Language

[blueberrypie0112]

I watched a show about an American who came to live in France for a year for a job and my sister who did live in paris for a year felt turned off because she felt it was disrespectful that they make it ok to live in a country (temporary) without learning the language first. I told her the show was not about the girl refusing to learn the language, she picked up bits and pieces and taking classes in France and I asked her if that’s what people told her when she was in France. Anyway, am I being Aibu to think it is not a big deal if someone don’t learn the language before they go to these places?

Honestly I think the whole show is pretty awful but not because of the language issue- it's the nauseating clichés and the idea that if you're an American in Paris you can just leave your morals at the airport because everyone is at it like rabbits anyway (but it's ok because everything is so "romantic" 🤮)

Well don't bother learning if you are only having weeks in Tenerife or whatever

If you emigrate, you might want to consider it?

I know many people who have moved abroad and married a local and then had kids. Maybe they started off learning the language, but then they got busy with the kids and then it got harder, so they rely on their spouse. I think many countries have a language requirement if you natralise, but if you get citizenship or permanent residency through marriage, it's much easier. I do think it's bizarre to have lived in a country for years and to barely be able to order a coffee, but it's really not uncommon.

People's situations are so different I don't think you can make a generalisation.

It's probaly wise to try and learn the language, at least a bit, if you can. And respect may come into it for some.

On the other hard, if someone comes as an elderly person to join their kids, they may struggle to learn the language well enough to be very useful. Not everyone picks up languages easily. I don't see that as disrespectful but it is hard on the person who will feel isolated.