Quote:
Originally Posted by Murphy de la Sucre
there is only one concern then the trip is a go: can an English-speaking-only-plus-can-read-some-German tourist receive fair treatment in Montreal? including reading signs, asking routes, buying groceries, doing shopping, eatings, and basic coomunications?
it is told people in Montreal do not speak any English no matter how much they can.
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Urban legend. That would be quite ridiculous when you think about it : who in their right mind would spend years learning a language, practice it and then refuse to speak it? You need motivation and practice before you can actually speak and understand a second language. The only times when someone could suddenly forget how to speak English is when the English speaker is being particularly obnoxious.
That being said, not everyone is bilingual : only about 45% of people speak both languages. But wherever you'll go, chances are very high that someone nearby will be able to help and translate if necessary.
An English-only speaker visiting Montreal (and Quebec in general) will get by just fine. Tons do every year.
A bit of reading on the subject, on TripAdvisor :
I speak a little/no French. Can I get by in Québec ? How tolerant are the locals?
Honest opinions from English-speaking travelers