Julie Barlow & Jean-Benoit Nadeau

Partners in life and writing, Jean-Benoît Nadeau and Julie Barlow live, work and are raising their children in Canada’s two official languages and two founding cultures.

Together and separately, they have published six books in French and in English in Canada, the US, the UK and France. They have published more than 1,000 magazine and newspaper articles and have won 40 journalism and literary awards, including National Magazine Awards and a Fulbright Scholarship.

Nadeau and Barlow’ first book, Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong explains how the French think and organize themselves – from their penchant for centralization to their love of street protests and five-course meals. The book has sold 200,000 copies to date in 5 languages. It is popular among Francophiles in North America, Europe and Asia and used in university courses on French culture in the U.S.

Nadeau and Barlow’s second book, The Story of French (St. Martin’s Press, 2006), is a popular history of the French language that explains how French speakers across the planet think about their language. The New York Times praised The Story of French as “a highly accessible history of the French language.” The Montreal Gazette called it “a mind-altering experience.” Translated into French and Japanese, The Story of French won the 2007 Mavis Gallant Award for Nonfiction.

Nadeau and Barlow have spoken about France and the French language at 80 conferences and events in Canada, the U.S., Europe and Japan. They have written about France and French for newspapers and magazines in Canada, the U.S. and Europe, including The New York Times, L’Express and the Courier international, The International Herald Tribune and the Toronto Star. They are contributors to the Quebec public affairs magazine L’actualité.

The couple lived in France from 1999-2001 when Nadeau was a fellow of the Institute for Current World Affairs. In 2010, they lived in Phoenix, Arizona while Barlow was a Fulbright Scholar at Arizona State University. They also lived in Toronto and have travelled widely in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and New Zealand.

Trilingual in English, French and Spanish, Nadeau and Barlow are now based in Montreal where they live with their twin daughters. They are working on new books about Spanish and Arabic. 

1. Another Mind

    Starting from their personal experience, the authors give tips on learning another language. They answer questions like: What do we gain when we learn another language? Why is it such a previous gift for yourself or to your children? Why are you never too young or too old to learn another language?

1. Bilingualism

    A decade ago, the British Council declared that the future would be bleak for unilingual English speakers. Globalization puts bilingual, or even trilingual people at an advantage. The best language to do business is: the language of the client! Think of China, think of Mexico, think of Afghanistan, but also of Europe, with whom Canada is negotiating a trade pact. For Canadians, whose dual national tongues are also world's most international languages, French is a good place to start. This presentation explains what you gain when you acquire a new language. To quote American writer Rita Mae Brown: “Language is the roadmap of a culture.”

1. French, the Other Global Language

    Starting with some stunning facts and figures, the authors explain how French became a global language and why it remains influential in the world to this day. By drawing comparisons with other great international languages, they demonstrate how French has remained a dynamic creative force and a language of culture, ideas, business, diplomacy and science. They also explain how French speakers view themselves, their language and the world.

1. Is That French?

    This presentation shows how French evolved into its present form, or rather, forms, since most of the presentation explains the stunning variations of French over time and distance, and demonstrate that there has never been such a thing as "pure French."

1. Francophones, Anglophones and Cellularphones: Do You Speak Francophone?

    The authors begin their presentation by explaining how a simple word that did not exist fifty years ago "francophone" has created a sea of change in the worldview of French speakers, and has changed their view of Canada. From this point, they explain the values all French-speakers share.

1. The Riddles of France

    From the veil to labour riots and globalization, France has its own way of dealing with issues. The authors explain how France deals with the modern world while remaining faithful to its personality and values. This provides a unique reflection on how France continues to matter.

1. What makes the French so French?

    This presentation provides the key to many unanswered questions about the French, like their fascination with great ideas, their so-called arrogance, their fondness for food and their supposed hedonism. The authors connect the dots between French customs and French society, and explain how the French created a society that is, in many ways, a model.