Ekatarina took the Contemporary World course in 5e secondary. We were discussing the theme of immigration. I took the opportunity to explain the link between immigration and Bill 101. Out of cynicism, I always took pleasure in going against the current in front of teenagers who were fond of bilingualism. I gave the same example every year: when I am stopped in the street or when I receive a call, I answer only in French. The interlocutor sometimes makes an effort or the dialogue is broken. Many of my students were offended by this behavior.
During a recovery period, Ekatarina makes sure that there are no students in the room, walks towards the teacher’s desk and whispers: “Sir, my father-in-law, too, when he goes to school. Ukrainian church and he is questioned in Russian, even if he speaks Russian, he answers only in Ukrainian, and the dialogue is broken. He is very happy. »
Ekatarina arrived in 2015, long before Putin’s invasion. I asked her why she spoke Russian so well. She replied: “Even in Ukraine, Russians hardly learn the Ukrainian language. We Ukrainians are forced to learn Russian, because the Ukrainian economy is dominated by Russian speakers, especially in the big centers. My stepfather must have spoken Russian all his youth. »
I took the opportunity to ask her if her stepfather had learned French. She answered: “Currently, my father-in-law is in Alberta. He joined many new Ukrainians who arrived in Montreal. Ekatarina had assimilated the concepts related to immigration well in the course. She whispered to me: “No, sir, it’s not regionalization, but interprovincial immigration. »
Your stepfather, will he come back? ” I do not know sir. »
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