How much french do you need to know to get around in MONTREAL???

Question

Im visiting montreal for about a week and will be staying downtown. however, i intend to do lots of shopping and walking around. i've heard that people in the east side of montreal are not very friendly to anglophones. is this true?? i will be using the metro and buses to get around so i might need a little help with directions and all.

i can speak a little french but not enough to really get anything done:)

thanks everyone.

Answer 1

I arrived in Montreal last year hoping to practice my French a bit. It was easier said than done. Montrealers are so used to switching back and forth between English and French that they will quickly switch over to English once they recognize an anglophone accent.

According to a Quebec-born friend, the "hostility" to English is overblown. While many Quebeckers favour maintaining French as the dominant language in Quebec, most Quebeckers are willing to be accommodating.

Answer 2

Yeah, according to my french teacher Montréal has more anglophone and you can get by by (two by's in a row!) just speaking english. In Québec City there is more french culture

Answer 3

You'll be fine with just English. Most people are bilingual, so they'll be able to understand you perfectly.  

Answer 4

I was in Montreal not longer after the kerfuffle over Language a few years ago.  

Not a problem - Montreal has lots of English speaking people.  Even Quebec City wasn't that bad. Took a drive into the rural area along the St Lawrence seaway and people in shops and restaurants were very friendly and helpful. Tourists welcome!

Answer 5

I spent a week there. I also stayed in the downtown area. I don't know a l**k of French and did just fine. They were nothing but nice to my family and I. Qubec is more french speaking then Montreal. Basically, go and have a great time.

Answer 6

its true, but if you make an effort even if its two words, they will become very nice because they want people to respect the french.

but everybody speaks english and the western part of the island is actually more english speaking, so you wont be lost