All kids must take a French class until grade 9, after that you can drop it. Other kids in English speaking areas can also opt to take every class in french, either from the start of their school career or part way through. I don't know what the rule is in Quebec (the primarily French speaking province) but most people there speak at least some English.
In quebec, English classes are mandatory 'til the end of college. French is the main language but yeah a lot of people can talk/understand english pretty well. What's sad though is that even if kids in the rest of Canada take french classes, I never met anybody who, out of this "program" could speak french.
..... sounds like Spanish classes in the States. I took 5 years of Spanish but couldn't speak it until I took it in extension classes in the factory...........
[quote author=mr_dj07 link=topic=19951.msg242553#msg242553 date=1259951449] In quebec, English classes are mandatory 'til the end of college. French is the main language but yeah a lot of people can talk/understand english pretty well. What's sad though is that even if kids in the rest of Canada take french classes, I never met anybody who, out of this "program" could speak french. [/quote] It's true, most people who take core french until grade 9 leave it without any ability to communicate in the language. However there are those exceptions, and like anything it's a matter of practice. I dropped French after grade 10, but I can make myself understood and can read and get the meaning of most French. Granted that may be due in part to the fact that my mother is fluent. Those who take extended or immersion french will end up with some fluency though. My girlfriend is in immersion and she is fairly fluent. It's ironic though you're right, most of Canada can't speak or understand much more than the basic "oui" "bonjour" and yet when you're in Montreal nearly everyone understands English.
[quote author=telebutcher link=topic=19951.msg252534#msg252534 date=1287809875] Here in the west all French classes are elective unless your in French immersion school. [/quote] Whereabouts do you live?
