Parisians don’t speak English. The French are useless at learning languages. French people find the English accent sexy. The list of stereotypes about the relationship between French people and the English language is long… and filled with some half-truths and plenty of plain nonsense. Based on my 6 years living in the French capital, including…
Category: Culture Difference
English Copywriter in Paris: Argentine Adventures Part I
So, once again I’ve been really bad at keeping my blog up to date. This time, I can add to the usual list of culprits (new projects, tight deadlines etc.) a month-long trip to Argentina! One of the BIG advantages of “going freelance” is having the freedom to choose when and how long you go on…
English Copywriter in Paris: Argentine adventures Part II
Last week, I started to compile a list of the top 9 things I learnt during my travels through the snowy mountains and vast lakes of Argentina including my new ability to sleep in public transport and the powerful flavours of the country’s world famous wine. This week it’s all about… 1.) Red meat is better with sides Argentina is famous…
English Copywriter in Paris: The highs and lows of language learning
After years of mastering French and Spanish, both at school and in the big wide world, it’s now time for me to get back to the books. I thought I was finished with learning complicated grammar rules, difficult-to-pronounce sounds and culturally charged expressions. But, being with a Franco-Tunisian born and brought up in Tunis, it…
English Copywriter in Paris: French attitudes to job security
The last few weeks have been filled with red-hot striking and protests here in Paris. This time, it’s all about, amongst other things, proposed labour reforms. What kind of radical changes have the French government cooked up to incite so much anger? Hollande & Co. are trying, among other things, to make it is easier…
English Copywriter in Paris: the French art of striking and protesting
Strikes from air controllers, train drivers, metro workers, teachers and students mean things have been grinding along at an excruciating pace in Paris in recent weeks. The latest instalment involves blockading oil refineries to disrupt petrol distribution! And, in many cases, patience is wearing thin among the famously strike-happy French who feel that they are being…
English Copywriter in Paris: To Brexit or not to Brexit?
The big day we’ve been talking about for so many months has finally landed. The clock is ticking for those who haven’t yet registered to vote. The opposing battle lines have been drawn (and redrawn). It seems that the media is talking about nothing else, certainly in the UK, with just a few lines dedicated…
English Copywriter in Paris: A little less English?
I recently applied for French nationality. Partly in a reaction against Brexit. Partly because (nearly) my whole life is based in Paris now: my clients, my apartment, my partner and now my soon-to-be-born child, who will be educated in France and feel more French than British. This decision got me asking lots of questions. Does…
English Copywriter in Paris: How to freelance for a French company
I was recently asked the best way to find freelance work with French companies. The London-based freelancer in question wanted to know the secret to breaking into the French copywriting market. This got me thinking about how I find work and whether cultural differences are at play when hooking new clients. Before starting though, I’d…