Unhinged Ways to Improve Your French in Quebec (with Jahon Mousavi-Torbati)
Erica and Jahon are two artsy, nerdy, anglophone Montrealers. And today, we’re coming together for our special episode, Unhinged Ways to Learn French in Quebec. Join us for adventures in French stand-up comedy, cringe slam poetry, and becoming a Quebec Grey’s Anatomy superfan. We talk education, French immersion in Perth Ontario, reading in French, dating in French, hobbies in French, and more. Make sure to listen to the end for a riveting listener question from Girl Who Just Wants to French Some Dudes.
Please note that this episode is in English, making it a wonderful start for learners of all levels. Wherever you are in your French journey, it’s never too late and it’s always worth it.
Jahon Mousavi-Torbati is a talented concept artist and regular artist who has made a recent pivot to storytelling and stand-up comedy. Jahon has great enthusiasm for urban transit, kobo e-readers, pineapples, and ending doom-scrolling for all time. In general, Jahon is someone who exudes great enthusiasm for just about everything. Also, he is Erica J. Schmidt’s boyfriend!
Erica J. Schmidt grew up in Perth Ontario, where she enjoyed half-day immersion from grade five to eight. Then there was a touch of extended French in high school, but odds for mastery were not in her favour. Despite this, she moved to Montreal and proceeded to become a French-to-English translator. These days, she is proud to be able to read full novels in French with the help of her trusty kobo.
Jahon Mousavi-Torbati on the Interwebs
Follow Jahon on Instagram @jahonart
Check out his Concept Art Drink and Draw: @conceptartdrinkanddraw
Jahon’s Quebec fantasy illustration project
Jahon’s Website: artstation.com
Erica J. Schmidt on the Interwebs
Instagram: @erica.j.schmidt
Substack: @ericajschmidt
Website: ericajschmidt.com
If you would like to be a beta reader for one of Erica’s two manuscripts, please get in touch! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
How to Learn French in Quebec: Art, Books, and Resources
C’est L’Halloween (Est-ce que tu as peur? Oui, oui, oui, oui, oui!)
Book: 99 Francs, a novel by Frédéric Beigbeder
Book: Spoken Here: Travels among Threatened Languages
LOVING SHOUT-OUT TO OUR FABULOUS TEACHERS
From Stewart School, Perth Ontario: Mme. Shelley Fillipoff, Mme. Renée Capello, Mme. Denise Baker, Mme. Danielle Normandin
From John Abbot College, Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue: Frédéric Laganière
How to Learn French in Quebec: Timestamps
00:00:00 Theme Song
00:00:34 Introduction to VIP guest, Jahon and his extra special episode, Unhinged Ways to Learn French in Quebec. Teasers about Jahon’s slam poetry and fun facts on how to pronounce poutine. Disclaimer about how this episode will NOT address language politics
00:02:54 Official Bio: Jahon Mousavi-Torbati
00:04:20 Jahon’s incredibly biased bio for host Erica J. Schmidt. Slide into Erica’s DMs if you’d like to be a beta reader for one of her manuscripts.
00:07:17 Erica and Jahon’s linguistic origins. Jahon was Montréal born and raised by French-Canadian mother and Persian father who both spoke English at home. He went to French immersion school and eventually was accepted to a French program at university.
00:11:12 Erica grew up in the metropolis of Perth Ontario. Her French career started with core French songs like C’est l’Halloween before she embarked on four years of half-day immersion from grade 5 to grade 8.
00:16:55 Jahon feels he did not read enough books in French. Shout-out to his teacher Frederic who had him read the book 99 Francs and dessicrate it
00:18:27 How Jahon’s father ended up in Quebec, and his French story. The moments Jahon realized that his French was not at an adequate level. Jahon reads book Spoken Here and commits to improving his French and he applies to Université de Montréal.
00:23:11 The moments when Erica realized her French was not at an adequate level.
00:24:54 Erica binge watches STAT on icitoutv. (Quebec’s Grey’s Anatomy)
00:28:50 The first time Jahon was referred to as le Quebecois, and how that became part of his identity.
00:32:19 Deeper into unconventional ways Jahon and Erica learned French, especially improv and stand-up comedy.
00:39:19 Erica explains Shadowing, the technique she used while practising to become an interpreter. It involves listening to the language you are practising and then repeating the words while you are still listening to what comes next.
00:41:45 One last conventional way to learn French: Read! And ideally get a Kobo which lets you take books out of the library and look up words without checking your phone.
00:44:19 Listener Question from A Girl Who Just Wants to French Some Dudes
00:58:02 Always read books with your girlfriend. Stay tuned for an exciting surprise on This Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life
59:22 Thanks and wrap-up. Follow Jahon and Erica on the Interwebs. Go to Jahon’s Concept Art Drink and Draw. Never give up on your French. LOVE YOU, BYE!!!
