Is it Okay to Berate Tourists that Speak In English in Montreal/Quebec...
By Muelitz
@Muelitz (1592)
Canada
September 6, 2012 3:36pm CST
I am not sure if you have seen it already. There is a video of French speakers (francophones) berating Montreal tourists who were speaking in English. Apparently, if people who live in Quebec must speak French because if they don't then it is an insult to their culture. However, the people that they were berating are tourists. Do they really have to learn French before visiting the province/city? I hope that not all people are as strict as the couple who got mad at the tourists. What's your take in this?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@joliefille (3690)
• Philippines
7 Sep 12
Well then if that's the case then they're not really ready to go global. It's harsh in my opinion that they would berate tourists that speak in English.
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
6 Sep 12
That's a pretty stupid thing to do. Chase away tourist dollars. They will go somewhere else if too much of this goes on. Thankfully most Quebecers are not like that. I lived in Quebec for eight years and my French is mediocre at best. I ran into the occasional rabid separatist but otherwise got along very well.
Incidentally for anyone reading this there are a significant number of people living in Montreal who can speak English but not French. In fact there are some neighborhoods where you are unlikely to here much French spoken.
