WHY Are BRITS Moving to LIVE IN FRANCE? | Easy English 188

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Easy Languages is an international video project aiming at supporting people worldwide to learn languages through authentic street interviews and expose the street culture of participating partner countries abroad. Episodes are produced in local languages and contain subtitles in both the original language as well as in English.

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Producers of this episode: Mitchell Hargreaves, Isabell Hargreaves-Schmid

#learnenglish #easyenglish #easylanguages

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[sabinenadal]

Learnig the language is the "minimum" effort when you emigrate to a country. I will never understand people that chose to live outside their native country and don't make the effort to learn the local language.

[gdwlaw]

I moved to France, learnt the language, used my diploma to find work, my job is executive level in sales, I have never been unemployed, my children are born here, my friends are French. I was refused an interview by the BBC before Brexit as I didn't represent the brit expats that have retired in France! Taxes are high but public services are very good. I don't feel stressed here at all and that includes my business life. Good luck

[daffodilwanders]

the guy who's been there 25 years and says impossible to integrate....I'm sorry but that's on him

[vchiron]

"How have you integrated, into French life? : It's not possible ! No, no!" says the man who lives in France for 25 years. "And how's your French ? : the same man responds : "Non-existant, non-existant". Sans commentaire...

[pierre-frederickgalland]

I am French and I lived for a few years in Montignac, Dordogne in the South-West of France. I have never seen so many English people. I made a few friends, but it's difficult to mix with English expatriates as they live among themselves. They thus form a diaspora which does not mix too much with the French population. And that’s a shame.
I knew some who had been there for 17 years and who barely knew how to say 2 sentences. Like this gentleman who cannot go out without his wife even though he has been there for 22 years.
Many have had to renovate houses by bringing in craftsmen from England. Suffice to say that this does not facilitate integration in the region. I knew French craftsmen who, when they were called to repair installations that they had not done, sent them away. Rightly so.
I understand that you can be homesick or that the French language is hard to understand, but there are limits.
Dordogne, Lot, Gers, Lot & Garonne... are French departments loved by our English friends.
There must also be hints of former English occupation during the pre-Hundred Years War period. This is also why this part of France attracts them.
What makes me laugh the most is when foreigners (Americans or Anglo-Saxons) complain that the French don't know how to speak English.
Firstly because it is false (at least 50% of them speak it) but above all because those who complain about it do not speak a single word of a foreign language.

[vivienhodgson]

It is certainly true that you REALLY need to learn French if you want to live in France, as, although many French people understand a fair amount of English (particularly the younger generation, who've been around computers since they were in nappies!), very few of them actually speak it, especially in rural areas. The other way of getting to know people is by joining in something where language is not necessarily a barrier. When my husband and I retired to France in 1996, we promptly joined a local choir, as we've always enjoyed singing. We do have the advantage of speaking fairly good French, which has certainly improved over the years, but choir music comes in many languages . We were certainly called on as a useful resource in the pronunciation of English language songs, and only occasionally taken to task for our French pronunciation!

[FrugalQueeninFrance]

People under estimate how much french you need to integrate. You need to be B2 working towards C1. You need to be almost fluent to chat in a casual way, make friends and integrate for example having an entry level job. You need significant amounts of French. A bit of French isn't enough.

[wendyleung]

I've lived in different continents, including the U.K. I don't like the weather or the food. I much prefer France, having visited there on multiple occasions over the years. I'm willing to learn French in order to integrate. It's a much nicer culture, people and food.

[Elric]

Brits are truly great people. They enjoy all what France can provide.
Welcome in France guys.

[johnjeanb]

Frenchman here. Travelled a lot and worked / lived in some countries like the USA, the UK, Canada, Italia, the Netherlands, Germany, mainland China, Taiwan and some others. Everywhere it is the same: If you learn the language and are open then you are in for treats (discover a new culture, meet fantastic people). Yes sometimes (not often) you meet stupid or racist people but the vast majority are worth knowing.
Failures: I tried hard to learn Chinese and failed because of lack of time, a proper teacher (not a machine) and the immense need caused by a total immersion in China (not English speaking).

[thefamousrat]

My grandparents come from the Dordogne region. When visiting them, either as a kid or now, you'd always come across the random really beautiful car with a UK license plate.

Overall I'd say the description in the video about the feelings people there have regarding the British is pretty accurate. French people usually like the Brits, particularly in the South-West of the country, which has a closer history to England than the rest of France. There's also a fascination for these rich English folks coming to restore the countless castle/mansions ruins scattered all over the region.

As for the negatives, it's really indeed linked to the language. I have known a kid whose parents had been in France 10 years+ and still couldn't hold a conversation in French, which is a bit of a shame and must definitely be difficult day-to-day. Convertly, making an effort to learn the language and try to integrate is really appreciated.

[tomdellinger]

I’m a Californian from Sonoma County. I recently took the first step to moving from here to France and got my passport just last week. We expect to go next fall for about a two month visit to France and spend some time in different locales we think we would like in order to experience them more closely than a YouTube video, though they are helpful. Beginning in a few weeks I’ll once again pick up formal study of French to build upon a minimal level I now have. In choosing a location, we do want some level of expats, but at a more minimal level. I have friends who have moved to Portugal, a place I would consider too, but I am concerned about the level of immigration they are experiencing and I sense a slowly simmering resentment building there. My goal is that once in France (fingers crossed) I will make it my goal to become more French with every passing day. To the point I become more French than American.

[philiproche]

They are very nice, but I don't understand how it could be possible to live in a country for 25 years and not speaking the language. This is very very surprising and show a lack of interest for where you are.

[peterturnham]

English, lived in France, 30+ years. You have to learn the basics of French conversation. If you Try, they will welcome you.

[FrenchavecIngrid]

Very interesting. As a French person soon to go back to France after many years in the UK (& having decided to create a French learning channel alongside this, as my head filled with an internal dialogue around the question of what it is like to be French, and what does it look like for someone who isn’t), I have found this episode really well done. An array of people who have lived their relocation in different ways.

Needless to say, I really do think learning the language is so important. But it doesn’t mean being perfect at it.
I think this is the biggest stumbling block for learners.
I wish people could be proud to show off what they know without feeling it’s just not good enough.
You’ll be surprised at how well it is received and how far it gets you.

Good luck to those on this amazing journey x

[JamesLintonwriter]

In my French language-learning journey, i've met many other learners who are learning French for that particular reason - they wish to know more French because they eventually do want to move to that area or because they holiday there frequently. I think I said that I have a half-french friend whose grandparents live in that area. Plus, I also watch Comme une Francaise. She is a great teacher who has helped me a lot with my French.

[hirsch]

I say good on them for enjoying the area in their retirement or otherwise. Looks lovely there.

[chateaudelamotte]

nice to look at this video, I'm Swedish and have lived for 12 years at a château doing B&B

[leehargreaves]

For every 1 Anglophone near me who will not try to learn French, I know 100 who attend classes to learn. Trying to learn is a minimum requirement in my opinion.
Not everyone can become fluent in a 2nd language, but not trying is inexcusable.
Note. I recommend Easy French to anyone learning French (played first at 25% speed .... then 50% .... then 75% .... then finally at 100% speed). it's a really great resource.