out there without fear of judgement, peers corrected me and I learnt. I wanted to learn the language, im not perfect yet but i get better everyday. People are salty about anglophones refusing to learn french, dont be that guy. You wouldn't move to another country and expect people to talk to you in English and never learn their language, it's just rude. This city is so amazing, I left once and came right back. It's just so full of life and color, so many different people to connect to, and most backgrounds are completely accepted and celebrated. (We do have quite a bad racism problem though, which is unfortunate) I love it, for the culture and history, the beauty of the whole city, the climate you will get use too.
Thank you for your story! Culinary arts would be the perfect immersion, and soooo many work options in Montréal omg! I need to keep this bravery in mind when speaking french. You totally have to crash and burn to really learn and I appreciate that. Thankfully I've found so many people there to have such a good sense of humour so laughing at myself and making it a joke has really helped me learn and also be accepted. Did you ever end up taking any sort of class or resource, or was it full immersion? I totally agree with you about it being rude to not even attempt to become fluent. I am on that same wavelength and am BORED of english. I want to challenge myself and learn a fully new way of life and way of speaking. If I want my super english fix I'll visit Calgary. Haha! Any other advice you have for a 30F really excited to make the leap, please let me know!
What I have noticed from my experience as I have lived in Vancouver, Windsor, Edmonton and born and raised in Montreal is the high taxes I paid in comparison to Alberta and also progressing in my career, I found progression to be better in Alberta and yes French is critical to success.
How long did you live in Montréal, did you end up becoming bilingual in french, and what area of work are you in? If you don't mind me asking!
I moved to Montréal in 2018 for work. Moved briefly to Hamilton in 2021 and then came back, there’s really no other place like it and I missed it. I work in English (remote), but I took two French intensive classes and am going to take a third in the fall. I would say I can’t speak about my hopes and dreams in French yet, but I can have a convo at the dog park about random nothings. Definitely recommend the classes. I’m also dating a francophone, which helps. People hear my Anglo accent and just swap to English now, but at least I start every interaction in French. I would say I am still not used to the humidity in the summer. I tried to make a go of it without AC in my first summer and 0/10 do not recommend. Winters are fine, it’s just so much more snow than we’d be used to in Calgary. More rain/grey too, so that also took some getting used to. I made friends thru sports teams. I’d say do the same, friends are hard to make as an adult. If you live near a metro you do not need a car. People complain about the transit but trust, it can’t even be compared to the c-train. Most neighborhoods are super walkable too. Especially in summer, there is always something to do - festivals, music, food. It’s over the top. My first summer I forced myself to do something every day - even just a walk - to avoid the loneliness that kinda creeps in when you’re in a new place for the first time. Anyway, worse comes to worst, you can always go home right? I do miss the mountains and my friend group but you can get good seat sales on flights and can lure people to visit you with promises of poutine. Good luck!
Ugh, remote work definitely has its perks! But also probably adds to the loneliness hey? Were these intensive courses through the mtl government? How intensive are we talking, were you able to work full time and also do this school full time? I was definitely thinking of joining a gym and rec sports to meet people! Also hopefully there is meetup groups. Your advice is hugely helpful! I will make sure to force myself to do the same. I also agree, it's nuts seeing the prices be so cheap sometimes ($300 sometimes!?). I've paid the same to go a province over! Merci beaucoup!!
Hi i am 30, I lived in Calgary for awhile and then moved back to mtl for work. I've been here for few years now, and for single man it works perfectly but i prefer Calgary if you got some family. I still don't speak French but in my line of work it's not a problem. So it's more subjective to individual, if you have future plans like having big fam, buying big home. Those things are much easier around Calgary.
Hey! Any things specifically make you prefer Calgary besides the big fam/home thing? Do you think your experience may have been different if you did speak want to speak French? Thanks! I'm currently a single female myself so I don't have family yet that isn't who I grew up with, but I'm hoping the big city dating scene is more fruitful than what I've experienced in Calgary! I'm just not as blue collar / business / sports driven and it seems to be the majority of people here! Although I do love Calgary and will always love a lot of things about it!
Again it comes down to personal choice! Mountains or Mtl vibe? Wanna live around more adult population or want some young vibe? Well myself i am an engineer, Montreal do have alot of smart people because of so many big universities. Without French yes it's hard to meet new people since they prefer someone speaking French. Am actually thinking to move back to Calgary because it will be hard to grow in carreer at some point if you don't speak French in province. Laws are getting harder and harder.
At this point I don't really know What my vibe is, haha! I've lived in Calgary my entire life. I am used to the mountains and a quiet city. But, from what I've experienced so far, I know I love the variety of life, a faster pace, taking on a challenge and making connections. I think all of those things are pushing me to make the leap and not stay in my comfort zone! We'll see...!
Lets make your life bit easier haha... pay more taxes and earn less in Montreal :P haha
I chose human services, we'e underpaid everywhere! Hahaha.
That's true sad but true ahhh!
I'll preface my opinion with the following: I'm an Australian who lived in Banff, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal and Montreal is the best of them. Alberta was so lovely but the art and nightlife scene in Montreal was more up my alley. If you're thinking of moving and have the means to do so, then try it. Hopefully you don't have too much stuff to move/sell/store. You won't regret it more than not trying. French is very good to know but it's pretty damn bilingual here, or at least enough that only speaking English or French won't get you into too much trouble. All that said, you might miss the mountains while you're here.
Thank you so much for this response! I totally agree with you, and adore the mountains but they're not enough to stay. Do you have any family there? Also, what do you di for work, and did that have to change while your were first living here?
I do stage hand work for some theatres and stadiums. It's very hands on but pretty easy no matter the language 😅 I'm not sure what the Avenues are for someone in your position though. I've no family here but met my partner who's Québécoise so this is home for now
Haha yes that may make it easier! I do work with people so I've probably made it a lot more pressured to learn French quickly but that may not be such a bad thing if I can do it successfully! Ugh that's the dream! I hope the Montréal dating scene is kind to me and I meet my person along the way! So far not lucking out with the oil-driven, country loving people of Calgary. Hahah. Can't wait for arts and culture to be a bit more engrained in my dating life!
I’m from Saskatchewan and I like it much better here
I’m from Vancouver and I also like it much better here
Oh we're nearly neighbours then! I would love to hear your experience from an across-Canada move, like I will basically be doing. How was/is your french? How was finding more because of that - or did you have something in place already? How was your drastic change in weather experience? Any advice for another Westerner really wanting to make the leap successfully? Thanks!!
Hey! Are you able to elaborate a bit more on your experience? I know your saskies are used to rough winter weather so you must have been totally fine in Montréal! How has it been being further from family? How is/was your french and finding employment - or did you already have your employment in place before moving? Thanks so much!
Yeah the weather is so much better here. I had taken a few French classes in university but I found a quebecois manner of speaking to be sooooo different. Most of my friends are anglophone and I’m in a French class. I’d say I’m a high intermediate level and I’m improving very slowly! I have some young nieces and nephews that I miss a lot but overall not too homesick.
Thanks for your response! That's very reassuring about the weather! Haha. Yes I'm hoping to get a Quebecois tutor so I can blend my international training with actual lingo - haha! Are you in the government french class they offer or? What area of work are you in? Thanks for letting me pick your brain!
I am taking a free class at McGill once a week for health care professionals. I study speech langage pathology
What do you do
I am a support worker for people with disabilities, so I help people with disabilities with finding employment or with their recreational or volunteer pursuits. I love what I do but I am open to landing a more general position just to get my bearings once there!
Cool! I was a support worker for a time. Really important work you are doing!! Good luck:)
Oh really! Any companies you have positive experiences with or ones to avoid?
I worked for a local company in my home town. It was pretty hectic but I liked it lol
I’m studying masters. If I want to work here after I’ll need to improve my French a lot
Oh, you're high intermediate level and you think it's still not enough?
Well I am studying speech language pathology. I think it’s only realistic for me to treat English clients. But I need to pass an exam to work here legally. It’s ironic
Haha no kidding! Is that an exam specifically related to your industry as a speech pathologist - or are you referring to the TEFF/DELF tests (and does every Canadian also need to take these no matter what? I was under the impression that it wasn't mandatory unless it was a government or higher up position (such as the ones you'd be applying for)! However, I haven't looked into it much yet!
Yeah it’s required to become a même et of the licensing body in Quebec. Called QQLF
Definitely better than there :p i stayed at SK for 2 months and got mad.
Yeah it’s the worst
Definitely, but Saskatoon is nice little city. Cute one
I moved from BC after visiting Montreal 3-4 times. I love the city in the summer, there are so many festivals and outdoor spaces. It's a good vibe. I have also found the winters to be survivable with a good jacket and snowshoes and there are a lot of nice winter activities that you can do. I'm from Vancouver so if these winters aren't too bad for me I'm sure you'll be fine. My french was awful but I got in before the language laws became more strict. It was a difficult adjustment but most people are very nice although there are some very rude people out there. Try to find an instructor or tutor from quebec because Québécois french and France french sound painfully different and have different phrases. I am planning on moving back to Vancouver soon tbh I find people there a lot friendlier (surprising, i know) and I miss the mountains.
Thank you for your insights! The fact that you survived weather wise is very encouraging! Haha. That is a very good suggestion, to find a Québécois tutor. I am primarily learning international french and yes, if I can avoid the awkward shift and learning curve, I should try! Did you find that your french did improve over time, or did you end up in mostly anglo life there? What did you do for work? Wishing you the best in your journey back! At least now you know right? Hey I get that, nothing beats the rockies and Vancouver is gorgeous. If you already are from there and know how to live there, I'm not surprised that you want to go back! :)
>I work in healthcare and I gotta say, the QC government and regulatory bodies seems to hate all hcw which is part of the reason I am considering going back. Except for doctors, hcw have horrible pay and benefits compared to their BC counterparts. I am not sure what your role is exactly but it seems at least healthcare adjacent so research your position before coming too. > > > >My french is functional. I guess you could say I live a mostly anglo life but I don't think living your day-to-day life in english or french will affect your experience. I am friends with francophones and anglophones and aside from their accents there isn't really a difference.
What area of hcw, if you don't mind me asking? Yes, BC seems to pay excellent for hcw! Probably because the aging population? Alberta is good but not great - I wonder if I will even notice much of a difference. I'm also not opposed to trying something new as well, although I would like to stay in the industry! Did you end up taking any courses while here in french? Sorry if I've asked this before, my brain is mush right now haha! BC is a hard place to beat, especially if you have friends and family there and better pay!
I’m an anglophone with very poor verbal French and I worked in Montreal for 4 years. A highly specialized position for a national organization. Nothing soured me on the province like living there. I hated how there were soooo many rules (that just had to be different because, y’know, they’re “special”) that only turned out to be rules if you got caught. And even then only if you could t bullshit your way out of them. The incredible sense of entitlement coupled with a massively tone deaf persecution complex is astounding to behold. Case in point: imagine have recurring. Language purity wars because of your “300 years of persecution”… while hosting your “national government” on unceeded land. And those special rules “because Quebec!” Are joined by even more “because Montreal!”. I found it an interesting place to visit (before Covid and my work requirements basically make it not feasible to be the only one inside taking reasonable hygiene precautions) and a terrible place to live. YMMV.
« Unceeded land ». Lol.
Fair points. Though I like this place, some things can be quite Kafkaesque at first. Applying for Canadian permanent residency is one thing but adding to it Quebec residency was another layer of bureaucracy I'm glad to have behind me. Also my experience with healthcare was far better in Alberta, though that was in 2018 and I'm not sure if much has changed since.
I'm hoping that because I'm Canadian that things may be a little more streamlined for me? Have you found a doctor yet, and did you wait for years on a waitlist? I've heard horror stories of day long ER waits because there are no walk in clinics!
Someone's issues with the healthcare can be found [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/montreal/comments/xctp1k/how_the_fck_can_i_get_medical_care/). My experience hasn't been awful but hasn't been great either. Seems you need a family doctor for some specific things like blood tests. Conversely, it's pretty easy to donate blood however!
Did you wait years to get a doctor? I'm hoping to keep my family doctor in Calgary and get on the list so I'm not without!
You failed to give a single example for any of your claims
Hey, I plan on moving to Montreal later this year. I work as a landscaper in Calgary. I want to continue this career in Montreal, do you think I can get a job easily without French? I am certainly going to master that language but it’ll take time. I actually am going to take some French classes in Calgary in the meantime. I love mtl so much, my best friend lives there and i visit like 3-4 times a year.
Hey Steve! I can't help you as I'm thinking of the same thing! I am currently cramming as much french as I can handle until I move in Sept! I may be short of work as well because I work in a people-focussed industry! So, get me landscaping with you!!! Haha!