Posted in France forum
Hi all of you
I’m reacting the fact that some of you believe French don't want to speak in English
( and are rude , and are .... all what you use to say)
I don't think that is true
The 1st thing to say is that, it can happened .... but not that often .... we also have stupid idiot, like anywhere else !
The 2nd thing, that is very important, is to know that there are 65 millions French people, and about 80 millions tourists people visiting France every year ....
That's mean in a street, (and specially in Paris), you have more chance to meet people that are not French.
The 3rd thing to say is that English is not the international language ... this is the international language for trading.
French is the international language for diplomacy ... it's mean, it should be the international language for people to met...
Personally, i don't care, because the most important is that people can talk together, but in theory, everyone should speak French....
The 4th think is that, in every country, people appreciate when you have have learn to say " hello", Do you speak English"... in they own language.... (I'm traveling a lot, and i use do learn the 5/6 words/sentences, that showing i 've interest for the culture i'm visiting, and that i'm the one that have to adapt myself to that country)
I promise you, it change EVERYTHING
People don't expect you to be fluent in the language of the country you are visiting, but they appreciate the fact that you are trying ....
and maybe they wishing more from English native, because (unfortunately) those last believe everybody MUST speak English
Sorry, but not all the people have to speak English .... only the one that are traveling, and have to manage with foreigners...
It's better if all of them could, but it is not the case...
Always remember when you are visiting a foreign country that most of people don't need you !
The 6th thing to think about is that if you have access to all those people complaining about the French, you don't have access to all the bad behavior French people have to deal with some foreigners
And to be honest, most of French people don't speak about it
I live in Paris, and i could told you about American, brits, ... that have been very rude.... anyway, people from everywhere can .
but i won't, because, i believe that each time you are starting a sentence with "THE", you are going to say something wrong.... it's better starting a sentence with "SOME"...
The 7 thing i want to say, is that, life is like where you driving your car .... You always remember the few number of idiots, but you never remember the 99% that are not
The 8th thing i wish to tell you, is that French are not that comfortable with English speaking .... They are just few of them than can, if they are old, and most of French people have a scholar basic level of English.
So they are the one that can't really speak, the one that wish but are shame not to .....
And at last, they is the most important thing to understand
IT IS HARD TO SPEAK A FOREIGN LANGUAGE .... as you, (most of) English native people, didn’t learn how it is hard, you don't manage how to slow down, to use simple words, you don't use to take care of your accent (that make some English native unable to understand each other) .... Most of you swallowing, mumbling, using slang, local expressions ....
MOST OF YOU DON'T EVEN TRY TO MAKE THE EFFORT TO BE UNDERSTOOD, not because you are a bad person, but only because you are watching things your side !
As exemple, iI understand correctly Americans, Aussie ...... but i'm always in trouble with the Brits, Irish, ....
So please, try to get out of the box
Don't judge people about nationality
Remember that they are people that are in a rush, or in a bad mood that day, as you can be
Remember also that most of the time; it's more a question of education rules
Think that what is correct in one country is rude in an other one
(in France, it is absolutely rude not to say hello, thank you, and goodbye in shops, with telephone, ....)
Consider French as more formal when they don't know the people, witch made us looking as "cold" people ...
But we are not.
AND PLEASE, CAN YOU STOP THE FRENCH BASHING WE CAN FIND EVERYWHERE, FOR ANY REASON, and most of the time for UNFEAR reasons.
It's to bad you can't read or listening French medias .... Because, if my country is not perfect, they is one thing i'm sure about ....
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU AS YOU (OFTEN) TALKING ABOUT US -
THE WAY YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT US IS THAT OFTEN A SHAME, THAT IT MAKE YOU NOT ALLOWED TO TEACH US ABOUT ARROGANCE AND RUDNESS
NOW, open your mind
French don't hate American, or Brits, and don't critic them all the time . In fact, it is the exact opposite.
French don't believe they are superior, and don't believe they have the best system
They are French people that are rude, but most people are not.
French people use to bashing themselves a lot
French are not dirty .... That stupid cliché is coming from the 60's .... it's coming from the fact that most of people use
"savon de Marseille" (Marseille soap, witch is considered as a washing powder, and not as a soap (despite his name )...
so for the statistic, french where supposed to use 1 soap a year.... now you know it is bullshit!
French army are not monkeys that surrender .... They are brave
watch this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6C5P-AYGdY
and this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWwLcykedcs
about the Algerian war, French army win it .... They have lost it politicaly, because French from France were agree with the independance of algeria, witch has almost create a civilian war
And about the falure in indochina, remember that the English name for that country is Vietnam
I don't believe Amercan has been that succesfull
I'm not a nationalist
I know my country have bad side, and good side
France is not perfect
But if you keep, bashing us like that (for not saying shiting on us), how can you expect to be and to feel welcome ?!
DOES IT ALL THIS MAKING RINGING THE BELL TO YOU ?
Now that all this is said, can we start now having normal relationship all togetter
anyway, it won't vhange who I'm
but it can help to make the word better
Thanks reading me
and sorry if my english is not that good
denis