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16/05/2008, 20:08 Helen Joined on 07/01/2007 61 & Reading Posts 58 French or English? I always communicate in French with utility companies etc in France.  My French is not bad though not error-free, and I struggle (and give up!) to include the accents on an English keyboard, so it looks like there are more faults than there really are. On the most recent occasion, I got a reply in French, with a PS in English "Don't hesitate to write the answer in English if you prefer.'  The same thing has happened in shops. What do others do in such circumstances?!  Is it churlish to reply in French when invited to speak English? (I wonder how many water companies in England would invite a French person to reply in French....!)      Report

16/05/2008, 20:17 woolybanana'sbrother Joined on 18/01/2008 Posts 1,321 Re: French or English? It is very commendable that the French are beginning to realise the need to use English as the Brits use Urdu and loads of other languages (irony here). However, if at all possible you should use French. Because it is part of a learning process. And because it is essential to speak the language of the country you adopt/move to/wanna spend time in. Otherwise you will always be an ethnic (in the linguistic sense) minority and a poor relation and an outsider and condemned to life outside or worse, in a Brit ghetto. So Helen, thank them in French and keep persevering if you can. Do not try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig.    Report

17/05/2008, 8:00 Richard T Joined on 26/02/2008 Posts 91 Re: French or English?  Helen wrote: My French is not bad though not error-free, and I struggle (and give up!) to include the accents on an English keyboard, so it looks like there are more faults than there really are. If you mean you struggle to find the right codes etc for accents - rather than simply not knowing what accents to use - download  the "Type French Characters" application at www.avisoft.co.uk/FrenchChars/TypeFrenchCharacters.htm  . It's excellent and saves a lot of frustration. Richard T    Report

17/05/2008, 8:29 Frenchie Joined on 31/05/2007 2 Sèvres,79 Posts 3,878 Re: French or English? I do just the same.........  Now I realize maybe I shouldn't. When  British people speak French to me ( in France) and really try hard , I sometimes say they can speak English if they find it more comfortable, because I understand.. And now I feel guilty, I realize it is not right. Thanks for posting this, helps me think about it . Happy    Report

17/05/2008, 12:58 Helen Joined on 07/01/2007 61 & Reading Posts 58 Re: French or English? Thanks for the link to the french accented letters - a great help! I agree about sticking to French and will continue to do so (apart from the fact that I think it's simply good manners to speak French in France, I need the practice!).  But the offer from Veolia was very well intentioned and made me feel like I was getting excellent service from them, so no need to feel guilty Frenchie!       Report

17/05/2008, 13:30 Jacqui Too Joined on 23/08/2004 Shropshire / Dordogne 24 Posts 669 Re: French or English? I have a similar problem with our vet! Every time I speak in French he wants to speak English. He is rather dishy so I'm already at a disadvantage if you know what I mean Jackie At least with a spell-checker I can appear somewhat educated!    Report

17/05/2008, 15:03 dolly daydream Joined on 30/09/2007 Posts 27 Re: French or English? I thought I had the same problem with my doctor as Jacqui has with her vet, but the more French I spoke he finally told me how tiring he found speaking English.  Only problem is I would be there all day if we spoke only French.  We will have to share the load although once someone starts to speak in English I find it very difficult to concentrate on speaking French, if you know what I mean!!!    Report

17/05/2008, 17:07 Judith Joined on 01/02/2006 Posts 253 Re: French or English?  Jacqui Too wrote: I have a similar problem with our vet! Every time I speak in French he wants to speak English. I find that if people have some English, they like to practice too, but often I find they actually have less English than I have French.  Doctors, vets, and other similar type professionals often have some English as much of the research they need to access is in English (be it UK or US English) but it will be directed towards their own professional subject rather than ordinary English.  Whereas I find the English often have a grasp of ordinary French, but they struggle when it comes to detailed subjects (as exampled by the many questions on this forum). Judith W1 and Aude    Report

18/05/2008, 14:02 Just Katie Joined on 11/03/2006 Posts 3,676 Re: French or English?  Judith wrote: , but often I find they actually have less English than I have French.  Doctors, vets, Well I cannot wait to be in that position.  I always speak in French to people and feel quite frustrated when they answer me in English.  Is it because my French is utterly *** and they feel sorry for me or are they stealing my thunder in trying to get a free English lesson for themselves? Anyway, I must persevere to improve. Another thing, I was told by a French colleague that when I speak French, I could be from anywhere in the world and that I don't sound at all English.  I don't really know what to make of that either.    Report

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