Learn Canadian French Online – Level 1

Why Is French Spoken in Canada?

Certain regions of Canada still speak French for perfectly valid historical grounds. To give a perspective, powerful & influential settlements in what we know as present-day Canada was initially established by the French. They referred to it as New France back in time.

However, France was compelled to abandon its North American provinces after a war with the British. As a consequence, a sizable French-speaking Catholic community was ruled over by the minority English-speaking Protestant winners.

The British permitted the colonists to continue speaking French and practicing Catholicism instead of compelling them to convert.

The French Language’s History in Canada

In the mid-16th century, provincial France sailors discovered Canada and established a colony there, carrying the French language with them. At almost the same time, British colonies appeared in North America.
Then, with the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht, France gave Britain the territories of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and the Hudson Bay Area, allowing English to replace French as the primary language in those provinces.
Hence, English became the government’s official language when Canada was founded in 1867.

Because of this, the Francophone community in North America got cut off from other French-speaking relatives in Europe and encircled by English speakers in the United States and Canada.

Modern terminology no longer entered French-speaking Canada due to the dramatic decline in French immigration. As you can probably figure out, this seclusion was crucial to the development of québécois since it caused them to diverge from European French.

The Rich French Heritage of Canada

You need to explore how French came to be recognized as one of Canada’s official languages to fully comprehend and learn Canadian French. Quebec is the main region in this country where French Canadian is spoken.

The French language is believed to have arrived in Canada during the 16th and 17th centuries as French immigrants started to settle there. Many French-speaking Canadians maintained their French-Canadian origins and continued to speak their version of the language even when the British assumed control of the region.

Almost 95% of the population speaks Canadian French, making it the province’s predominant tongue today, whereas 85% of the people of Quebec speak it as their primary language.

Learn Canadian French Online with 5Africa

Learn Canadian French and find out why the Québécois are known for speaking French with a twist. ‘Quebec French’ or Canadian French is the official language of Quebec, Canada, spoken by 95% of the population as their first or second language.

This variety of French uses both Canadian and American English to fill up the accidental gaps in the lingo of law, manufacturing business, and trade that boomed in the late 19th century.

Between French and Canadian French, there are significant differences in grammar and idioms. For example, Canadians are much more likely to use the informal form of “you.” Canadians very rarely use the formal “vous”, unless they are using it for business or writing an official document. Additionally, Québécois will often mesh two words together to form a slang word. Instead of saying “dans les” they will simply use “dins.”

While many Québécois will know how to speak English, French is heavily favored in Quebec and is sure to impress the Canadians!

Did you know?

Québec produces 77% of the world’s supply of maple syrup, which makes Canadian French a sweet treat indeed.

With our Canadian French Online Course, you can:

• Introduce yourself and others
• Talk about colors
• Use numbers 1-20
• Use the days of the week
• Use simple greetings
• Talk about professions
• Talk about countries and where you live
• Tell the time
• Give your phone number and contact details
• Talk about food and drinks

If you’re keen on also learning European French check out our full range of online French courses.

Why Learn Canadian French Online with 5Africa?

Thanks to 5Africa’s mobile compatibility, you can access your online language course anytime, anywhere. You’ll have lifetime access so you’ll never be able to forget your new skills, jump back in anytime for a refresher! Additionally, you will receive a certificate of completion to put on your LinkedIn and share it with your current or future employers.

Example Certificate