Can English speakers understand French?

So, in general, English speakers do not understand French unless they’ve studied French, and vice versa. For both groups, the spoken forms of these languages present the greatest difficulties. English doesn’t have that many easily recognisable cognates with French.

Can a non native English speaker acquire an excellent accent?

Yes, it is completely possible. I have friends who in a matter of years managed to have a completely native-sounding British accent while living in Britain. using the language to the same (or even greater) extent than the native speakers.

What is the most correct English accent?

General Accents are more theoretical than real Some people believe that RP (Received Pronunciation) is the most standard or general accent in British English. Many EFL (English as a Foreign Language) schools teach it because it is supposed to be the most “polished” pronunciation.

Can non English speakers tell the difference between accents?

Accent is the part of dialect concerning local pronunciation. Those sub-dialects are very similar to one another, but non-local listeners can identify firm differences.

How do English speakers learn French?

Table of Contents

1. 1 – French Grammar Is Not Obvious.
2. 2 – The French Are Not All Grammar Geniuses.
3. 3 – Verb Tenses Are Not The Most Important Thing in French.
4. 4 – Learn Your French Pronunciation Rules.
5. 5 – Learn Both Traditional and Everyday French Pronunciation.
6. 6 – Learn Vocabulary That Is Really Useful To You.
7. 7 – To Sum Up.

What languages can English speakers understand?

Some of the most common languages learned by native English speakers are Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese. Next to English, French and Spanish are two of the most spoken languages in the world.

Are most English speakers non-native speakers?

You’re not alone — an estimated 1.5 billion people speak English today, making it the most commonly used language in the world. The majority are non-native speakers with English as their second language, while it serves as a third or fourth language for hundreds of millions more.

How common is it to hear an English accent in France?

Hearing an English accent isn’t as common as hearing a French accent (I believe), for the simple reason that you can get around pretty well by knowing English only in this globalize world. As a French speaking person, I find it lovely to hear a British or an Amercian person speaking French.

Are native speakers at a disadvantage in a lingua franca situation?

“Native speakers are at a disadvantage when you are in a lingua franca situation,” where English is being used as a common denominator, says Jennifer Jenkins, professor of global Englishes at the UK’s University of Southampton. “It’s the native English speakers that are having difficulty understanding and making themselves understood.”

What is it like to speak French with a British person?

As a French speaking person, I find it lovely to hear a British or an Amercian person speaking French. They could have been lazy and stick to speaking English everywhere but no, they took the time and effort to learn french, that in itself makes is very impressive and charming.

What is the difference between the French and English language?

The “mode” or starting position in French is different from English. English front vowels are longer and more tense than French vowels. Schwa exists in both French and English but is used differently in each; in English it affects stress. Using stress patterns and rhythms right is crucial in English.