French Canada

Canada; The country of wishes …

Geography: Covering most of the northern part of the North American continent and with an area larger than that of the United States, Canada has an extremely varied topography. In the east, the mountainous Maritime Provinces have an irregular coastline on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic. The St. Lawrence plain, covering most of southern Quebec and Ontario, and the interior continental plain, covering southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan and most of Alberta, are the principal cultivable areas. They are separated by a forested plateau rising from Lakes Superior and Huron. Canada is the second-largest country in the world, after Russia. By land area, Canada ranks fourth (land area is total area minus the area of lakes and rivers).

Government: Canada has strong democratic traditions upheld through a parliamentary government within the construct of constitutional monarchy, the monarchy of Canada being the foundation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches and its authority stemming from the Canadian populace.Canada is a federation of ten provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan) and three territories (Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut).

Language: Canada’s two official languages are English and French. English and French have equal status in federal courts, Parliament, and in all federal institutions. The Charter of the French Language makes French the official language in Quebec. Ontario has the largest French-speaking population outside Quebec.

History: The first inhabitants of Canada were native Indian peoples, primarily the Inuit (Eskimo). The Norse explorer Leif Eriksson probably reached the shores of Canada (Labrador or Nova Scotia) in 1000, but the history of the white man in the country actually began in 1497, when John Cabot, an Italian in the service of Henry VII of England, reached Newfoundland or Nova Scotia. Canada was taken for France in 1534 by Jacques Cartier. The actual settlement of New France, as it was then called, began in 1604 at Port Royal in what is now Nova Scotia; in 1608, Quebec was founded (French explorer Samuel de Champlain arrived in 1603 and established the first permanent European settlements at Port Royal in 1605 and Quebec City in 1608).

Culture: Canadian culture has historically been influenced by British and French. Canadian culture has been influenced by immigration from all over the world. Many Canadians value multiculturalism and see Canada as being inherently multicultural. Canada’s National symbols are influenced by natural, historical, and Aboriginal sources. The use of the maple leaf as a Canadian symbol dates to the early 18th century.

Originally published here.

To become a natural speaker of French, it requires time and study. However, there are few key methods to help shorten the learning curve. If you are  on track to become a true francophone (french-speaker), I can show you three (3) methods that have helped me slingshot my knowledge of the french language, from being a novice learner to a whiz linguist.

Using the below techniques, you will be able to finally achieve your goal of becoming an expert french-speaker:

Inundate yourself in French media: Be sure to keep some form of media around you at all times. This includes broadcast radio, web radio, podcasts, TV, trade magazines, and other french publications. If you’re fortunate, you may be able to find a french channel, DVD, or web broadcast with closed-captioning (subtitles in french). This way you can watch and listen concurrently. This is will make it much easier to absorb the french vernacular, quickly speeding up the french language learning curve.
Befriend a native francophone: You don’t have to learn French all on your own. Make every effort to meet with native french speakers. Go to social gatherings where you might meet native speakers. Look for local meet up groups or organizations. There may be a lot of french-friendly associations in your area. Also check out schools, religious groups, and institutions in your area that may have a french-speaking base. There are many organizations available to help foreign tourists adjust to life in a new country. As a tip, you can volunteer as a representative of your community as a translator. They can learn from you while you learn from them. You may consider joining groups that focus on speaking foreign languages. Rotary clubs, spiritual groups, or meet up groups may be a great way to find french-speaking language partners. Or you can consider starting your own group!
Unite the best of both worlds: Travel, visit, or relocate to a french-speaking foreign country. You can utilize both of the above methods by traveling to a foreign country to learn the language. While you are visiting, you can immerse yourself in books, magazines, radio, television, and absorb the media in your downtime. And all of it is created in the french language. Once you have gotten a good handle, you can then interact with local residents. You’ll even have something to talk about after having hints of topics and subject matter from what the local media has already produced and published. And then take what you’ve learned and have full conversations about the new information–with the french-speaking locals! This way you’re combining the best of both worlds–a truly an extraordinary learning experience! Remember there are several francophone regions to choose from: France, Quebec Canada, Haiti, Martinique, and Guadeloupe.

À tout à l’heure

**Bonus tips: If you aren’t able to travel to a french-speaking country, then I can share with you how you can learn french from the comfort of your own home.  You can get more ideas, tips, and tricks about how I conquered the French language on my Learn to Speak French Fluently blog.

Originally published here.

Published Mar 29, 2011.
Read more: The Globe and Mail