Becoming bilingual

Immigrants encourage you to learn or improve your English to be able to live in both official languages in Canada. They talk about their experience and language courses given across Canada.

Becoming bilingual

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Transcript: “Becoming bilingual”

Video length: 2:30 minutes

Red, white and black ribbon background is displayed then fades into a shot of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, some athletes running on an outdoor track followed by a performer in front of an audience. Red, white and black ribbon background returns then fades to a group of people in an office setting and back. A Canadian flag emerges from the background with the text: “Live the Francophone Life in Canada. Becoming Bilingual.”

Narrator is shown in a foyer of a building, in front of stairs, with the text: “Province: Manitoba. Country of origin: France. Fathi Khezzane (Assistant Director General, Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre).”

Narrator (speaking French): Before you emigrate to Canada, you might be a little worried about the language thing. You ask yourself questions. You tell yourself, “Will I make it?” Yes, everybody does. It’s just a question of time. C’est juste une question de temps. But everybody does. For some, it takes six months. For others, it takes two years. But ça vaut la peine. It’s worth it.

Narrator is shown in the foyer of a building along with the text: “Province: Manitoba. Country of origin: France. Erwan Bouchaud (Project Manager, Manitoba Cooperative Association).”

Narrator (speaking French): In my last job, and the one before, being bilingual was … was something I had to do. One thing for sure, what I bring to the table is precisely the ability to work professionally in both languages.

Scene changes to Erwan collaborating with two co-workers in an office then back to the foyer.

Narrator (speaking French): You mustn’t be afraid because you don’t speak English. There are so many immigrants that people are already used to hearing broken English. People really give you a chance to show what you can do.

Narrator is shown in the foyer of a building, followed by the text: “Province: Quebec. Country of origin: Senegal. Boucar Diouf (Biologist/Artist.)”

Narrator (speaking French): In this country called Canada, it’s been a little difficult for Francophones to survive in some places, but they’ve still managed to do so, holding on to their own language without isolating themselves. Being open to others … that’s important. More and more young Anglophones have their own language and have decided to learn French. That’s important.

Narrator is shown standing in front of an athletics track with the text: “Province: Saskatchewan. Country of origin: Cameroon. Guy Gérard Ngako Chabe (Teacher).”

Narrator (speaking in French): From one province to another, you can, with the help of various organizations … improve your language skills.

Scene then changes to Guy talking to some participating athletes in an event tent.

Narrator (speaking French): When I arrived in Saskatchewan, there were organizations ready to give English courses, so that I would be able to become more polished.

Narrator is sitting in a classroom with the text: “Province: Manitoba. Country of origin: Mali. Samir Touré (Director General, Student Association, Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface).”

Narrator (speaking French): When you’re a newcomer here, and you only speak French, you mustn’t get it into your head that French is a handicap. What you have to get into your head is that we’re all human beings with the capacity to learn and to develop ourselves. So, at some point, you have to accept the fact that you’re Francophone and be willing to take steps to learn English.

The Citizenship and Immigration Canada corporate signature and the copyright message “Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2014” are displayed followed by the Canada wordmark.

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