How Canadian Labeling Laws Can Help You Learn French at the Supermarket

Canadians, and visitors to Canada, know that products sold in Canada have to be labeled in both English and French.  It’s one of the things that Canadian customs checks for when products cross the border.

What you probably didn’t know is that these Canadian labeling laws make every trip to a Canadian supermarket AND every trip to a US supermarket a chance to learn more French.

You see, businessmen hate making separate English and French versions of the same thing, so a lot of times, they simply print both English and French labels on the same box so they can sell the same version to the US and Canada.

Many products sold in the US like this box of frozen squid for sale in Hawaii are labeled in both English and French.

Pay Attention to French Labels

If you live in Canada, turn every trip to the supermarket into a chance to learn a few new French words.

If you live in the United States, turn every trip to the supermarket into a search for products labeled in both English and French.  You will find them!

When you find one, compare the labels and learn to read the French words.
Make it a game!

You’ll turn your shopping time into French study time.   What a deal!
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by Brent Van Arsdell
Brent is an engineer . . . and a world traveler.  When he’s not traveling the world, he’s busy making software to help people Learn Canadian French and other languages.

He works for Language101.com