You might choose to be bilingual in English and French, or English and Mandarin, or to send children to learn in a bilingual school.
Canadians learn English and French easily. but speaking French is the norm in Montreal. In Toronto when I went there, a backlash against promoting French to the exclusion of English caused people to demand that a tour guide spoke in English.
Such a pity. Such an advantage for everybody to be bilingual. Being bilingual is required in government jobs in the capital, Ottawa.
Over in Singapore, the Canadian school teacher pupils in English and Mandarin. How handy.
The website of the Canadian School in Singapore sums it up nicely. It is easier to learn when you are young. When you are an adult, being bilingual gives opportunities for higher pay.
When travelling, in Singapore, on the MRT trains you will hear the four official languages, English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. In the USA many signs are in both English and Spanish. It is easy to cross the border at Niagara Falls and tour Canada where people are bilingual in French and English in the capital, Ottawa.
As an expat, you will find many bilingual schools for your children, and schools which teach a useful second language.
You can start or brush up your vocabulary and simple sentences for free online with Duolingo.
A system for Chinese is Chineasy, which has books and a couple of free videos to get you interested and started.
Chineasy.
USEFUL WEBSITES
https://www.cis.edu.sg/chinese-english-bilingual?utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=discovery&utm_campaign=bilingualoblookalike&utm_term=Expats+in+SG%3A+6+benefits+to+enroll+your+child+in+a+bilingual+programme
CANADA
visit-canada.com
SINGAPORE
visitsingapore.com
UK
visitbritain.com
USA
visittheusa.co.uk
DUOLINGO
Free internet courses in English and French and Mandarin on
duolingo.com
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. I have several more posts on learning languages. Please share links to your favourite posts.
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