I agree with most of your article. I learnt my ‘schoolboy French’ in England in the early 70’s. England was very interested in joining the Common Market so French was required classes, German if you handle both. It was the government that had the motivation, not me. I went to work in Paris years later and found the French I learnt was inadequate. Eventually my French improved during the 3 months I was there. I later moved to Germany a learnt a little German. I came to the conclusion that English was used in business world I think because of the influence of Britain and later the USA. It was hard to talk to natives to improve my French or German as they wanted to practice their English. Motivation is paramount in the learning process for English speakers because it is so easy to give up.
Yes, that’s the problem when you’re an English speaker. You don’t really need to speak another language. In French, we call that un cadeau empoisonné (a poisoned gift).
I agree with most of your article. I learnt my ‘schoolboy French’ in England in the early 70’s. England was very interested in joining the Common Market so French was required classes, German if you handle both. It was the government that had the motivation, not me. I went to work in Paris years later and found the French I learnt was inadequate. Eventually my French improved during the 3 months I was there. I later moved to Germany a learnt a little German. I came to the conclusion that English was used in business world I think because of the influence of Britain and later the USA. It was hard to talk to natives to improve my French or German as they wanted to practice their English. Motivation is paramount in the learning process for English speakers because it is so easy to give up.
Yes, that’s the problem when you’re an English speaker. You don’t really need to speak another language. In French, we call that un cadeau empoisonné (a poisoned gift).
Très bon article pour rester motivé, Timo. Je pense que le français m’aidera beaucoup dans ma carrière au Canada.
Merci Sid. C’est une très bonne raison d’apprendre le français !