Anglo French rags.

[Blaze]

We belong to an association of bénévole interpreters for the hospitals in the area and most of our Brit "clients" have lived here for years but have virtually no knowledge of French. They expect all medical people to speak English, which is not always the case, and their lives have revolved around English-speaking friends and family and English TV.

[demi]

I find that very sad, Blaze. And bordering on rude not to bother to learn the language of the country you live in.

[Spectrum]

This is turning into the "holeir than thou" sort of comments, so you speak perfect French good on you, but don't knock other people that are less fortunate than yourselves there can be a multitude of reasons, yet you seem to have a go at us that read UK papers but you are big contributors to a basically a UK language forum some would call you out as been hypocrites, yes you should try to learn the language I can speak some French but useless on the phone, I left my last French course for the simple reason there was a person who questioned everything the teacher was trying to teach us, he was embarrassing to listen to, the teacher was a young lady and out of her depth with him. My Latin is not too bad, not much call for it around here.

[RobertArthur]

The language gym: why do so many UK students drop modern foreign languages?

[Char]

This is turning into the "holeir than thou" sort of comments, so you speak perfect French good on you, but don't knock other people that are less fortunate than yourselves there can be a multitude of reasons, yet you seem to have a go at us that read UK papers but you are big contributors to a basically a UK language forum some would call you out as been hypocrites, yes you should try to learn the language I can speak some French but useless on the phone, I left my last French course for the simple reason there was a person who questioned everything the teacher was trying to teach us, he was embarrassing to listen to, the teacher was a young lady and out of her depth with him. My Latin is not too bad, not much call for it around here.

Let's not get personal and I don't think it's being hypocritical 'talking' to other english speakers in english on a forum. Heavens above should I talk to my english relatives in French as well?
As for being fortunate to be able to speak and understand French - I'm not sure fortunate is the right word really I think for most of us it's been bloody hard work and still is, I certainly didn't wake up one day suddenly fluent in French and I don't think I ever will be no matter how much effort I put in.

[Blaze]

Thank you, Char, well put.

I get fed up with people saying "You must be gifted/fortunate" as if I was born to learn French easily. I wasn't. As Char neatly put it, it was bloody hard work and still is. However good you are, speaking on the phone is what most of us dread and if the reception isn't good or the person the other end doesn't speak into the microphone, it's a nightmare. Include that with trying to understand someone who's just back from rather a good lunch ....

Of course some people will have more difficulty than others in learning something, whether it's a language, chemistry formulae, dressmaking or writing neatly. That's not patronising or holier than thou - it's fact.

As for speaking English on an English forum - it's fun and it's virtually the only chance I get to write in English (I don't count Whatsapp !). I read various on-line newspapers in English because you get a different point of view to the French one - and I enjoy it !
There's nothing wrong with trying to keep your own language going - it's surprisingly easy to forget words and expressions if you don't use them regularly. And no, it's not just a question of age and poor memory (use it or lose it ...) We laugh when French people ask us if we speak English or French together at home

I hope I never lose the thirst for learning new things and having new experiences. I've found if I really want those things, I have to put in the time and effort. The French are wonderfully accepting of our faults, and I am endlessly ribbed about my accent. But I tell them that a notaire advised me when we first came to France nearly 30 years ago "Don't ever lose your accent, it's mignon" Well, the notaire must be right, mustn't he ?!

[demi]

I certainly was not being 'holier than thou'. I've been living in France a mere five years and work hard at my French.

I still stand by my belief that it is rude not to make any attempt to learn the language & expect French people to speak English.

[ajm]

Someone asked us if we spoke in French to each other. I said we don't even speak in English.

[Pathca]

Well I was right I knew this morning which way the thread would go

[exile]

Well 23 years after buying our house here, and 13 years after being here permanently, I am ashamed to say my French is still worse than my German. With few (=0) opportunities to get formal classes here, I am reliant on what I read and somewhat stunted discussions with the locals. Many are surprisingly tolerant of my bad pronunciation and at times lack of vocab..

Telephone calls can be an ordeal and I frequently have to apologise and explain that they are speaking too quickly. This results in them speaking slowly for at most one sentence.

OH's French is much worse but she is profoundly, close to completely deaf and even in English relies heavily on lip reading.

I therefore have to act as translator and spokesperson. I am sometimes surprised that the person will offer to speak in English, but no way do I expect it or rely on it.

So please no more you/we should have better French. There are good reasons why some find it very difficult.