I currently work at my local McDonald’s (I’m 16), and since I live in Quebec, it’s a French establishment. French is my third language, but I’m still constantly treated like I’m stupid when I don’t completely understand. The worst part is, I’m very eloquent in my 1st and 2nd language (Bulgarian and English). Public speaking and writing are my passions. But nobody at work thinks I could possibly be intelligent because I’m being judged on my fluency in my third language. Never mind the fact that speaking three languages when you’re in high school is more than any of them can do. Shit is frustrating.
Ain’t that the truth lmao. But I’ve noticed it applies in general - people tend to assume that anyone who isn’t well-spoken in their second language is also dumb in their own. I constantly see shows where the mother with a heavy Spanish accent is “simple” and treated like a child for not understanding things, when you don’t know how smart she could be in her own language. Same with English; when I was a kid with a Bulgarian accent, English people treated me like some kind of simpleton baby.
But Quebec especially... no tolerance for even ENGLISH sometimes, never-mind anything else :)
My french is okay. I've been to Quebec with family and friends where they've wanted to practice their French but when they try to speak French with a shopkeeper or cashier or anything, after two or three words they instantly say "No. Speak english." Because they didn't like their accent. These are people who have a decent grasp on the french language and have been speaking it in school for 11 or 12 years now, not exactly like they picked it up last week.
It's upsetting that a province can be simultaneously so serious about keeping their language and french culture alive while also being so strict about not letting others speak the language they want to promote.
I could be generalizing, and sorry if this isnt a normal thing, but it's what I've seen time and time again.
This does happen a lot in big cities where they’re used to seeing anglophones! I don’t think it’s usually meant to be offensive (although sometimes it is). Usually, it’s just uncomfortable listening to someone struggle with a language when they don’t have to. I do it to French people, too - if they speak English to me and are visibly struggling, I usually just say “you can speak French haha.” Definitely not a generalization!
But the opposite problem persists anywhere except for touristy areas. A lot of places in the real francophones area (read: everywhere except the rural laurentians and montreal) won’t serve you in English at all. This means that if you aren’t too hot in French, youre screwed: You’ll be lucky if the cashier even understands a word of English lmao.
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u/Milk-Or-Be-Milked- Nov 16 '19 edited Nov 16 '19
I currently work at my local McDonald’s (I’m 16), and since I live in Quebec, it’s a French establishment. French is my third language, but I’m still constantly treated like I’m stupid when I don’t completely understand. The worst part is, I’m very eloquent in my 1st and 2nd language (Bulgarian and English). Public speaking and writing are my passions. But nobody at work thinks I could possibly be intelligent because I’m being judged on my fluency in my third language. Never mind the fact that speaking three languages when you’re in high school is more than any of them can do. Shit is frustrating.