Language Myths and Realities
"The French Hate When You Speak English"
The Complex Truth: - Effort matters more than perfection - Starting in French shows respect - English acceptable after trying French - Younger generations more flexible - Context determines expectations - Tourist areas more accommodating
"My High School French is Useless"
Why Any French Helps: - Shows respect for culture - Opens doors closed to English-only speakers - Mistakes forgiven when effort shown - French people often help strugglers - Confidence grows with practice - Accent less important than trying
The Accent Obsession
Pronunciation Realities: - Perfect accent not expected - Comprehension matters most - French accents vary regionally - Effort appreciated over perfection - Improvement comes naturally - Communication trumps perfection