How traveling across North America changed the way I learned English 🇨🇦🇺🇸

[@stuffbenlikes]

I don't think any American would have any issue understanding you at this point. Congrats!

[@lioninwinter9316]

In the USA we are, for the most part, used to hearing people speak English when it is clearly not their first language. I'm sure everyone understood you just fine. English is not an easy language to learn, so I'm very impressed at your fluency.

[@Andres64B]

And Having learned a second language (Spanish) learning a third language (Portuguese) myself, I know how difficult it can be. So I'm always impressed by people that not only are learning a new language, but actually move to a country where they have to learn a new language.

[@TheMan21892]

I am always impressed by people who learn English as a second language. There’s so much about that sounds like nonsense 😅

[@jimclayson]

​@@TheMan21892English is a bastard language to begin with, having primarily German and French roots... but it incorporates bits and pieces of several other languages and influences and ties them together in a sentence structure that isn't like ANY of them... and that's before accounting for regional dialects and shifts over centuries. I'll take Latin any day...

[@ltcajh]

A Ukrainian friend said English is much simpler to learn than his language.

[@davidcosta2244]

​@@ltcajhMany Eastern European languages have alphabets with more than 26 letters. This is more than the English alphabet has.

[@russellrofe4849]

You speak English remarkably well. To learn so much in such a short time is really incredible. Remember that there is no "perfect" way to speak English. In the States, we manage to understand each other just fine even with such great diversity of language and accents.

[@jnewmark41]

Good point!

[@nochannel1q2321]

Additionally a lot of the native speakers in the US have trouble with regional slang and stuff. I live in the Northeast and when I go to the Southeast I usually have at least some degree of troubling understanding some of the accents and expressions. This other thing is kind of random, but The Man in the Iron Mask with Leonardo Dicaprio was on TV a day or so ago and I noticed you seem to bear a strong resemblance to Judith Godrèche at her age at the time. I think it came out in 1998 if you wanted to check for images of her in it and see what you think.

[@jimcherry685]

Not so! The way to speak perfect English is to speak it the way I do.

[@Rev14v7]

@@jimcherry685 Lol.

[@joethommes7352]

I think the French effect on your English is very nice. I can tell you are French, YET I can very much understand you. It is really cool!

[@paulalexandredumasseauvan2357]

i, for one, HOPE AND PRAY your EXCELLENT "american" english NEVER loses its french accented-ness no matter how good it is GOING to get! it is delightful to hear you speak english. 👍

[@gregorygarcia4016]

I have found that if you teach another person what you are learning, the time teaching someone else solidifies and deepens your understanding and skill. There is something about the process of teaching that makes things previously learned to click into place more permanently. Worth a try if possible.

[@troywilliams2777]

As a word of encouragement.... your English is much easier to understand than the vast majority of other native French speakers. I think you have done a great job of learning a 2nd language!

[@paros320]

Her English is easier to understand than 30% of Americans.

[@ScottPerkinsLCMT]

Marie, I wish my French was one tenth as good as your English.

[@philmakris8507]

"The melody of American english" that's such a nice way to state that. 👏🤙

[@harvey1954]

I was wondering if that was what I thought I heard.

[@DaveM-FFB]

Marie, believe me when I tell you that you are a perfectionist with regard to speaking English. Your English is much better than you think. There are many native US citizens who can't communicate in English as well as you. That being said, your English will continue to improve with every visit and every video.

[@pastherfuzz]

Marie your American English is great . America USA is your home away from home. We love you . Wish you the best. You come back home any time.

[@SGlitz]

“If you look for perfection, you'll never be content.” ― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

[@masudashizue777]

I started off speaking only Japanese, and it was an uphill battle learning English. I couldn't even understand the lyrics of foreign songs. But, eventually, things fell into place and here I am.

[@jaycee330]

It's hard when you come from one language to another with a whole different grammar and structure. There aren't really "irregular verbs" in Japanese (kuru/suru/iru excepted) where in English there are many. I think immersion is the best way to get into a new language. I'm like you, who went the opposite direction (native English learning Japanese) who has to deal with simpler grammar, but more inflection and three (four) writing systems. www

[@jreyman]

@anandiakane458 I agree with your assessment of (French, German, Spanish, etc) giving inanimate objects genders. In my opinion, it's ridiculous, and makes no sense for an inanimate object to have a gender.

[@brshep6098]

I started listening to you about a year ago & your English has advanced extremely well. Your French accent is like sugar on top of your English!

[@Weyco23]

Don’t be discouraged, your English is very good, and I love your French accent.

[@do0ranfrump260]

You do speak English very well now.. even better than the first time i heard you. I taught English as a second language in Japanese high school. I know how hard it can be but seriously your English is great. The thing that makes the difference for most people is just don't be afraid to make a mistake. People in the USA are not going to make fun of you. We just want to hear what you have to say.

[@kevinharlan3711]

Sweetie, just the fact that you are TRYING to learn “English” in it’s super various forms is extremely admirable, and you have done aan amazing job at it! I am from South Texas with a heavy Southern dialect, and I can understand you just fine! Keep doing what you’re doing girl, be amazing! 👍

[@kodoru1]

I moved from Virginia to North Carolina, only a few hours apart, and was talking to an old man and his son on the street once. I couldn't understand the old guy at all because the accent was so strong so his son was translating... and we were all speaking english. America is full of radically different ways of speaking

[@jreyman]

I believe that. There is more than eight native languages, and seven different regional accents in NC. NC has the most diverse collection of native languages, and dialects, over any other state. I could see it being challenging sometimes as a new arrival to NC, but I'm sure you pick things up over time, at least from the local area around you.

[@LostInSpice]

@@jreyman I moved to East Tennessee from coastal Texas in the late '80s and it took a long, LONG time for me to understand a deep, thick Appalachian accent. I was used to thick accents (Piney Woods, anybody?) but that Appalachian was a whole 'nother animal.

[@edwardimhoff3106]

Marie Dear. Your Kansas Grandpa here. I speak a little French, Norwegian, Some German, Some Russian, (Which was the hardest to learn) and was at one time almost fluent in Spanish. I know 20 words or less in Chinese, Italian, Portuguese, Hebrew. On top of that I have lived all over America. One year while I was playing Santa Claus in a shopping mall near Hollywood California A woman asked me where I was from. I stepped into a hallway with her because while on the Red Carpet of the Santa Set I would tell her I was from the North Pole. When we were off the set I told her I was born in the Midwest, Wisconsin and raised there. I was in the Army in New Jersey, Virginia and Kansas, College in Missouri, Worked the Oil Fields in Oklahoma, Spent 26 years in New England on the east coast. then North Dakota then New Mexico, then Wichita Kansas. She told me she did voice coaching for the Hollywood movie studios. When an actor was playing a part of a character from Texas, she was the person who helped them master the accent for the character. So she knew accents and was able to identify where someone was from by the way they talked. She asked me where I was from because she could not tell. She could not place my accent. She said "You have something from all those places in the way you speak. That is why I could not tell where you were from.... You are right. The accents in America are very different one from another. And different words are used to identify the same thing all over. A Bottle of Coca-Cola for instance is Soda in New Jersey. In Wisconsin is is a bottle of Pop. In New Hampshire it is Tonic. There are many hundreds of examples like that. A book that would be very helpful to you is like a dictionary It is called a Thesaurus. Look up any word and the other words that mean the same are right there. I have a new novel coming out in a couple of months. It is my 4th book published on Amazon U.S. Look me up. You can continue to improve your English by reading my stories. I think I sent you the smallest book a couple years ago . 'Murphy, The Prince & The Deer Who could fly.' It was a little light orange book, But then you must need a warehouse to keep all the things people send you. You are an easy person to like. If you need another Book, Look me up on Amazon U.S. 'The Angel Who Rode Greyhound' (Greyhound is bus transportation here) Would be a good one, and when it is published, 'When all The pieces Come Together' would be excellent. It deals with a blend of European American, Canadian, and Native American in a small rural community. But you do have a lot on your plate already. Reading the books might help you with your spoken English. ... And I wrote them. God Bless you Marie. I wish for you all good things. Author Edward F Imhoff, Your Kansas Grandpa.

[@pvdogs2]

Two of my friends moved from Quebec (where they only spoke French) to Ontario. One began to work as a nanny for a bilingual family who helped her learn English. The other learned by watching Sesame Street.I also had a co-worker who came to Canada from overseas. His English was OK; but, he wanted to become more proficient. So, he was always insisting that we correct him when he made mistakes while speaking and with his writing- his vocabulary, grammar etc. This helped him immensely. His English improved so quickly. Everyone learns differently.

[@crystaldbj]

I think English has evolved a wide range of acceptability. You are more understandable to me than many US born people would be. I congratulate you on your determination and ability to achieve goals for yourself.

[@AW11-e4h]

Sounds to me that Marie needs to move here to further her language education. We would love to have her 👍🇺🇸🇨🇦

[@trollman591]

Something to keep in mind is that American English has evolved over the years. Everyone that has emigrated here has added parts of their languages to American English which sometimes can confuse travelers. American English from 200 years ago is not the same language that we call American English today. Your English is great. Keep up the wonderful travel videos.

[@davidcosta2244]

It's also more original than British English, and it was Lawrence Brown who showed this on his Channel.

[@theironherder]

Marie, you made a place for yourself in my heart when I watched the videos about your trip to the D-Day sites in Normandy in which you spoke appreciatively about the sacrifices made by Ameircan soldiers to liberate France. It was, to me, completely unexpected given the pervasive stereotypes about the French people. As in, "of course the Americans came to liberate France because we are the French".Honestly, you've never disappointed, probably because of your heart, and I thank you for that.

[@jmikew1]

I had a friend who used to be in Radio. He said that the perfect radio voice came from the Mid-West (America: i.e., Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, etc. . .) because it was a lot clearer and the accents weren't as hard to understand.

[@LarryHatch]

I had three years of French in high school from a teacher who'd lived many years in France. She was good from an academic style. My parents thought it might be fun for me to try some conversations in Quebec. I was humiliated, embarrassed, and sadly ridiculed by two shopkeepers so never spoke a sentence of the language again. I think it's very important for students to get confidence before taking the plunge like I did.

[@deecocheran1227]

Quebec French will be very different to French spoken in France

[@DFWTexan42]

Sadly, your experience is not uncommon. It's disappointing how many people look down on someone for not speaking a new language perfectly, rather than being honored by the attempt, however clumsy.

[@MagsonDare]

My sister took 2 years of French in middle school, another 4 years in high school, then minored in French in college. She did 3 different 6-month exchange programs in France and got told while there that she spoke like a native. She took a sales job in Montreal and moved there..... and couldn't understand a word being spoken until she got acclimated to the "different French" spoken there over the course of a few weeks. You just got hit by thinking "-Cois" (short for "Quebecois") was the same dialect as "French" is all.

[@jnewmark41]

@@DFWTexan42 Mainly in France...they are awful in this regard

[@jimreilly917]

It’s also important for people to be understanding of someone trying to truly learn…as in speak…fluently..,a new language to them. Those shopkeepers were arrogant, rude and ignorant.

[@kevinlandis5370]

There are Americans that can barely speak English, you're doing great. You're easy to understand.

[@PaulSnook-PewPew]

what you said lmao

[@chaddnewman2699]

Marie - my first wife’s mother was Bretagne, she grew up in Ste Nazaire. She moved to New York in 1965. Your English is much better than hers was after living here for 30 years.

[@brucekastel707]

May I say I love your English with that touch of French accent. It's delightful!

[@bobpat56]

I grew up in a military family, moving around the country every few years. We picked up the local vocabulary and grammar just to fit in. One benefit is that if you ever return to a place, the local habits re-assert themselves without thinking.

[@ironwelder480]

In Northern Arizona, where there are a lot of Native people, trying to understand them is also mind-blowing for me. I am a native, and I do have a hard time understanding my own people who live on the reservations.

[@virginiaoflaherty2983]

I love the almost ubiquitous Native accents . It's instantly identifiable.

[@jreyman]

Marie, for being a native French speaker, you speak English quite well. I have watched you improve your speaking fluency, and vocabulary, over the last few years. I hope you keep enjoying your travels to North America.

[@marieneu264]

8:01 Not sure if they have this type of thing where you live, but my city has all kinds of groups for people learning a new language so they can get together and practice and have conversations in the language they’re learning. They also often invite a person or multiple people to the group that had whatever the language is as their first language. Our libraries host events all the time for things like this. I bet you could find a great group of French people in your area that are learning like you and that like to use their second language when they’re not in the US so they don’t lose anything they’ve learned. Just a thought!

[@jimini1976]

I've been watching since you had around 1100 subs. Your English has improved like 300% ✌😉

[@FrenchTasticExplorations]

Thanks! 😃

[@EeroMyrsky]

As an American who speaks fluent (but not perfect) French and has lived in French speaking countries for quite a few years, I take it upon myself to remind you of one very important thing that my francophone friends have to remind me about. The mistakes that you make when you speak English and the accent that you have stand out WAY more to you than they do to other people. People will be far more impressed at how well you speak English and the effort you have made. Honestly, they are unlikely to even really notice the little mistakes you may make from time to time.

[@geoffsimpkins7650]

Even within families, one kid might speak the ‘standard’ American English and a brother or sister might have a Southern accent, for instance. I have crisscrossed America several times and experienced. I was in Navaho land once and tried to speak with an older person and understood nothing. Later, was talking to two younger guy. One spoke almost broken English but understandable and his buddy sounded just like me. Lastly, we had great childhood friends whose mother was from French Canada. She never lost her deep accent. Very difficult to understand.

[@russellfisher2853]

Marie I'm from Washington and Oregon state and I have absolutely no problem at all understanding everything you're saying. All I can say is bravo great job.❤

[@aaronmurphy1485]

I've said it before, but your English has improved dramatically over the years since your early Frenchtastic videos! I've loved watching you improve and learn and experience all the things you have over the last 4 years. ❤

[@FrenchTasticExplorations]

Wow, thank you! 🥺

[@tonyscott56]

You are fantastic at speaking English, Little Lady. I hope you continue to enjoy learning and speaking it. You are awesome. Have fun!😊

[@Harry-rd8xd]

Learning a second language is a top trait that I admire in people.

[@JasonMoir]

Don't worry about being a perfect English speaker. The fact that you want to get better and learn is more important. Different regions of the USA have different vocabulary, phrases, etc that make no sense in other parts of the country...or even in that same state.

[@davidcosta2244]

Like what a bubbler is in New England.

[@scottfw7169]

And what counts as 'perfectly' speaking an imperfect language anyway? 🤔😉

[@kenyonmoon3272]

My city utilizes translation services for anywhere from 130-160 languages in a given year for various public offices & services -- and we do not even rank nationally in terms of diversity. And of course no one has translators in day to day errands, which means that purely as a practical matter most Americans are used to not only a wide variety of native Accents from within the US and around the world, but those of people who learned English as a second, third, or even seventh or eighth language. Simply as a practical matter you either learn to deal with this as "normal" or you spend all your energy being mad at the world while just going about daily life. And along with all those accents come a myriad of knowledge levels and creative grammars. English learners here tend to be fairly capable of navigating level 1 or level 2 English between people with wildly different accents & skill levels, including the various mistakes common to the respective native languages each speaker is coming from; this is really interesting to listen to, it almost sounds like a pidgin language - but that doesn't mean it is inherently a two-way street. They learn "into" that environment while you are coming from something more stable and the adjustment period is an understandable necessity. I imagine the major international cities like London, Sydney, etc are probably similar tho I can't speak for them directly PS - there are xenophobes here as elsewhere, but you deal with them as little as possible and move on

[@davidsartin5708]

Your English now is so good that if I did not know that you were French, I would never suspect that you are French. Very good Ms. Marie. Thank you for not picking up vulgar words in your vocabulary. Such words used in daily conversation are very degrading to a person.

[@Psycopathicus]

Here's my 'language' story. A few years ago, I wound up taking a couple of trips to Belgium, where, as I'm sure you know, there are two main languages - French and Flemish - and the signage reflects that. So while there was more than enough stuff in English for me to make do with, I didn't always have much luck with things like place names, because there are at least two different versions of basically all of them, and the version you're looking for is not always the version that's actually on the sign. Plus, there were all sorts of different spellings, etc., that had been Anglicized overseas, and were not actually used much in Belgium itself. As a result, what I often wound up doing was looking for close equivalents, not a direct one-to-one. Like, if I wanted to go to Antwerp; well, there is a version of that name in French, and one in Flemish, and they're not THAT different, because the actual name of the city is still 'Antwerp', and there's only so many ways you can spin that in any language. So if I couldn't literally find a train listing for 'Antwerp', I'd find one that looked broadly similar, and sure enough, it'd take me to Antwerp - and once I got used to doing that for the bigger, better-known place names, the smaller ones started becoming easier, plus their different neighborhoods, etc. I didn't exactly leave with a firm grasp of either language, but it did give me a new survival tactic while traveling: if you can't directly find something in a foreign country, look for the places where different languages blur together, and often, it's there.

[@davew8694]

Your English is easily understood.

[@earlwaynestumpf6815]

You are doing an incredible job dealing with "American" English - always a challenge even for Americans. It has been a pleasure watching your improvement. Kepp travelling...keep learning...keep improving. You are an inspiration for many.

[@aliwantizu]

Bonjour Marie! I generally hear Delicious pronounced as Dee-Lish-Us, not DehL-ish-us. I get it as I sometimes have difficulty understanding English spoken with different accents, especially non native speaker accents, but it is what it is. Yes, there are many different ways to say the same thing that can differ by area (such as carbonated soft drinks called Soda or Pop or Coke depending on the part of the country,) or by age group such as a Baby Boomer might say "Cool," while a Gen Xer might say "Rad," but a Millennial might say "Slaps," and a Gen Zer might say "Lit" and they all mean (largely) the same thing. I had 5 years of French in school and I've been trying to improve with apps for 4 years now, and while I can read pretty well, I still have trouble understanding spoken and I am terrible at speaking. But, you do great and I would think most native English speakers, anywhere in the world, would be able to understand you (for the most part.) Thank you for sharing yourself with us! Bonne journee! ~Be Blessed

[@bradmoyer9737]

I found myself experiencing the very same things you are describing with the “English” language, as I have traveled around the United States for the past seventy years or so, the only difference is I was born in the upper Midwest and have been an American citizen my entire life. Your English is as easy for me to understand, as the dialects spoken on the streets of every major city in the states. The fact that you have worked so hard and are concerned, is just part of your enormous charm.

[@Don_1776]

I am an American born in Chicago I can speak English and Spanish and German .I can understand Italian and French sounds like Spanish. I don't why in my brain Spanish Italian and French sound the same. You speak very well. Accent is different every state

[@josephmayo3253]

Marie, as an American, I can say your English is excellent and very easy to understand. Yes there is a French accent, but it is very mild. And considering that you practically taught yourself, I think you did an amazing job. The thing to remember about the various American accents is that you're taking in a population roughly equal to Western Europe. Think about the differences in language in France, Germany, the UK, Spain, Italy, and Portugal. Within all those countries, there are different dialects. To not get all of them with 100% perfection is completely understandable. Thanks for another great video Marie. Be proud of yourself for how far you have come. You are a remarkable young lady.

[@scottharvey6892]

Knew exactly what you meant with Standard Accent reference. Your English is great. All accents are great. They add flavor. People always have the accent of their primary-language. You'll always have a french-accent, which is awesome. It means you're a whole lot more cultured than me!!!

[@alanflor703]

I really respect anyone who can learn English as a second language. It can't be easy, with all of its "loose" rules and exceptions to the rules of grammar. English was always my easiest class; it just came naturally to me but I took a year of German in high school and I just wasn't good at it. Don't feel bad if you can't get fluent in English. English with a French accent is very sexy!

[@lesterglorioso5237]

I think your English is very good. We are a melting pot of many different languages and so our English is constantly changing. That diversity of peoples and backgrounds is what makes this nation great. Congrats!

[@norwegianblue2017]

Your English improved dramatically over this last year. But please never lose your accent completely, it is very appealing.

[@mburkitt7678]

Your English is very good and it is evident you are at ease with the language. Dialects within the US overlap, blur, and shift. I am from the southernmost part of Ohio, the edge of Appalachia, and learned many words and phrases from my elders who came from the hills of West Virginia. When I first started traveling in my adulthood, people in Columbus would ask what part of the South I was from and people in the middle of Kentucky wanted to know what part of the North I came from. Those two areas are only a little over a 100 miles apart, not far as the US goes, but they always placed my speech at a more extreme distance. My son who grew up in the same area has been asked multiple times if he is British. Not all people hear speech the same way, but we here in the US have become adept at figuring out enough when we meet new people. My son and daughter both had French in school, but realize their skills are inadequate for even everyday conversation in that culture. They both hope to visit your country someday to experience it in much the same way you have seen theirs. Perhaps finding someone who would be a 'penpal' of sorts would give you the opportunity to speak face to face, so to speak, via an online connection.

[@nealhoffman7518]

English has been my primary language my entire life and I am convinced that I'm not fluent, just very conversational.

[@kriswoods7051]

You speak extremely well in English and you have done such great work to get to this point. Traveling is the best way to learn a language - glad you enjoy visiting N. America! Have you thought of joining an online group to practice with people in France that want to practice English? That could be a fun way of practicing. You are right about regional accents - I speak a little Spanish and I guarantee you people from Spain, Puerto Rico and Mexico speak very different sounding Spanish!

[@theeldritchfox]

Don't be too hard on yourself, Marie! I can understand your English very, very, well. And I find your accent really enjoyable to listen to. It's kind of fun to hear the way you emphasize different parts of certain words. It makes your accent unique!

[@Tux.Penguin]

❤ Marie your English is better than my French. You have clearly poured time and energy into improving your English. It is good to push yourself to get better, but the goal of “perfect” is an enormous challenge for any adult learning a new language.

[@raven2795]

Human beings striving for perfection is hysterical. WE made up these languages! Every bit of it!! There is no right or wrong, just agreed upon usage. Rock on and let the people and languages continue to grow!

[@a00141799]

Hello Marie. As usual, you nailed this video! You do such a great job of expressing yourself and making yourself understood. I am never lost or unsure about what you talking about. I too want to learn a second language but I am afraid that it will take too long and that I will not be able to master it. (Tagalog) I have been married for 33 years to a native speaker and have traveled to the Philippines numerous times but still cannot speak but the most basic of phrases. But to be honest, my wife still struggles with english even after living here in the states for nearly 35 years. And btw Marie, I love seeing my name in the Patreon section at the end of your videos. I always look to make sure that I am still there. lol.. 💛

[@creamsiclem4433]

Ultimately, language is about communicating. Your English, while lightly accented, is very good and easily understood.

[@gregorywright2798]

Your French Accent is Charming. I have a Friend From Ireland. Lived in the States for 30 Years and Still has his Accent. Every One Loves It.😊

[@JohnBare747]

Your English to me is 100% understandable, what more do you need? Your English is spoke in a very clear manner and your pace is just about right to be understood even by an 82 year old guy with hearing problems without my hearing aids so I say you speak wonderfully. Their is no "Perfect" American accent, just depends where you are.

[@stevej1154]

Your English is very good, Marie, because you’ve immersed yourself in English-speaking culture and spent time with English-speakers. As a native English-speaker, I find learning French very difficult. There’s so much to remember! The gender of nouns, the verb endings, the accents (é è ê), the pronunciation, the difference between written and spoken French… English seems relatively simple in comparison. For example, in English it’s: “I went, he went, she went, they went, we went” but in French, each one is different.

[@JesseOaks-ef9xn]

I think you speak English very well. There is a slight accent but it isn't distracting. We all have our way of speaking and it can vary within a state or region. We love you just the way you are.

[@phillipdaltun3779]

Hey Marie 🤔 🗣️ 🌎 You have the best of both worlds , don't fret look how far you've come , take it easy on your self , theirs no need to be perfect we're understanding you just fine. I wouldn't want you to lose your accent completely & be something your not , your french background is an essential part in shaping who you are & why we like you so much & with Valentine's day coming up having a french accent does have its advantages. Going through your points , I didn't realise other languages there weren't learnt that much , what could be the reason , your distinctive culture maybe because your a big country. It doesn't surprise me about the Netherlands there's always a lot of different people coming & going trying to understand one another so it makes sense that English is widely spoken. Along with the Scandinavians they have that American sounding voice that kinda weird almost robotic & to perfect, no disrespect , I don't why that is. It's interesting how you've been learning English since school , you were probably much better at it than English kids vice versa , I wonder what history was taught both countries were so interwoven once upon a time , french was spoken along side old English for many centuries & wouldn't exist like it is today if it wasn't for you. I can see how challenging it is for non English speakers trying to figure out all our accents , we shouldn't take it for granted , even I sometimes have trouble understanding the thick southern drawl but I've always liked their rhythm & I'm a fan of southern Rock ( sweet home Alabama) & muscle cars & speedway's , I had a crush like every boy on Daisy Duke , Yeehaw. The Carolina's & Virginia were settled by the Cornish & Scots Irish like myself so that's why I feel such a kinship. It's a shame ff that just when you get a hold on how people speak & all the lingo your back home again. You can stay in the states for 6 months & get an extension if that's long enough , there has to be ex pat's in France to you can befriend like you met up with before. If you lived in America which accent would you pick up , there is such a thing as a general American accent , just as long as you never sound like a vally girl , the surfer dudes crack me up , they always sound like there high & those from Minnesota & Wisconsin etc have that German - Scandinavian tone going on & wots the deal you said with Ohio , I'll have to look more into it . You wanted to know about our foreign experiences , having grown up around a lot of other cultures on my doorstep , I didn't need to go abroad to meet them , Asians , Italians , a Jamaican family next door that were so friendly , I've mentioned it before. I used to stay with a polish landlord with a friend of the family who was Scottish , thankfully I could understand him most of the time , I don't know what you would do if you went to Glasgow , maybe you've seen Rab c nesbitt , surely there's nobody like that anymore? . I do also have a friend who lives in Columbia so I'm brushing up on my Spanish , whenever their mad it can be different understanding what's being said. You just have to be patient , your English will come along better naturally in good time. I know there's no real substitute for living there but I've sent you something anyway with some useful references. I like how your car number plate collections is coming along , it's so cool having your own name , your wild & wonderful too. Merci beaucoup , hope you go live again some time this month , I miss having a chit chat & catching up on everything. Take care , have a wonderful day 😃 💕✌️

[@sirmoonslosthismind]

since you expressed uncertainty, and none of the other comments seem to have addressed it: when you want to talk about "my english proficiency" or "my english fluency" or something along those lines, but can't think of which word you want to use, you can just omit it altogether. you can just talk about "my english". an english speaker would talk about "my english", never "my english language".

[@anubisftn]

Honestly, you're extremely well-spoken and even use words a lot of Americans don't use. Being slightly off in pronunciation for a few words here and there is NOTHING to be concerned about. Anyone who gives you grief about it, is most likely not even able to speak in multiple languages. I find people that try to make life difficult for others are usually isolated and ignorant. You're doing a great job and I hope you continue your journey. You're doing much better than most people I know that are attempting their second language. Have a great weekend and thanks for sharing!

[@annfrost3323]

In the States everybody takes French or Spanish in high school but no one will speak a new language with one or two courses. You need to grow up in a bilingual household or go to a country that speaks the language to actually become fluid. You have done a great job. I speak Spanish but wish I could speak French like you.

[@ryanweintraub9448]

I took Italian from 8th grade to 12th and I still sucked pretty bad at speaking. I could write just fine but speaking was a pain. I graduated in 2019 and I don't even remember half of what I leanred

[@erodriguez6622]

Here's some information for you: The NBC Handbook of Pronunciation was a valuable resource for NBC news anchors, aiming to standardize the pronunciation of American words and names. It's no longer in print but can still be purchased from used booksellers. Notably, it favored Midwestern pronunciation for its perceived clarity and comprehensibility, particularly for national broadcasts.

[@davidroques9187]

Your English has improved drastically. I don't have to use closed caption as much as I did when I first found your Normandy videos 😅

[@Wrdpeace]

I think your speech, pronunciation, and vocabulary are great! You’re hard work to better understand the different linguistics is a thing of beauty and shows your humanity to understand a core value of the USA. Keep up the great work 😁❤️

[@rddavies]

I am going through the exact same struggles as you but in the reverse direction - trying to get to what I would consider to be a decent level of French fluency. For me the accents while there in France maybe aren't the biggest thing. For me it would be more so the speed, the connected speech, the lack of articulation (or call it what it is mumbling) and the simple ways of saying things - not so much the argot or the verlan but the simple words that can mean so many things - for example the verbe "mettre" can mean to "place" but can also mean to start (se mettre), or to set yourself down like in a restaurant, or for how long it takes to get somewhere and probably many more. So when you combine all of these things - speed, connected speech (dropping muet e's, dropping ne's, etc. etc.), lack of clear enunciation, simple words that are used for many different things (ça te dit queulque chose?), and ok sure there is an accent component too, but really it's all the *other* things that are so hard.

[@90Beater]

Hi Marie, I have posted before that your English is very good. I loved watching your travels thru the US and Canada. Here is American English from another perspective. I only speak English. For years I worked with many translators of different languages to English for the government. Some of them spoke very well in English but most not so much as a second language. Like you learning English I had a very hard time at first understanding all the different broken English speakers. Especially since I worked in IT and when they came to me they were probably frustrated and not doing their best to explain the issues they were having. After years of this I got pretty good at understanding what people were trying to say no matter how "strong" their accent was. This helped when I met my future wife who is Filipino (Married 15 years now). The funniest thing was when we were getting married My wife still had a "strong" accent and the Japanese hairdresser also had a "strong" accent. I had to translate the broken English to Broken English to get them thru it. When I say you speak very good English you can now see I do have a background of hearing it from a different view.

[@jayb8369]

Marie, I'm a huge fan of your channel and I subscribed some months ago. I think you speak English fairly well with some degree of proficiency and can convey your meanings, feelings or intentions adequately. I myself studied the German language in high school in the late 1970's and still use it today. I even went to Germany with the military after graduating from training and got to work directly with German soldiers as well as meeting members of the local community of the town where I was based. My constant exposure to the culture and people helped advance my knowledge of the language and has cured my shyness and apprehension in speaking with native speakers. Like you, I discovered many different aspects and nuances of the language, different accents and dialects too. My desire is to maintain my use of German and I would like to add French as well. I also studied one semester of Russian and I can read cyrillic script now and comprehend some things. I look forward to more of your videos. 😊

[@jeffm7317]

I went back and watched your video with Isabelle who has been teaching in Louisiana for 37 years. I believe you have less of a French accent than she does, so don't be hard on yourself. You're an excellent English speaker. It would be awesome if you could visit Louisiana and see how much Cajun French and Creole you could understand. Their English might be easier for you to understand than for most American English speakers.

[@simonforester424]

I have always believed that being exposed to the environment is the most effective way of learning a new language, or to greatly improve your skills of the said language. I had a friend in high school who was English first and attended my school, which was French. His French was very broken at first, and he was having a hard time carrying on a conversation, let alone a sentence. Long story short, he ended up living in France for a year, and upon his return, he spoke fluent French! You would've thought he was a French tourist just getting off the plane! It was absolutely mind-blowing. At times, I even thought his French became better mine, and I grew up in a French-speaking family (albeit it was French-Canadian, but still)! It just goes to show how remarkable one's skill set can change after being submerged into the environment for a long enough period of time. Cheers! 🇨🇦 ⚜️ 🇫🇷 🍻

[@JohnComeOnMan]

May I say, I came across your channel about 12 - 18 months ago and you seem infinitely more comfortable and accomplished in your English. Perhaps I should revisit my three years of French from High School oh so many years ago? Bonne journée!

[@jacobac07]

I love listening to non-American English accents. I find them fascinating as I try to pinpoint where someone is from. This is the first time I've seen your channel and I must say, your accent sounds like a conglomeration of everywhere you've been. I can hear the different intonations in your pronunciations and have a general idea of the influences to your accent. It's very fascinating and I find it refreshing!

[@xondxonderson5784]

You are verry astute. You make good points. I hope you get an opportunity for extended immersion with native English speakers. Your English is so good today. In no time you'll be shocked at how effortlessly fluent you will be. Best of luck with your journey!

[@FrenchTasticExplorations]

Astute! That is my new word of the day! Thanks 😆

[@tedzehnder961]

I think when English is spoken with a French accent it charming.

[@larryraymondhernandez]

I’m from Southern California. You speak great English. Love your channel. ❤

[@johnmarksbury1633]

Don't worry about picking up American English. I was born here and still can't understand some of the people from the deep southern U.S. We have a lot of different accents here. I was wondering, does the French language have different accents according to different areas around France? Anyway you are doing great and I really enjoy your videos. Take care and may God Bless.

[@FrenchTasticExplorations]

Yes! Different accents all over the country

[@paladinritchey3675]

Marie, your English is coming along fine. Don't worry. We love you the way you are. God bless. Bill

[@mikebade5428]

Your English is easily understood here Marie.

[@makapan1]

Your English has improved dramatically this year. As a result, you have also become a much more confident speaker speaking English.

[@daveray44]

1st of all, I have no issues with understanding your spoken English. In fact, it's rather charming! Most Americans, including me, really appreciate when it's obvious someone is really trying to speak American English well and I love watching the joyful expression you show when speaking!

[@wolflobo3624]

Hi Marie, to hear you partially self taught yourself English is amazing (and so smart). You're right in saying American accents are difficult and so diverse. It can be difficult even for us Americans. You are doing fantastic at learning so much. It inspires me to try to learn another language. Btw, I took French in the 8th grade, but was horrible at it. Maybe I will try again 😁

[@michaeldpry]

Even though there isn't actually a standard USA accent, in broadcasting classes in college, they taught us what they called"Upper Midwestern" which was supposed to be close to not having any specific accent so viewers could relate to you wherever they might be. I thought that was interesting. By the way, your English is absolutely great.

[@manxkin]

N'inquiete pas! Ton anglais est mieux que mon francais! I wish I could spend some more time in France and improve my French. Your English is great!

[@jamesklutho6051]

Marie, your English is very good and I love your subtle French accent. I am studying German currently and if I could speak German half as wells and you speak English, I would be elated. You are an inspiration to me. I feel that if you lived in the US for a few years, you would be hard spot as being a non-native.

[@rnldtylr]

I imagine that you realize now that even native english speakers have the same problem understanding other english speakers from other states and areas as you have seen. You're doing great! I'm always impressed by people who speak more than one language!! :-)

[@neutrino78x]

Your English is great! J'ai etudie le Francais dans l'ecole secondaire, il y a 27 ans......and your English is a lot better than my French! I would have to study French again for a while before traveling to France. 🙂But I'm sure all Americans you encountered understood what you said, and I can understand it very well 🙂 And, you are beautiful, as always 🙂

[@stewarthammill7377]

As children in elementary school we learned the vowel sounds (a,e,i,o,u) and pronunciation guidelines from the famous English dictionaries like Merriam-Webster or Random House. I always wondered how the British or Australian teachers sounded as they taught the vowel sounds according to the guide. Marie sounds wonderful 😀

[@helifanodobezanozi7689]

Hey Marie, it's great that you're always trying to improve your English! Keep at it, definitely! However, don't worry about speaking with a perfect "American" accent. Most Americans LOVE the French accent, especially when the speaker is a lady such as yourself!

[@hayneshvac2]

You have improved tremendously. Your accent is very understandable, and I have to give you props...Learning a new language is a massive undertaking, especially when they are far apart. I tried to learn Spanish in school and did very poorly...lol. I don't think learning French would suit me any better. English is quite a hard language to learn, especially when so many words can look the same, yet sound completely different or vice versa. Keep up the good work, you are doing great!!!

[@dbcooper-alltimehideandsee6223]

Your English is a wonderful mix of regional American accents. It suits you very well. Excellent job, kid. ❤

[@IkeThe9th]

For the record, you are completely understandable! For example, I just played you at twice (2x) the normal speed on KZbin, closed my eyes and you are still completely comprehensible. You have a lovely French accent of course, but you’ve made it! As an American, I lived in England for three years and I thought that was rough for me! (I wish I had the same determination to learn a completely different language)

[@user-David-Alan]

Do not be too hard on yourself because I have watched you from the beginning and you have improved greatly. As long as you can understand what is being said and can convey your thoughts your good. I worked in Texas for a summer and my boss's boss would speak and I didn't understand a word he was saying. I had to have him repeat himself not once but two or three times before I could understand. Someday I want you to do your best American southern accent that would be cool. A southern accent with a French twist. I still think you should be a Florida girl with a Mustang. Stay well and be happy.