Polyglot reacts: How good is Mark Carney’s French?

CC subtitles available in multiple languages.

In this video, I break down Mark Carney’s French and share tips for intermediate French learners.

⏲️ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
0:50 How is Mark Carney's French?
2:01 Vocabulary and comprehension
3:10 Structure
4:32 Pronouns
5:31 Grammar
8:18 Pronunciation

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[Thelinguist]

❓Are you learning French? What do you find most challenging?

[louis-marcdalton]

Considering he’s never lived in a predominantly French-speaking place, his French is honestly super impressive. It’s hard enough to get fluent in a language even when you do use it every day, so the fact that he got this good without that kind of environment just shows how much effort he must’ve put in, probably going out of his way to study very seriously and dive into French-speaking media and culture. Obviously he is a super smart guy with a great intellectual curiosity.

[curiosity]

As French-Canadian M Carney have some difficulty with french. But I don't see those as affecting is capabilities to govern our country. It's more a impossibility to respond to all French questions as fluently as in English.

[QuaDue]

As a naturalized French citizen who took up French at the age of 36 I do know how difficult it is to learn French. So that alone gives him my compassion, but what touched me the most is his willingness to use it and NOT BEING AFRAID of making errors. And last but not least, even French native speakers commit errors (I know I am married to a French women), so we can relax.
However learing and trying to get better is also such a nice continuing experience :P

[arnaudcasalis]

Le fait de parler français est vraiment une ouverture culturelle importante qui contribue vraiment à la personnalité internationale du Canada. Rappelons nous aussi la proximité de l'histoire anglaise et française si mêlée pendant des siècles, depuis Guillaume le Conquérant.

[monah]

What shines through when Mr. Carney speaks French is that he is trying very hard and he chooses his words carefully. That communicates respect and buys him a lot of goodwill.

[donaldmulrooney]

I once went for a test of my French spea, ing skill. At the end the person giving the exam told me my grammer was terrible, but she said she understood everything I said, so I got the job. Carney will be understood and no one will care that his French is not perfect.

[ConnorCambridge]

The object of all language is communication. If the message gets across - albeit with imperfect syntax, vocabulary and pronunciation - then it has achieved its end.

[keithck]

My spoken French isn't great but understand what Carney is saying when he speaks French. To me, that's mission accomplished.

[veryconfidential]

Wonderful. French never had a better advocate. Thanks for helping me appreciate French and hopeful for Mark Carney's support in our beautiful 😍 province of Québec.

[ELMS]

This was good. As an English speaking Canadian I’ve wondered how his French was. I heard Mr. Carney asked a question in real rapid-fire French. He paused for a moment and then said “Mon dieu.” It got a big laugh.

[Freemll]

Look the fact that he is less at ease in French can certainly be improved and I am sure he will. I humbly think he is the person to defend Canada 🇨🇦 given the geopolitical situation.

[Sunnydays]

Pm Carney is an honest, sincere, intelligent, accomplished, no frills leader. I applaud his French. He pauses before he speaks which I believe a lot of politicians do not but should, instead of feeding people verbal diarrhea.
Elbows up, Canada strong!

Keep calm and Carney on!

Carney for Canada!

[janyshendrickson]

I know many, many native English speakers who speak English much less proficiently than Mark Carney speaks French. He comprehends and speaks French well enough to make himself understood. And most importantly, he puts in the effort to learn which means he will of course get stronger going forward.

[berenyiandre]

Dear Steve, I enjoy your brilliant videos. Your advice is reliable. Thanks a lot, many people follow your videos. Very sincerely
André BERENYI, English trainer based in France

[MeowMeowMe]

As someone who has been learning French for a year now. I like listening to Carney as he speaks slowly and clearly so I can understand most of what he says. Plus I think he’s a great guy.

[alaingabriel]

I find it much more pleasing to listen to Mark Carney saying a speech in French than saying the same speech in English because he has a great irregular (but pleasant) delivery in French, pausing at just the right places or hesitating at the correct moment. In prepared English speeches he always has a monotone and totally boring delivery! By the way if you ever find an easy way to make English language speakers say the -ein or - ain (like in my name: Alain) sound correctly then you should announce this in great big letters at the top of your Web site, like this: J'AI TROUVÉ LE SECRET DU SON -EIN POUR LES ANGLOPHONES DÉBUTANT DANS NOTRE LANGUE.

[Karmazlkk]

He'll get better as he goes, he is trying, and has approved. He is for all of Canada 🇨🇦🍁 that is what counts.

[nspector]

Just one small factual correction about Jodie Foster -- She went to a French school from the beginning of her schooling, Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles. So she actually learned French as a child. This is why her accent so good.

[richardsimms]

I agree. Mr Carney has pretty good French.