Working in Montreal as a non-French speaker

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jpdutchman Member

Member since 26 November 2008

jpdutchmanMember26 November 2008 03:24:30

Hi all, I'm an Irish expat currently living in Wellington New Zealand but am seriously considering getting a working holiday visa for Canada and moving to Montreal with a view to obtaining sponsorship from an employer so that i can stay for a few years (or decades, who knows!?). My issues are that I'm unsure of the how difficult it might be to find a job in my area of expertise, banking, considering the fact that I do not speak French? The attraction of Montreal to me would be the ability to work in English while still learning French (compared to, say, living in Paris, where you would certainly need fluent French). Am I being naive? Maybe its the same in Montreal, or is business conducted in English?

bluefish New member

Member since 22 June 2008

bluefishNew member26 November 2008 06:22:29

Hi there, I've been living in Montreal for 16 years now. Your need to be bilingual especially in banking area. A lot customers will demande to be served in both languages. Also, there has been a long time language conflict in the province of Quebec. So be ready to encounter hostile and unfriendly French-Canadians, if you ever decide to move to Montreal.

ddon Member

Member since 30 January 2009

ddonMember30 January 2009 13:06:18

Hi Im Eddie also irish and am thinking of myself and my girlfriend travelling on a working visa to Montreal for a year and maybe longer than that.We both speak french not fluently but could have a basic conversation and were wondering how wed go about getting a visa for Montreal is it a seperate visa from the rest of Canada or do we apply for the normal working visa?Any help would be much appreciated.

sams Member

Member since 02 March 2009

samsMember02 March 2009 09:15:25

Hi! If you speak some French and are able to have a conversation then people will be happy to work with you because you're trying!! You might encounter the odd person that won't be happy but you'll easily be able to avoid them.

Bonne chance 脿 Montr茅al!

Alto2 Member

Member since 05 July 2009

Alto2Member05 July 2009 23:41:14

ddon wrote:
Hi Im Eddie also irish and am thinking of myself and my girlfriend travelling on a working visa to Montreal for a year and maybe longer than that.We both speak french not fluently but could have a basic conversation and were wondering how wed go about getting a visa for Montreal is it a seperate visa from the rest of Canada or do we apply for the normal working visa?Any help would be much appreciated.

DDon, No there is not a separate visa for Quebec.聽 You still apply for the Canadian visa process.聽 If you can get along in French conversationally, you should be OK.聽 But keep practicing your French.聽 I was born and raised there and only learnt to speak French in my 20's but am glad I have it now.聽 I still cannot write it but did get along till I immigrated to the US almost 10 years ago.聽 Best of luck.

canadianus Member

Member since 09 October 2010

canadianusMember30 October 2010 17:45:07

sams wrote:
Hi! If you speak some French and are able to have a conversation then people will be happy to work with you because you're trying!! You might encounter the odd person that won't be happy but you'll easily be able to avoid them.

Bonne chance 脿 Montr茅al!

Usually they gave you the "wrong" answer You want to go North? This way, please:cool:

MoCookies Member

Member since 11 December 2009

MoCookiesMember16 November 2010 13:30:10

To the OP -聽 you'd be better off in Toronto. If you want to work in Montreal, you need to speak/read/write French near fluently. You can live, visit, and get along just fine in the language of your choice, but the language of the workplace is French (by law), and the vast majority of workers are expected to be fluent in both English and French because you conduct business in the language of the customer/client, not vice versa.

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