Some questions about Montréal? English or French? Thinking about going to school there...?

Ok, unilke mister bitterman, I can tell you that Montreal is indeed a very diverse city. Almost everyone there speaks French, some are unilingual English but many, many are bilingual. That being said, most store attendants will address you in French if you don't speak English first. I've never had a problem being served in English when travelling with Anglophone French. On the streets, you'll hear more English in Westmount, the Western part of downtown. There are lots of tourists downtown, so everyone should be able to speak English with you.

The Loi 101 requires all signs to either be all French, or, if bilingual, have the French version of the text bigger and easier to read than English.

As for accents, there is a very slight difference in accents between the different regions of the province of Quebec, but to a non-francophone, it's not that audible. It is very different from European French, though.

McGill is the Anglophone university. There is also Concordia university, John-Abbott College (GÉGEP) and Dawson College.

Montreal is about 50:50 English:French. However, the Quebec language laws meant that at one time, all signs had to be French only. That was changed, but they still have to have the French part larger, and more significant.

The city is kind of divided into two halves - English to the west, and French to the east. That is very rough! And, there are immigrants who speak neither, at least in their homes.

Most people in service jobs - restaurants, and shops, etc., will be fully bilingual. In fact, getting a job in Montreal if you are not bilingual is quite difficult. On the street, you will hear both languages, or even people switching back and forth.

As for the differences: Quebec French comes from Normandy and Brittany, but from about 450 years ago. French in both Quebec and France has changed over the years. Ever tried to read Chaucer? - same for the two Frenches!, but in different directions. I have heard it said that people from France and Quebec have some difficulties talking to each other. Others have said they don't, so I do not know for sure. I do know that there are some pretty big differences though, mostly in different words for things, and pronunciation.

Mc Gill operates in English.

Most store clerks cover both sides by saying Bon Jour/Hello at the same time and listening to what language the customer answers with. There are many people in Montreal who speak another languages besides English or French, such as Italian, Greek, Chinese, Vietnamese, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish and so on. The island of Montreal has many language "pockets " where a certain culture has decided to live, and set up small business locations.

Quebec has a "French Only " law that requires all signs and billboards to be in French, and the same applies to all business contracts and invoices and employee regulations. All professionals, such as Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers and Dentists MUST be able to work in French, at a University level of fluency, by law. Their qualifying exams are in French only.

Children of immigrants must attend French language schools, regardless of what language they speak at home. . The only way that a kid can attend a English school is if their Parent attended a English school in Quebec, in the past. This kind of regulation, plus many others, has seen a half a millon people move out of Quebec in the last 20 years, mostly to Ontario. Many corporations have also left Quebec, due to political struggles and out right descrimination by the Quebec Provincial Government.

Quebec is a island of 7 million French speakers, that is surrounded by 330 million others ( in Canada and the USA ) who speak English. They battle mightily to try to "preserve their culture " but in reality, it is a down hill fight. As for their version of the French language it is full of "frenglish " words that are half French and half English, and to a European ear it is like a London Cockney's version of English, compared to how the Queen speaks. Full of slang and a mish mash .

Unless you enjoy setting your hair on fire, or having bamboo splinters shoved under your fingernails, I'd plan on going to University in a English speaking city in Canada, and save your self a lot of grief.

Jim b. Toronto.