How much French is spoken in Nova Scotia?

Question

I am going to Halifax this summer, and I want to practice my French. Will there be opportunities to use French? Where are the "French speaking" parts/regions/cities? Will I be able to use everyday French like ordering in a restaurant, etc.? Do most people speak French along with English?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Unless you're ordering a poutine you've no need for french here.

Answer 2

Years ago I visited a friend's place in Nova Scotia. She told me to brush up on my French because her parents didn't speak any English. So I did!

Here are a couple of the things I heard:-

"Mets la fishing rod dans la boat"

"Vas watché le t.v."

Cracked me up then. Still gets me laughing now.

I think you are going to have to move a tad west to find any

French of the type you are practicing.

Halifax has changed drastically since I was there so they may very well have a couple of good French Restaurants where someone speaks French.

Bonne chance!

Answer 3

You'd have to go to Acadia region of NS. Even then you probably wouldn't recognize the french for the accent and colloquialisms.

English is the lingua franca in Halifax

You might find a Navy sailor who is originally from Quebec.

Answer 4

As the other posters have said, you'll hardly find a coherent French speaking community in Halifax. Although there should be a very small French language college in the city?

I do know that people in Halifax encourage their children to learn French as a second language in school, etc., but that's about it.

The French-speaking regions Emeritus has mentioned can best be seen on the following maps, so the geography will be clearer for you:

http://novascotia.com/en/home/planatrip/...

Chose one of the regions (you'll have to do each one seperately), click on "enlarge map", and look out for the French flags.

But I have to say, apart from some official signs being bilingual, you would often hardly notice that you are supposed to be in a French-speaking bay - all advertising in English, all the shops' windows, everyone speaking English with the tourists, etc.

All in all, very pleasant and non-threatening for German tourists like me, but maybe not the best place in Canada to learn French?

Answer 5

Nothing in Halifax to speak of.  The Acadian Shore between Digby and Yarmouth, parts of Cape Breton around Arichat...there aren't many French-speaking regions at all.  New Brunswick is a far better bet.

And now for something completely different, there are Gaelic classes held in Cape Breton.

Answer 6

I am sorry to say, but Halifax isn't much of a French place... In Nova Scotia, though some people do speak french, it is mostly an english-speaking province. New-Brunswick is the billingual one, if you really do want to practice your French...