I moved to Canada in August 2023 and was lucky enough to spend the next 10 months living and enjoying Montreal and the wider province. My French level before coming to Quebec was high, having studied the language at university for 2 years, but this stay in Montreal still allowed me to improve hugely. By putting myself in different situations and experiences, I was able to develop a vocabulary and fluency that is not possible to develop in the classroom. From job interviews and university lectures to presentations and working in a café, the experience was fully immersive, allowing me to progress in my confidence in French as well as understand other nuances of the language, such as register.
Following a course which really interested me (Mineur des études catalanes) at the Université de Montréal allowed me to deepen my knowledge of the Catalan language and culture whilst equally improving my French, a 2-for-1 deal in language learning! The university experience allowed me to develop my skills in presenting, normally in front of a class of 30, as well as translating from English to French (and vice versa) but also from Catalan to French (and vice versa). My open courses at the university equally allowed me to expand on my interests in trade and international politics through courses such as an introduction to the European Union and the inner workings of its institutions.
Making friends who were Montréalais and Québécois meant that I was able to use their knowledge of the city to find the best spots, enjoy activities particular to the region (such as going to an Ice hockey game and visiting a cabane à sucre) and improve my comprehension skills to an almost native level. This also meant that I was able to accompany them on trips around the province (such as to Quebec City) and dive deeper into the culture, visiting museums, tasting local foods, and taking part in other activities such as skiing and city cultural celebrations. On the other hand, friends who were also international students (from Belgium and France) meant that I was exposed to different accents and Francophone cultures too which gave me a more wholistic experience of Francophone life. These friendships allow me to continue my French immersion even when I have returned to the UK, as well as maintain a link with the cultural aspects of the region.
Skiing in Québec
The whole experience has been one of the most amazing I have had in my life, and I am really grateful to the John Speak Trust for their support which helped me through my time in Quebec. On my return to the UK, I am planning on continuing my studies of French and Catalan with the aim of working as a translator in the wider trade industry, and this opportunity to translate and improve my level in both languages has really helped that goal.
Going to a Canadian Football match