French and English are both the official languages of Canada. While not essential, having a strong grasp of the French language can be a huge asset to your visa application. Plus, find out how useful French will be in your day-to-day life in Canada.
Do you need strong French language skills to move to Canada?
Are you keen to move to Canada and have downloaded Duolingo on your phone as a way of trying to recall the French from your school days? Are you realising that your sense of being “proficient” in French was maybe an over-estimate? Worry not! Here, we take a look at just how useful a strong grasp of French is in Canada.
Do they just speak French in Quebec?
Old Quebec City.
Across Canada, both French and English are the official languages. However, Quebec is the only province that it is main language used both in government and daily life. According to the 2021 consensus, 75.5% of the population of Canada speak English as their first official language. Meanwhile, 21.4% speak French as their first official language. Moreover, 85.4% of those that speak French as their main language live in Quebec. The following areas also have a high level of Francophones: New Brunswick (31.8%), Yukon (4.6%) and Ontario (4.4).
Quebec has captured the hearts of many looking to move to Canada. Located in Eastern Canada, it has its own distinct atmosphere and history. Old Québec is a UNSECO World Heritage site and the only fortified city north of Mexico. It boasts of cobbled streets (the oldest in North America), boutique shops, quaint cafes, and the charming Château Frontenac, easily the most photographed hotel in the world. While French is not mandatory for migration applications in the Quebec, it is undoubtedly advantageous.
Even if you are not planning to live in Quebec or another region with a high level of French speakers, having a firm handle on the language opens up so many more travelling possibilities. You could live in Toronto but holiday in the beautiful streets of Old Québec.
What makes Canadian French unique?
It’s important to note that Canadian French and French from across the Channel are not identical. Like Canadian English and British English, there are differences. Canadian French is said to sound more archaic. With the differences being most present in pronunciation and vocabulary. Plus, Canadian French tends to encompass more words from English and the languages of First Nations.
Having said that, if you have your sights on a home in Quebec but were taught French by a Parisian, you’ll adjust smoothly enough in Quebec.
French is a plus for migration applications
French language skills are a huge plus for your visa.
Canada possesses a Comprehensive Ranking System for those looking to migrate to the country. You are ranked on factors such as your level of education, skills and experience. Plus, having a spouse or common-law partner or a brother or sister living in the country. To find out more, click here. Not to be very reductive about Canada’s Comprehensive Ranking System, but essentially, you gain points for all of these things, and the more points that you have, the more visa avenues open up to you. One of the factors that they look for is your proficiency in either one of the official languages, French or English.
Moreover, Canada currently have an initiative to attract more French-speakers to migrate outside of Quebec. To quote their website, this is to ‘help contribute to the vitality, development and prosperity of Francophone minorities in Canada’. Even if French is your second language, so long as you have a strong grasp of it, you can gain up to 50 points on your application. And the door to life in Canada opens up a little wider…
Does this sound like you? Take a look here.
Education and employment
Thinking of pursuing studies in Canada? Some courses are taught purely in French (and no, not just French Literature), such as Journalism at La Cité, Data Analysis at Community College of New Brunswick and Practical Nursing at Mathieu College.
Just as with the migration system, French language speaking skills are seen as hugely advantageous in employment. Recently, One Mile at a Time reported a story of a passenger complained because his attendant on a flight could not speak to him in his preferred language of French. While this is not the norm, and many Canadians would be happy to slide between English and French, it’s safe to say that a great grasp of French goes a long way.
Fortunately, if you are eager to move to Canada but your French is non-existent or not so great, there are plenty of low cost French language classes to join once you have arrived.
Need some tips? You might find this article useful: How to learn a new language without going back to school.
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