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Would be easier if in the two years I lived there I would’ve learned enough French.
One would think two years is enough to pick up a bit of the local language.
Two years certainly could be enough, but it really depends what the environment. If OP, like many English speakers who live in France for a couple of years, was teaching English, or studying in an English speaking postgraduate course, and then socialising with a mix of people from different places, who all use English as their shared language... It can be pretty easy to miss out on a lot of immersion.
And the level of language to comfortably phone up a hospital, explain a slightly odd request and be bounced around different departments with the administration... I know plenty of native French speakers who would avoid doing that.
This. And plus, privacy. Would you trust someone phoning you up from another country not speaking the language well enough asking for a medical record with identification they don’t use? Maybe OFII or the social worker who was very close with me could have helped, but the hoops would be not worth the trouble just so I can talk about that one crazy time I was on 500mg of Tercian a night.
I feel like you're doing something wrong if you live in a non English country and never get exposed to the local language.
Source: am living in a non English country
Defintely, it's a waste of an opportunity. But as someone also living in non-English speaking country, it's surprisingly a lot of effort to make sure I actually expose my self to the language. If you're work and social circles are all predominately English speaking, you need to take active steps to have meaningful exposure (and you most certainly should!)
I think it's different now that in the past, because it's so easy to live in a bubble and spend a lot of time communicating online. Even back in the 'old country' I barely spoke with strangers, beside shop interactions. I have my headphones on, listening to music, watching streaming services, and interacting with my friends and family. Now that I'm abroad, I can do pretty much the same thing, I don't need to watch the local TV channels I can just watch YouTube, I don't desperately need to make local friends, because I videochat and game with my buddies back home very easily.
It's taken a couple of years here to realise that without actively pushing myself, I'm not really picking up much of the language. Now I make myself listen to talk radio in the car, and try to overhear conversations on the train, rather than existing in my normal bubble. It's absolutely worth it, but if I'd been motivated I could have made myself consume shows, radios, etc in the target language back I the 'old country'. And while there's certainly more possible language partners to practice with, if they don't emerge naturally in your social circle, then it's not all that much easier than finding someone back home who wanted to improve their English to be my language buddy.
Tldr it's a waste to not learn the local language, but failing to do so isn't so much "doing something wrong" as "not actively pursuing a challenging but reward interest".
I have mental issues that severely impact memory. I am proud of my conversational level of French given all circumstances in my life. I can say and read most of it, but have a thick accent and trouble with southern accents in France. Northern french is easier for me to hear. There are so many aspects to language. I suggest Paul Taylor on youtube for a little insight.
I was exposed? Lol
I can speak as much as a french 2 year old. Pas beaucoup. A2 certified.
Hey, A2 would do!
Or even learn how to use google translate.
Have you ever learned French? The words bleed together and it is worse in the south. Pouvez-vous repeter is not something they like to hear every 2 seconds. Usually they switch to english because speaking with an accent is offensive. I can read it all day. Not to mention my husband at that time refused to speak in his native tongue with me. And where we worked they were all research scientists who had to learn multiple languages and came from around the world. I was not allowed to go anywhere without him and he confiscated my phone and destroyed it multiple times or said it was stolen. 🤷♀️
Haha, yes I have. But I'm Irish, so blending words together in English is nor unusual.
My experience of French speaking in France is that the French appreciate the effort, but prefer the language not to be mangled, so will switch to English if you try French. However, if you don't try, they may suddenly forget all their English.
The ohine is either a funny story or abusive behaviour. Idk
And through most of Covid man.