Bilingual Cities
I love bilingual cities. As someone who is obsessed with language, I am fascinated by a place where people can switch back and forth from English to French with fluidity and ease. At the parliament buildings in Canada’s capital our daughter was also intrigued as she heard the tour guide, the police officers and others switch comfortably between Canada’s two official languages.
This vacation has been very positive for our little one’s confidence in her own bilingualism and also gives her a better understanding of French, Canadian, and Quebecois culture. Check out Mary’s recent post 5 Facts about Quebec French to learn more about Canada’s language diversity. I agree with Mary, being in Quebec feels like being in a foreign country, which makes travelling with a child here even more exciting.
Time to Start Learning French
Living in Vancouver, I almost never get to use my French. We don’t have TV so I can’t watch radio-canada, but I do listen to French radio whenever possible. One reason for this trip back east was to show my wife and my daughter that there are parts of Canada that truly are bilingual. I love French and I really miss hearing it and speaking it, so we will have to find a way to make French a part of our lives in Vancouver.
She pretends to speak French already, mostly just making up words and putting a “French accent” on them, but I think with a bit of work and lots of exposure she will be speaking French in no time. And, as I mentioned in a previous blog, I am excited to strengthen my spoken French and also for my wife to learn.
We are ready to get started now, and I got some great materials for preschool French at Archambault bookstore in Montreal and we will get started today on the plane on our way back to Vancouver!
À bientôt!
