Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did attending French Canadian school and English classes affect Jack Kerouac?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Portrait of Jack Kerouac, American novelist and poet, looking over his shoulder in a collared shirt, circa 1965. — Jack Kerouac American novelist and poet Jack Kerouac, c. 1965.

Jack Kerouac’s early education significantly shaped his perspective on his own country. Because he attended a French Canadian school in the morning and studied in English in the afternoon, he grew up speaking joual, a Canadian dialect of French.12

This linguistic background created a sense of detachment; although he was an American, this dual-language upbringing led him to view the United States as if he were a foreigner.12