Can I become fluent in French in three to four years?
Hi,
I’m moving to Montreal in about a month from Maine, USA. I am going to school at McGill University (an English university.) However, I wish to be able to stay in Quebec after my studies (which should be 3-4 years in duration, maybe even 5 if I drop the ball haha.) I picked up a pamphlet about staying in Quebec after studies in International Student Services at McGill a few weeks ago when I was up there apartment hunting, and it outlined some of the requirements I’d have to pass to be able to stay. One of which was being fluent in French, conversationally and in writing. So anyways, my question is, can I become fluent in French in three to four years?
Oh, and my current knowledge of French is, I don’t know, a 1 out of 10, maybe a 2, haha. I took two years of French in high school and did quite well.
Thank you, everyone! All such great answers. I do plan on taking at least four college semesters of French, because I do believe that I have to have so many terms of french courses at an accredited institution in Quebec just to be able to apply to stay beyond my tenure at school. And of course, that’ll help me learn. I intend on making friends up there who are bilingual, and at some point trying to converse with them exclusively in french. I do have a bit of fear of looking like an idiot, haha, but I think that most people will see that I am trying and will be accommodating to me. At least, that’s what I hope.
Thanks again! You’ve all given me hope that I’ll be able to become fluent and be able to stay in Montreal for many years to come, as long as I’m willing (and I am) to put the work in. 
i would say so
Yeahh you should. Especially if you been learning french. You will understand it and speak it. So yeah
Of course! Especially if you have to live amongst french speaking- in that case sounds likew you’d be golden in about a year (or 2 tops.)
well you already have something to build of of so thats good. and yes three to four years will get you fluent enough but it really takes daily use of the language to truly become fluent. I have a friend who is a linguistics major/anthropologist. and so his job is to travel and learn about differnt cultures and subcultures. He told me even though he had over 4 years behind all of the 6 languages he knew….he realized how little he knew when he actually moved to a different culture. He said that once you live in the native country you’ll truly become fluent. And to my knowledge Canada is english and french?? so i think living there and learning at the same time will benefit you. So my answer is yes
You could still take a French course while at school. Look off campus for language lessons.
goto for starts.
only if you immerse yourself in the language. stay/hang out with french people, go to french restaurants, read books in french, speak it on a daily basis
well i would recommend doing the equivalent of 4 college semesters. you could get rosetta stone. or they probably have french classes for foreigners there. that’s what i would probably do. then well living in Quebec you should have plenty of opportunities ti practice it. and that being the case… you should become fluent quickly enough
Yes, the secret is to speak French, even though most could probably talk with you in English. I had about the same schooling as you and lived in France for 2 years just studying on m own. I ended up learning it pretty fast and speak really well now. If you want to do it, I have no doubt that you can.