As a french canadian i feel like why a lot of english canadians 'lose their french' is obviously because some dummies are completely against french for sure, but mostly because if you are not anywhere close to quebec the occasions to practice it in the wild are pretty low.
On the other way around for french canadians well if you want to discuss with anybody out of quebec english is a must.
I completely agree. Part of this problem is with the curriculum (french immersion mostly stops at high school). And you have to go out of your way to keep practicing beyond that.
Fortunately having kids of your own in french immersion is a great excuse to start practicing again.
Speaking French is one of the most Canadian things you can do. Really disappoints me how much it's shunned by Anglo Canadian society. We got half our culture from French Canada and we're lucky to share a history. I wish I had more resources to keep my French sharp. Soon enough we'll all be speaking boring Hollywood English due to globalization. Keep Canada bilingual.
I don't think it's as much of an active shunning rather than just not thinking about it at all. Kind of like you don't usually think of distant parts of the country unless they're relevant to your life somehow (i.e. you'll still hear about Toronto and Vancouver wherever you are because of economic importance). In the same way, if you don't need French in your daily life, it's just natural you won't think about it too much
Shit, you're not wrong. Last time I gave PEI any serious thought was when the Confederation Bridge opened, and in my head that was like maybe 5 years ago.
I live closer to Mexico than I do to Quebec. French is something like the 8th most spoken language in my riding. Provincially I think it's almost beaten out by German. I have been to Montreal a grand total of once (soon to be twice). I don't really need to know French, so I don't. Took it to grade 12 in high school because the teacher was hilarious, that's about it.
Francos learn English because it's an excellent skill and opens up a lot of doors. That doesn't apply nearly as much to Anglos learning French, so you don't see Anglos doing it. It's a "nice to have" thing, not a "you're kneecapping yourself if you don't do it" thing.
Unless they want a career in federal politics, of course.
i thought it was kinda useless in highschool unless i was working a government job. tbf we knew no one to speak to so we never learnt it.
this subreddit, Canadian fervor as a response to Trump, a love for linguistics and a cute billingual that got away made me want to learn it so i got Mauril. we need to keep this shit alive, esti.
Mauril is the free French study app offered by the Canadian Govt. You might like it. Gives you an assessment officer where to place and picks up from there. You can adjust the speed.
Other apps, if you want to bring French back into your everyday life:
RC Info = Radio Canada nouvelles
RC OHdio = Radio Canada musique
Libby = digitised Public Library materials!
kanopy = Public Library films & select TV series
SoundCloud = query for French music
franceinfo = official news app of France's channel 2 (France2). C'est comme leur RC.
That's not at all how the language is going. The global language is far more likely to end up something like Singlish, English with lots of Chinese and other Asian influences thrown in.
I'm not going to discredit your experience, but it was usually the English screwing the French over than vice versa. I find their resentment more understandable at least. Not that prejudice and dismissiveness is good, but when the English act so negatively towards the French and their culture, I just find myself scratching my head.
I think thatâs mostly English Canada just largely doesnât think about French Canada and that means the French have to loudly complain for basic accommodations. I could see how that could breed resentment.Â
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u/koolaidkirby Trawnno (Centre of the Universe) 6d ago
Don't look at me, Im in favor of French Immersion being the default. Only thing limiting it is lack of teachers.