[jleyank]

If you're planning to live in Quebec, then French skills are critical. Lots of points for immigration/selection, and things just aren't in English outside of Montreal. If, however, you're trying for someplace like Vancouver, French is less important.

I think various websites publish the skill set(s) the country and/or provinces are looking for. It's trivial for a US-ian to get work here, and it's a 3-6 month process for Europeans to do so (at least in software-related businesses). It also helps if you're young, single, ...

[a-priori]

I'm from southern Ontario, in Canada. Right now I'm living in Lausanne, Switzerland, which is a French-speaking city. Knowing French is absolutely critical for living here, and English is almost useless. Thankfully, I speak a bit of French from school... it's not much, but I can get by, and my girlfriend speaks it quite well.

It seems that most Swiss speak at least two languages well, but these two are usually Swiss German and either French or Italian. Those working touristy jobs usually know enough English to take orders and direct tourists to bathrooms, but that's about it.

Edit: The irony of this article is, of course, that this guy probably now has a better understanding of French than most Canadians outside of Quebec.

[eru]

Most Swiss seems to speak at least three languages well. In addition to Swiss German most of them also know German. (And those are different languages.)

[MikeCapone]

Malheureusement, c'est bien vrai. Je parle d'experience...