2024.05.28 留学

Bilingualism in Canada

In this Blog we asked Miss K.T. about learning another language besides English on her Study Abroad experience. It was great to hear about this as Bilingualism is one of the subjects on our curriculum. （今回はカナダに留学中に英語だけでなくフランス語科目も履修した K.T. さんに「バイリンガリズム」について尋ねました。英語で書かれたブログですが、ご一読ください。また、最後に国際英語学科の真弓先生のバイリンガルに関するコメントを掲載しています）

(Miss K.T. at Notre-Dame Basilica in the historic Old Montreal district of Montreal)

Q1. I know that you went to Canada on your Study Abroad, where did you go and how long did you stay for?

I went to Halifax, Nova Scotia for 4 months. Nova Scotia is on the east coast of Canada.

Q2. Did you only study English?

I studied French as well as English.

Q3. Wow, so you studied French as well as English. Why did you study French?

I wanted to improve my French in a bilingual country like Canada, and I wanted to be able to talk to my second cousin in French. In addition, I was really interested in French culture.

Q4. What part of Canada is bilingual?

The province of Quebec. (Quebec is in the central part of Canada)

Q5. I understand that you visited Montreal as well, did you have any opportunities to speak French there?

I only went to Montreal for one day, but I ordered some food at a Christmas market and asked where children’s books are with audio at a bookstore in French.

Q6. What did you think about being in a bilingual city like Montreal? (Did you learn anything besides French, I mean)

I learned that in Montreal even if you only speak either French or English, people will understand what you say. Therefore, if you can speak both or are learning either of those two languages, I felt that it is a perfect place to practice them.

Q7. Was it easy to switch between the languages?

It was difficult to switch. Especially because, French is my third language and I am used to talking to people in English in English speaking countries. I was also very, very nervous when I ordered food in French because it was my first practical experience outside Japan to use French. In addition, at the bookstore where almost all employees were French speakers, I memorized the question that I wanted to ask beforehand and asked it.