It’s not just Britons speaking English in France – so why the unfair criticism?

To the Editor,

In October’s Connexion, Samantha David quotes a French taxi driver as saying: "I have clients, they speak in English and they say I should speak English because it is the universal language."

She concludes from this anecdote that British people in France are being outrageously rude.

In fact, I have not met any Britons resident in France who would expect every French person to speak English, or who would dream of saying that to a taxi driver. 

However, I have met plenty of people from the Netherlands, Scandinavia and other non-English-speaking countries who believe that the French collectively have not made as much of an effort to master English as they have, and do not understand why. 

Could the passenger in our story perhaps have been speaking English as his or her second language, hoping that the driver might make an attempt to communicate with them on that basis too?

I speak French with my French friends here: it is natural to want to speak the language of the country where you live. 

However, if you are visiting for a short time and do not speak French then you might well try in English, wherever you are from, especially if you are talking to someone whose work might involve meeting tourists or travellers, such as driving a taxi.

I recently met a Swiss alpinist who spoke excellent English and French, in addition to her native Swiss German. 

When I told her that I work in a French school she said: "Oh that's such a shame that you're teaching maths. 

It would be great if you were teaching English because French people are so bad at it and they really need to learn!"

Name withheld, by email

Do you feel uneasy or had negative reactions when talking in English in France? Let us know at letters@connexionfrance.com