which is what you'll get from online courses. Not sure where you can learn genuine Canadian French.

but standard French would be close enough, the big cities in Quebec attract people from France. I went to the grocery store with my half-sister, who is a retired translator, and they even sell snails in the canned meats section for them!

there is French, and then there is Québécois French. Maybe the latter would have some quick instructional sites online?

There are apps that will do live translation in both directions with a little tweaking.

I have used it for Mandarin with a neighbor and it works passably.

It's not learning the language but it at least allows communication, not as personal for sure but better than struggling to communicate.

I'd like to learn French a little better myself and spending 2 weeks with family in France went a long way to at least understanding what was being said.... I am far, far from fluent, but I can spit out a bonjour that is passable as a local in Paris and Quebec. Or so it seems, maybe they are just being kind....

I had good results with this and it's free on YouTube:

but I would like to be able to learn it to speak it with my mother and aunts. It seems a bit like cheating to use an app, although it would be OK in a commercial setting. But this is family we're talking about.

Make sure if you get lessons you get a Quebec teacher.
There are free online videos.
I have used them in the past.

Most people in Quebec speak English too.

Whenever I asked "Parlez vous Anglais?" (Do you speak English?) I was always met with a positive answer at any store or restaurant that I went to. I want to do this for those in my family who do not speak a lot of English.

So if you write a quick note they understand the typical classic French.

Yes most will tolerate American bad French to a certain extent.
If they are busy they will flip to English to save time.

I usually tell them in French that my French language is fairly bad
and quite limited and they can speak English with me if they want.
I won't be offended. They just laugh at me and roll their eyes.
It is always fun.

I love Quebec. Have you gone to Montreal and Quebec City?

I drive up through New York state to Montreal, where I pick up my sister, then we go to Maman's in Quebec City. I much prefer driving in QC than in Montreal, when I left on Saturday, it took me a half hour to get from my sister's apartment to the edge of the city. I'm used to suburban driving!

I know that it would be pleasing to my aunts to be able to have at least a child-level conversation with them. They have been so warm and so loving. My Aunt Nicole the story of my birth and subsequent adoption, the first time she saw me, she looked like she was viewing a miracle. It was through her daughter that I made contact with the family, and fortunately, when I got materials (DNA test, non-identifying info given to my adoptive parents, and pictures of me at many stages of my life) to this cousin, she asked her mother about it, and Aunt Nicole said to please pass the information on to my sister. My sister had been told the truth some thirty years earlier by our mother, but was sworn to secrecy as regards her two other siblings. She said that when she received my information, a giant weight was taken off of her shoulders.

They have all welcomed me with open arms, and I want to be able to communicate with them in French as a way of showing my gratitude. I thank all here who have helped!

Oh yes, Montreal and QC are two completely different cities.

I love QC, it is just wonderful.

I am so glad the adoption search ended up in such a positive way.
And the family has accepted you into the fold in a warm and loving way.

Yes I understand about the language as a way to connect,
be a part of the family, and to show your appreciation.

The French Canadians have rich, unique, tremendous history.
If you are descended from the small original founder's group then
you are DNA related to 90% of the Quebec population!

And many of the buildings you are looking at in QC have been built by
your ancestors. And the old churches are where you ancestors were
baptized, married, buried.

I wish you the best with your new family and lovely QC!

That offers advice for learning Quebec French. I heard awhile back that there are online courses for English as a second language, so I figured there may be online courses for QF. This might help you find some ways to learn some basic phrases, and go from there. Good luck!

https://utalk.com/news/learning-quebecois-french-top-7-online-tools/#:~:text=in%20your%20browser.-,1.,new%20French%20in%20no%20time!

Or, merci beaucoup!

It's a simple process by it sound like it would really help. What you do is after you learn something, test yourself on it in 3 days to see if you remembered it. Then test yourself again in 7 days and then in 30 days.

Another way is what a pharmacist told me years ago about studying a subject. Study with other people and have each person read the material out loud. That way you've heard it, read it, and said it out loud.

I think most of the episodes are on YouTube.

It was all about immersion.There was supposed to be a workbook and text that went along with it, that might still be available somewhere.

I knew the folks here would have some answers!