Why I Learned French

For the last two years, I have spent my life living in Francophone areas, learning French and teaching English. Many people may think I am a ‘Francophile’ and that I have always loved the French language and culture but it is quite the contrary. Growing up living in Canada, and in the Anglophone-dominated regions, I have never seen the importance of learning French. French was the subject I struggled and was seen the least importance in my books and I waited until I was 13 when it was no longer mandatory. When I finally had the choice to no longer force myself to learn French, I happily quit.

At this point, I really thought French would never appear in my life again. But I was wrong, dead wrong. When I graduated in 2012, I found out that French could lead me a chance to live and work abroad, and in a different part of Canada that I have never explored: Quebec. I decided to learn French again voluntary on my own and to give it a second chance. It was a good opportunity to live, work, and travel, so I said why not?

I started my journey in Montreal under the Explore program, studying French for the first time in a 5-week government-funded immersion program. I knew absolutely nothing and was given the opportunity to attend 20 hrs of classes/ week and extracurricular activities after class. That same year, I also found out about their sister work program, Odyssey and I also applied. 2012 must be some kinda lucky year because I got accepted into both programs and the next thing I knew I was starting a new journey in learning French after graduating university. I came home to Toronto for 2 weeks from Montreal and then moved to Alma, a small town in northern Quebec to spend the next 10 months teaching English.

The combined 11 months living in Quebec in both Alma and Montreal was life-changing. I learned so much about Canada and got to meet people nationwide, in cities that I never even thought twice about. I faced isolation, language barrier and culture shock all in one. I experienced the coldest Winter and listened to what people thought about Canada. I was surrounded by the most sovereigntist people in the country and understood the tension that existed between the provinces. I launched a teaching career in English, something that I did not expect to happen, and most shockingly, I learned French.

At the end of the year, I realized that I’m starting to get French. I still struggle, I still didn’t understand but whatever percentage I have learned, I cannot deny I’ve learned something and I wasn’t ready to give up. I wasn’t ready to throw out all my efforts out the door. I wanted a chance to advance, to push forward, and to continue this new exciting journey I have just begun.

So as ambition as I was, I scouted opportunities to move to France the next year. I felt it only made sense and it was only the next step. Quebec was the year I learned how to push myself out of my own city, my comfort zone and to even embark in a new language. France would be expanding my horizons and to move from a national level to an international level.

I just came home from France a month ago and I feel I have just survived two harsh years. The French and France has been really rough, and maybe I was never meant to get along with anything related to ‘Franco’ from the beginning. Perhaps, I should have quit the first time around and not try again, but I’m stubborn. I wanted to grow and I wanted these experiences and in result, these hardships only pushed me further and tested my limits. It showed me how strong I really can be and how much I am willing to battle it out, alone.

It was tough, it hurts like hell, and I’m exhausted. But in the end, I know I’m the survivor.

After these two years, I’m continuing to learn French because I know I can do it and I will.

A chapter completed, and another adventure awaits.

Everyone has a story.

This is mine.