Bilingual??

Although there were many reasons for my choosing to come to the University of Ottawa, one of the most prominent was its bilingualism. I am currently studying political science and history, two subjects in which French is a requirement in the workplace. Walking around campus during my first year I marvelled at how many people were fluent in second languages, especially French or English. Everything was bilingual: the menu at Second Cup, traffic signs, even the cafeteria. I knew that just by attending this university, my French would improve.

Well...it was a little more difficult than I thought. I took a course in my first year called 'Culture Francaise au Canada' where we studied francophone culture (in French) and wrote compositions about French literature (in French). Unfortunately, we did not do a lot of oral activities. This is what happened throughout my high school education as well. As a French immersion student, it was expected that we already knew how to speak properly and therefore the teachers concentrated on literature and writing. Now, I can pick up Voltaire and enjoy the good read, but can I explain what the book is about? To a certain degree yes, but it may be a bit choppy.

I was hired last year and this year as a cashier at the University of Ottawa bookstore and one of the requirements was that you speak French and English. I was able to hold my own, but in most cases, if people hear you struggling they will change to English instead of giving you a chance to work it out and practice. I will admit that my French is functional -meaning that I can speak it enough to get my jobs done and to hold my own little bit in conversation, but I still need a lot of work. I am currently job hunting within the government, and French is a huge component. Due to this lack of practice, my oral presentations have been a little rusty and choppy. Unfortunately, people do not usually consider nerves, but assume that you really are not as bilingual as it says in your resume.

All I need is a place to practice. If someone will give me an opportunity to work in an environment where I am forced to use French, than I will improve.

Another point I wanted to make was regarding the bilingualism in the Olympics. From my point of view, the opening ceremonies were a bilingual disaster. Although the presenters did try and speak their little bit of French, it represented a fail for most francophones out there. No one taught these people how to say words properly! It would have taken one hour to teach them how to say the one or two phrases they needed in order to show their bilingual diversity, but unfortunately all the words came out wrong, making them a laughing stock.

In addition, people watching the Olympics have been commenting on how strange it is that French is always spoken first, especially since the majority of the population speaks English. My view is that French is spoken first because Canada was originally a French colony. The English came and defeated them, claiming the country for themselves. While there will always be more English speaking people than French in Canada, to respect our history and our culture, French will, most likely, always be a necessity.

The only thing I ask is that the respect we give by speaking French first is returned by a mutual respect of the difficulty of being bilingual. Please let people who struggle with French continue to express their thoughts, allow them the opportunity to speak it in class and in the workplace, and above all else, be understanding to those who genuinely try.