“Don’t get obsessed with grammar – just speak, speak, speak!”
“Don’t get obsessed with grammar – just speak, speak, speak!”
“Don’t get obsessed with grammar – just speak, speak, speak!”
Learning a language is never just about vocabulary. It reflects how you were first taught to think about language itself.
In England, children arrive at school already speaking quite confidently. They begin with phonics, reading aloud, and spelling tests — not questioning that “though,” “through,” “tough,” and “thought” don’t follow any of the rules. English spelling is less a system than a historical souvenir collection, borrowing from Latin, French, Germanic languages, and beyond.
Grammar is taught, but lightly and practically. Many British adults can write clear, persuasive emails yet struggle to define a subordinate clause on demand. In England, language is used first, analysed later.
Cross the Channel to France, and everything changes.
French pupils learn verb conjugations with precision, gender agreements and identify a COD or COI faster than many British students can distinguish a verb from an adverb. Dictation exercises endure. Spelling matters. Grammar is visible, structured, named, and studied. Language is not just used — it is scrutinised.
This difference shapes expectations subtly but profoundly.
A French learner approaches English seeking logic and consistency: if a verb changes in one context, shouldn’t it in another? If a tense exists, shouldn’t it have a clear equivalent? English responds politely, with a smile: “Sometimes.”
Ironically, many French professionals understand English grammar better than native speakers. They can explain rules and spot mistakes — yet hesitate in speech. Meanwhile, an English speaker may attempt French with three imperfect verb forms and a hopeful accent — and call it a success.
This is not ability; it is educational culture. In France, correctness signals seriousness and competence. In England, communication often trumps perfection.
So when French professionals learn English, they are not just learning vocabulary. They are adapting to a language that is less symmetrical, less predictable, and sometimes less polished.
The real shift is psychological. Moving from French to English often means moving from a culture of precision to one of pragmatism. Analytical thinking, attention to structure, and respect for language remain — but the goal changes. In English, effectiveness often matters more than elegance.
With guidance, English stops feeling like an exam and becomes what it truly is: a practical tool for influence, collaboration, and international credibility.
