Yes, the French really Are Terrible at English

by

Perrine Signoret

November 19, 2014

How many French people do you know who speak perfect English? Let’s face it, even the ones who are really good — whose accents you barely notice anymore — are prone to do something charmingly non-Anglo like write out the word “gonna” in a professional email.

Turns out, they’re not alone. Education First (that study-abroad company responsible for the proliferation all those blue-and-white backpacks and t-shirts emblazoned with the letters EF) has published a ranking of English proficiency in 63 non-Anglophone countries. First on the list is Denmark, followed closely by Holland and then Sweden.

But wait, where’s France? Way down at the 29th place, one of the lowest-ranked countries in Europe. And, perhaps not surprisingly for the French, they don’t seem to give a hoot. According to the report, reforms have been put in place to improve English language education in French schools with limited results. Mastery of English, the report says, is not “a subject of national debate.”

For us English-speaking Francophiles, this is good news for two reasons:

1. It adds to the badass charm of the French in general since it attests to their pride in their language and dismissive attitude towards all things practical (English) when in the presence of anything beautiful (French).

2. It is still possible to go to France to learn French, because, chances are, no one is going to try to switch to English on you when you’re struggling to order your café allongé.

Natalie Handel