Learning French no piece of cake, former ombudsman cautions Kevin O'Leary

Canada's first ombudsman for veterans admits he underestimatedjust how difficult it is to become fluent in French a lesson he says Conservative leadership candidate Kevin O'Leary shouldlearn, too.

O'Leary announced he was jumpinginto the crowded leadership race Wednesday, just in time to miss Tueday night's all-French debate in Quebec City. He's faced criticism about his lack of proficiency in Canada's other official language, and he's promised to work on it.

Pat Stogran, a retired colonel and Canada's first veterans ombudsman, has been there: Stogran told CBC'sOttawa Morning thathe used to thinkit would be a "piece of cake" to become bilingual, but now says he couldn't have been more wrong.

"It's probably the most fatiguing work you can do, is to force-feed yourself to become fluent in a second language like that," said Stogran. "Mentally, physically, it was full on."

Born and raised in Quebec

Stogranwas born and raised in northern Quebec, and says he had a decent grasp on what he calls"pidginFrench." But he spent his teen years in British Columbia, and it wasn't until he moved up the ranks in the military that French became imperative to the job.

It's probably the most fatiguing work you can do, is to force-feed yourself to become fluent in a second language like that.- Pat Stogran

"Very much like Mr. O'Leary, I could throw out a really choice phrase, had a great accent and those sort of things, but I knew three verbs," Stogran said.

When the ordercame down to learn French properly, Stograntold his boss it would be easy, and tried to turn down a year of language training. The military sent him anyway.

"Wow, it was a good thing I did," Stograntold host Robyn Bresnahan."In order to gain a degree of fluency it requires concerted effort...I really underestimated the demands that would be placed in order to become sophisticated enough to speak with fellow adults and be convincing," he recalled.

6 months of lessons

For six months, Stogranunderwent eight-hour days of intensive French lessons. After class he'd watch French television or read a French-language copy of retired lieutenant-general Romo Dallaire's bookShake Hands with the Devil.

"I have a pretty thick skin and threw myself into it," he said. "I see it as a gift, especially for anybody in a leadership capacity."

Stogransaidsince leaving his position as ombudsman hehasn't had regular opportunitiesto speak French, and he admits that's taken a toll on his own language skills.

"The ability to speak it requires regular immersion in it."