This Sunday, 2 November, François Hollande will be the first head of the French State to visit in Canada for 27 years. A first for him also. A few tips to prevent him from making gaffes…
Do not engage in philosophical debates and metaphysical without end, Quebecers have an approach to the conversation more concrete. They generally love to talk about simple things of daily life, even if some of us like to remake the world in front of a good table and good wine.
>> Read also: The Quebecois are the champions of the politically correct
Avoid long monologues . Quebecers know how to listen, but do not abuse it. If they are short sentences it is because they invite you to do the same. The thought is synthesized; a few words are enough. The long speech can be tiring. At work, do not speak from the outset of your family or your marital status. Quebecers have a design more fractured relationship between the work and personal life. If you link with a colleague in particular, you will be able to make reference to your spouse or to your children, but for the rest, it is a topic that concerns you. Don’t take this the wrong references to your country of origin and your origin . It is not a matter of prejudice or racism, but generally of a simple and healthy curiosity. please Be attentive to the reactions of your audience . Their silence, their withdrawal can tell you a lot about the ways we react to certain situations. Learn to read between the lines , do not insist on a delicate subject on which you feel that your interlocutor does not want to engage. Perhaps it is because he does not want to discuss it. As the Québécois are very consensual, they’re not going to say it directly; they would prefer to avoid the subject. Make the difference between a yes and a yes no . Quebecers will never tell you no, or very rarely. It is necessary to learn to decode the real meaning of a yes. Thing difficult at the beginning, and that can take years of practice. The observation is! Attention to criticism ! It can be very badly taken or even perceived as a confrontation. Everything is in the formulation in Quebec. If you really have something to report, it is necessary to always add something positive to make the pill. Do not venture into a critical rule on a specific topic . You could quickly spend for a “chialeur” or just a “damned French[1]”. All the world is not ready to receive criticism, you are not in France. never be front-end when you need to discuss a problem . Learn how to address the subject in a way that is gradual and subtle. Don’t forget that you’re dealing with people consensual! Do not mount the tone and especially do not take . It is an attitude to be avoided in North America. It simply doesn’t work. You will run away from potential friends and work colleagues, and in the services, you will not get more quickly what you are owed. Do not interrupt your interlocutor . Especially if you’re a Parisian with a speech very fast, you certainly have less in the habit of waiting your turn in the exchanges. In Quebec, the conversations are punctuated by silence, which can feel like at times dead, or the opportunities to raise the topic. In fact, Quebecers leave much breathing their conversation, as if to let go of an idea, an image. Avoid the hustle. Generally, the French eventually adapt their pace!
Laurence Nadeau is the author of the guide to settle and work in Quebec, editions Express Roularta, 2014. 528 p. 23,50 €.
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[1] Do the test to check if you are a “maudit français” (French or not
Laurence Nadeau is the author of the guide to settle and work in Quebec, editions Express Roularta, 2014. 528 p. 23,50 €.
