French 2 / Unit 10: The Francophone World and Comparisons
10.2 Francophone Cultures
Notes
Each francophone region has its own traditions.
- Québec: French is the only official language of the province of Québec. Major cities: Montréal and Québec (the capital). Winter events include the Carnaval de Québec; the Fête nationale is on June 24.
- Belgium: Brussels (Bruxelles) is the capital. Belgium is known for chocolate, waffles and comic books (la bande dessinée).
- Switzerland: Four national languages. French is spoken in Geneva (Genève) and Lausanne.
- Senegal: The capital is Dakar. French is the official language, and Wolof is widely spoken.
- Haiti: The capital is Port-au-Prince. Haiti became independent in 1804.
- Morocco: The capital is Rabat. Arabic and Amazigh are official; French is widely used in business and schools.
- Example: À Montréal, on parle français et anglais.
Practice
What is the capital of Senegal?
Dakar is the capital of Senegal.
Which statement about Québec is correct?
Québec is a Canadian province whose official language is French; its capital is Québec.
Which country is known for four national languages?
Switzerland has German, French, Italian and Romansh.
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