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of English school in Metro “French people don’t speak English for foreigners,
even if they know.” In Japan, we often say like this. In some case, it is
true. But it is also true that there are some misunderstandings within that
saying. Misunderstanding
1. French people know English language very well. It is not true. I don’t
know the exact percent, but those who speak English, they are exceptions.
Of course there are more people who speak English than in Japan, even if
they are functionaries or businessmen. One of the
reasons is that they can speak French everywhere. Not only in African
countries, that were French colonies, in South of Belgium, where French is
mother language, but also in Olympic game, in European Union, in NATO, in
the European institutions, commune language is French. Therefore, they
don’t feel necessity to study foreign languages so much. Misunderstanding
2. French people speak to foreigners in French. It is not correct, either.
In France, it is very difficult to tell who is foreigner. Especially Paris
is melting pot of races. But they are often French. Even if they are
descendant of immigrates, second or third generations speak French very
well. Maybe,
that is the different effect from U.S where exists Italian community in
which nobody speak English. As the
result, when they ask the way on streets, it is common to speak in French.
Sometimes, Japanese tourists embarrassed by French asking the way are
found. But French don’t regard them as foreigners. Misunderstanding
3. Japanese people think “foreigners”, especially whites, always speak
English. Of course, it is not true. Not only in France, but in any
courtiers, they try to speak to you in their mother language, like Japanese
people speak in Japanese. French text Japanese text
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