Why do you expect the French to speak fluent English?

Question

English tourists always complain about us being rude and not making efforts to speak English! It's not that people don't want to, they simply can't!

Few travellers? You're wrong I live in Paris THE most visited city in the world!

Treefrog: I'm French and as far as I'm concerned I speak English (not as well as you maybe).

Answer 1

Perhaps because the French expected me to speak perfect French. I went a few years ago, and speak decent (but admittedly not fluent) French, but I got snickers and guffaws every time I mispronounced or misconjugated a word.

I treat the way I got treated. Parisians were jerks, I'm a jerk right back.

Anyway, I happen to think that a French accent, on a woman at least, is quite attractive. So I'm perfectly fine with accents. And English is a hard language to learn, sure. But don't expect Americans or Britons to be better that other people just for that.

Answer 2

I'm French and live in England. So, why would I answer your question? Because I used to be a waitress. I found that all British people I met always tried to speak French. They had learnt a few sentences, some of them could speak very good French. So, overall, at least where I was working, we loved the English! They were great, and very nice.

As for Americans, I've never met an American tourist, but they are the ones who, I've been told, think that everyone understands them!

I would like to question the accuracy of the poll which says that 65% of the French population speaks English. Although it's getting better, and although we pretty much all study English at school, it doesn't mean we can speak it very well. Quite the contrary. Also, although some people might be able to help tourists a little, they can have trouble understanding the different American/Australian/ British, etc. accents!

True, some people might be prejudiced against Americans. But if people just come up to you and start asking questions in English without even asking if you can speak English, above all if you're in a hurry (typical of Parisians, the rest of France would say!!!), I definitely understand why you'd ignore them!

As for the fact that some people don't clean after their dog, everybody complains about it, not just tourists, and this has nothing to do with language. And by the way, Dan the Brit, do you live in London? Because if you do, you probably have noticed the large amount of rubbish lying on the pavement or on the tube. That's just as gross! And where I live, people don't really clean after their dog either! But I agree: as far as dog poop is considered, the French are not yet used to cleaning up the mess.

Answer 3

I visited France earlier this year with my Family.

We are English.

We learjned a bit of French before we went and found that many of the French people had a very good level of English.

We were grateful for this but still tried to use what French we could as much as possible.

I think that a lot of English poeple are a bit lazy when it comes to learning other languages as English is the most spoken language.

Personally I think that if anyone is visiting a country with a language barrier it is only polite to learn some basic phrases.

I am sorry you have experienced tourists complaining but please be assured that we are not all like that.

Answer 4

I, for one, don't. I guess I don't really qualify as a tourist, though, and I'm not English - I'm American. So maybe I shouldn't answer this question, but I just wanted to say that I sympathize.

I was a French major in college and spent my junior year living and studying in France. I live in Germany now (and am learning German), but I still visit France from time to time. I was/am also annoyed by the very thing you are describing. I have always tried very hard to assimilate myself into the culture as much as possible, and I find it quite disconcerting to come across Americans who are expecting to find a little slice of America on the other side of the ocean. Not everyone is that way, of course! But some are, and it bothers me.

By the way, your English is excellent. You write better than a lot of us do!

Answer 5

I think English speaking people make the assumption that everyone speaks English or is learning to.

I speak french as well, and after hearing this complaint, I tried to spend a whole day trying to find out how people who treat me differently if I spoke french.

Most people were patient with me, and tried to use the little french they knew. Some people treated me like an idiot, and assumed that I would understand what they were saying if they spoke louder and faster. Sometimes people would just get angry at me, (this might have more to do with the fact that I was trying to understand what it was like to live in an English speaking country without speaking English, and my acting wasn't that great).

Is it arrogance? lack of understanding? I have no idea but it is real.

Answer 6

I'm French too!
I don't mind speaking English with English tourists but I love when they speak some French because they have a cute accent. I'm sure that when English and American tourists try to say some words in French, French people are far nicer to them.

Answer 7

There is a little battle going on. Recent surveys showed that 65%
of Frenchmen do speak English but many are not willing to oblige.
Why, I don‘t know but can only guess that there always has been
some rivalry in this dispute. I regret that I do not speak French but would gladly do so when necessary. However, I think this problem
will be over as soon as common sense prevails. After all, it is a plus
to be able to speak other languages both in business and pleasure.

Answer 8

Americans think that the entire world knows and speaks English, we are not taught any other language in schools besides "electives" and then it's more for a grade than to become fluent. Some Americans are extremely ignorant that other cultures exist in this world. When I travel to visit my cousins in Canada (which is bilingual) I am certain to bring my French-English dictionary, I don't know the language but I do my best to communicate. It's kind of the equivalent of going to visit someone in their home and expecting them to follow your rules - it's just rude.

Answer 9

It's not just the French, English people seem to expect everyone in the world to speak fluent English.

Personally I am very grateful if I am in a foreign country where I don't speak the language if people are kind enough to speak English to me.

I am English and I don't really like it when I travel to London and foreign people get angry with me if I ask them to repeat something or I don't understand their English. I fully understand that they are trying their best to learn and speak a language whilst working in the UK and am always polite but if I don't understand then I'm afraid I do have to ask for clarification.

Answer 10

I agree, i've lived in France for just over 9 years, and have worked hard (along with a lot of help from french friends and neighbours) in order to be able to communicate capably in french; It makes me ashamed to be english when I hear the arrogant, ignorant attitude of a lot of english visitors to France...and some I know who have lived here longer than me, and are too bone idle and self centered to even try to learn the language...let me say this to any english speaking people, british, american, australian, or from wherever...THINK...if someone from france, germany, egypt or wherever visits your country, would you expect all your nationals to learn their language? no you wouldn't, I have visited a number of countries, and I can say without any hesitation, the French people are the kindest and most considerate (as well as patient) people I have ever met...anyone thinking of visiting a country where they don't speak any of the language, take the trouble to at least buy a phrase book and make an effort...it will be appreciated