Why do some french people get so upset when I say that most fresh speak really bad English?

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diehia

Because it is the truth !

I'm not proud of this fact, but I know for sure it's true. Seeing how English is taught at school doesn't help !
I've always tried to fight against French mentality which tends to make people say, when foreign people come for holidays to France (or to live), "they come here, so they have to speak French" !
Probably too proud + a bit lazy ???

I've spent hours talking about that subject with Dutch friends, but it's a bit harder to sum up in few lines .....

Hybrid

Considering the size of the population of the scandinavian countries, its strong international economic dynamism and the low importance of danish, norwegian and swedish languages out of the region, I think, for scandinavians, it is important to have good use of english and other languages. It is quiet impressive the quantity of languages many scandinavians can speak and its a good indicator of culture and progress.
It is probable that many french do not have a perfect english, but their reality is different, french is one of the most important languages worldwide and they are proud of it. Maybe also the confrontation atmosphere against the USA, discourages the will to perfect their english. I think is just a matter that they are not as exposed to english as other countries and they sometimes dont even have the need or they just dont wanna try. Ive met frenchs that speak awesome english and swedes with quiet poor english (or maybe too shy to speak), I think is difficult to generalize, there is people with good and bad skills in english everywhere.

northmiamibeach1975

And americans are so good with foreign languages... right. <----------SARCASM !

Americans are the worst. they have no idea, and because they tend to generalize everything, they get more confused when they realize that France is not like Italy, or Japan is not like China or Brazil is not like Argentina !

Princess Buttercup

Why would you say that the French speak bad english to a french speaker? How insulting!? Don't get offended by the response when you ask an insulting question.

I know a thing or two

That's not really a fair question....I would think it would have a lot to do with the dialect.......The French are a very proud people...not unlike us Americans.....NO ONE likes to be told negative things. The way I see it ANYONE who can speak two or more languages is doing pretty darn good. Regardless of how it sounds. Heck most Americans don't speak properly LOL

larry

We are not upset because it's true ; a lot of peoples in France don't speak English very well or they don't want to speak.In Scandinavia it's an other academic culture and it's the good way. We are always to late in France . "c'est la vie " ( life is life ) Bonjour de Paris. BYE.

La Bavure ! Â¡ ÇÉ¹nÊŒÉq Él

I'm agree and I'm French !

The fact is many Frenchies think French is an international language ! (it was, but not yet !)
In school just few peoples per class are interested in English !

dawn !

ausblue

those French people you speak of are sooks

Faith

As a French, I have to admit that our English is not excellent. However, at least we do make effort to learn a foreign language!
I live in England, and they hardly can speak another language, they say themselves that they are very lazy because they think that everyone speak English, which is so not true!
You may want to do an effort at your spelling in English as well!

jtafani

As a French I will answer it simply :
English is hard.
The fault is our school system that force us to read English. We learn first how to read before knowing how to speak.
The first time I arrived in the US a man ask me :
"Are you doing ?"
I answer "Nothing"
Enjoy it !
And one day I say to a friend that he can sleep in the roof of my room if he wants. I had in mind he can sleep in the ground.

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