4 ms·

Because we are utterly bad at it. Aside the (deserved) reputation to be prompt to go on strike, the (unfair) reputation that we don't take bath on a daily basis

• wilfra 14y ago
  The only way I knew you were French is that you're saying 'we'. Your English is fine. As is the English of nearly every French person who I've coaxed into speaking it with me. I had to visit a hospital in France and even my doctor refused to speak English! I know she was fluent or close to it because she would nod yes or no when I asked complicated questions with big words, but she wouldn't utter a single word. Why this is, I don't understand, but lack of skill is not the problem. You're all taught English in school, right?
  • jvzr 14y ago
    You have hit a sensible chord: yes we are taught English in school, oftentimes starting very young. However, our children are also very good at pointing fingers at others: should one make a little mistake or have a decidedly french-sounding accent, she is instantly laughed at and pointed at. We learn very quick to be embarrassed and seldom use spoken English as a result.
  • nodata 14y ago
    But understanding a language, even understanding complicated sentences is very different from speaking it.
  • vidarh 14y ago
    Here's a "trick" when dealing with speakers that lack confidence in your preferred language: Try to speak their own language. Badly. I have French people falling over themselves to speak English to me after trying to speak French to them. It works elsewhere too. It often only takes a few halting words to get someone to accept that their own language skills are just as good or better, and want to meet you halfway, or switch fully to English.
• deleted 14y ago
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