looking for an English Speaking doctor in Nerac 47600

[NickP]

Explain to me now then, what mainstream France is or where it is? By the way; nobody has come on here with the claim that everybody should speak English, you brought that subject up, but then that suits your agenda, which is trying to wind people up.

[YCCMB]

I wish you could persuade the hundreds of people I've taught in the last 12 years that everyone shouldn't speak English, because, believe me, there's a huge groundswell of opinion that everyone should. And that groundswell of opinion isn't coming from native English speakers, oh dear me no. The vast majority of non-native speakers with whom I've had contact believe that it IS indispensable to them for future career prospects. And I'm not talking about people who come to the UK on a permanent basis, I'm talking about people who have every intention of returning to their countries of origin.

As a couple of examples, I've done 1:1 courses recently for an Austrian working for a German company being sent to the Czech Republic who needed to learn English because it was the only sensible "common " language with which to communicate, and an Italian working for an Italian company who was about to take on a role working in Russia and the Baltic States, same reason.

Sadly, there's no getting away from it, and there are plenty of articles in the French press agreeing that France is lagging behind as far as the study of English is concerned. Much is due to the fact that France (like the UK) was, once upon a time, one of the major colonising nations, and expected people in its colonies to speak French, so they wouldn't have to bother learning another language. However,the world has moved on, English is a global language, like it or not, and it will remain so in spite of France having a splinter up its rear about "Francophonie" which nobody gives a monkeys about except francophones

None of the above should detract from the fact that the English are pretty poor at learning foreign languages, but we have a slight problem in that en masse we are only ever routinely offered the chance to learn about 4 foreign languages, whereas the speakers of the other 7000-odd languages tend to resort to English as the foreign language of choice. We haven't a hope of travelling abroad and learning the language of every country we visit. And were generally fortunate that we don't have to.

[Quillan]

[quote user="gardengirl "]<> ALBF, this is exactly the opposite of what we have found, as I said in my post yesterday.[/quote]

 

I agree but I also think there is an assumption that all doctors speak some English which is not true, certainly in SW France. Very few medical staff speak English (and why should they!) because the prominent second language down here is Spanish followed by Catalan. You will be very lucky to find a nurse who speaks English. Indeed up until 5 or so years ago when English became madatory in schools as a second language most kids perfered to learn Spanish. My comments about French hospitals are based on extensive visits (like two or three a month) over the last 18 to 20 months at places like Toulouse, Carcassonne, Limoux, Montpellier and Beziers. Although we both have conversational French technical hospital stuff is way to complicated for us so we pay for a profesional translator to come with us. Something the UK could do rather than supply them FOC via the NHS at £80 an hour including travel (probably gone up now). I was told by one specialist that the French government has a whole department that translates scientific and medical research documents into French and it is quite efficient translating stuff in a matter of a few weeks. Drug companies have to supply documentation in French anyway if they want to get their drugs accepted in France.

[lindal1000]

I think your French doctor is a bit out of date. Scientific papers are not routinely translated into French. There's just too much now to even make that possible. Google translate has improved considerably and for many that is a starting point. Key texts may get translated. We are currently translating a core text book into French at the moment. We are a team of 10 people, all doing it for free, and it will be at least a year before it is in print. Most research cannot wait that long. OH used to work for the European Medicines Agency and all of information for all medications sold anywhere in Europe have to be translated into all of the European languages to get approval. Like I said, it is a requirement for all health care staff now to understand English..they won't get a place on the course without a basic level.

[Quillan]

[quote user="lindal1000"]Like I said, it is a requirement for all health care staff now to understand English.[/quote]

 

Not in SW France and that includes the students nurses and those newly qualified. I would love to know where this comes from as in an official government document because it would save me money on a translator and I could wave it under their noses and demand (as so many English expats currently do) that they speak English to my wife and I. Somehow I doubt anyone will be able to provide that however as there is no mention of it on the French Government website (http://www.sante.gouv.fr/infirmier,10821.html). [:D]

[suein56]

[quote user="You can call me Betty"]The vast majority of non-native speakers with whom I've had contact believe that it IS indispensable to them for future career prospects.[/quote]

Having done English days in the local Institit Universitaire de Technologie for a number of years has taught me that young French people today regard English (OK American/English) as the way to go. They see a good command of the language as indispensible in their future lives and even at 19 and 20 they are well on the way to being fluent. In their spare time they watch VO films via the Internet and all kinds of English language TV series by the same means and are determined to achieve their aims by (mostly) moving away from France - at least in the short term - to gain work and life experience.

Most have the intention of returning to France in the future; though for quite a few this seemed to be 'for retirement'.

Sue

[lindal1000]

CHU Bordeaux where I teach. All years get between 30-60 hours of Anglais professional, which they have to pass. They have to have studied English as part of their BAC to do the preparatory year. They don't have to speak it fluently but they do need to understand written English.

Some medical schools go even further and deliver half the curriculum in English. My colleague just finished organising a post graduate training session taught by an expert in the field. The whole week was in English with no translators provided.

None of this means that they are compelled to provide consultations in English.. but they need to speak it to participate in international conferences and congresses and they need to be able to write it to get their papers published in International journals.

[YCCMB]

Quillan, I'm afraid you're wrong.

http://www.edu.upmc.fr/medecine/pedagogie/memoire/Rannou_2005.pdf

[alittlebitfrench]

I met my OH at uni when she did a year in the UK. My OH came with her best friend. At the end of their year in the UK they could both speak very fluent excellent English and English slang. Just like a native. Thanks to me LOL.

Now, her friend went back to France and over the next 20 plus years has got a job, got married and had children in 'mainstream' France. At no stage has she needed her English. Coincidently, she now lives just down the road. Imagine the probability in that !!!. Anyway, she has 'mostly' lost her English. As you would expect. When we meet it takes her a good two hours to start speaking sentences in English again. So going back to Lindas point, even if you learnt English at uni, unless you use it on a day to day basis you will lose it. If you turn up in a fast moving Emergency unit the doctor is not going have time to get his 'English' back to treat you.

I have had two kids (well not me) in France and at no stage from the pregnancy to giving birth (not far from where Nick P lives) to pediatricians to normal doctors appointments has anyone spoken English. The kids (being kids) are frequently in and out of AE or having emergency doctors appointments when we have been on holiday all over France. Again, no English speaking doctors. My son is being followed by a number of specialists. Again, no speaky English. I am sure they do speak English but have lost it.

[lindal1000]

What is really hard to do unless you are bilingual is to switch between two languages... at least it is for me! So

I agree many would not feel comfortable to do a consultation. I feel really sorry for my GP, who speaks fluent English and has to spend his day speaking both languages. He has a new intern with him who is bilingual and she certainly gets to practice her English a lot. When I start work after the summer it takes me ages to reengage my brain into French and for a while I don't know what language I'm speaking.

[Chancer]

I havn't seen you for a few years Lindal and when we next meet it will be inspiring to see the progress that you have made in the French language.

I doubt that you will be able to see any progress on my part, maybe even regression in fluency but gains in health and fitness.

[Rabbie]

I have just ploughed through this at time contentious thread and Ithink there are valid points on both sides of the argument. For me it is common sense that if you live in a country you should try to speak its language. A simple courtesy if nothing else.

Having spent ten years of my working life in Sweden I picked up a working knowledge of the language despite many swedes being very fluent in English. Despite having returned to the UK over 25 years ago and only speaking Swedish on the the infrequent occasions we have Swedish guests or are visiting Sweden  I find that I still have no problems in picking it up again so I am a little baffled by those who lose a language.

I was never particulary gifted at learning languages at school so I do not think I have any special talents in that direction and take the view that anyone can learn a language if they just make the effort.

[Judith]

ALBF

I DO wish you would not misquote me .... as in:

Saying 'everyone in France should speak English' is stupid.

Now WHERE  did I say everyone??

What I said was that with the free movement of people they now had the opportunity to speak English ifthey so wished, so why not do so. 

Oh, and it was not Betty but I who asked about mainstream France.

Do keep up and pay attention!

[Judith]

"Judith....unless you are a linguistic expert/gifted in languages or you

are in a position to practice a second language on a daily basis you

will forget how to speak that second language ."

I am neither expert nor particularly gifted... but I do speak [imperfectly, yes, but I currently run a meeting weekly in acceptable French] and read both languages in my hobbies and private life almost daily. 

Whilst I agree that disuse causes initial forgetfulness, it does not take long to re-learn ... though my experience is that it takes less than the 2 hours you state.

[Gardengirl]

I find it takes a very short time when returning to France after an absence of 2 or 3 weeks during the year, or 2 months following each summer in England to be up to speed in French.

I posted about our experience with French medics earlier in this thread; those we have regular contact with don't ask if we or others wish to have the consultation in English, they leap in and take every opportunity to speak English.

For my first consultations with a particular GP, I had a few words written down, as I felt very unwell and knew I might not remember them in French. He immediately launched into English, with a reference to me looking very unwell, examined me, all the while speaking perfect English, and ended up with - you either have Avian flu, ordinary flu or something else. The medicine on this prescription should make you feel more comfortable. As I had mistaken him for a plumber or something on arrival, I was thankful that he was indeed a medical doctor and seemed to know what he was doing.

This particular GP also does medicals for pilots, by appointment, which are conducted in English, as far as I understand it. Those who read and give papers on their specialities regularly do so in English; it's not a matter of preference, it's required.

[Quillan]

[quote user="gardengirl "]Those who read and give papers on their specialities regularly do so in English; it's not a matter of preference, it's required.[/quote]

 

I wanted to find out if this is true or an urban myth and this is what I discovered.

 

Normally a paper is first written in the language of the country of origin. If the paper is also aimed at the international audience then it will be translated into English. Indeed I noticed that there are many specialised companies advertising on the web who will do this. You can also find one person referencing another’s work where the other persons work is not in English, I read that there has been some debate amongst the academia on if it is right to reference as the original language or to get it translated.

 

So whilst on the International ‘stage’ the preference is to publish in English around 15% of papers are published in another language (that being of the language of the author). In other words there is no requirement to publish in English but if you want to reach a larger international audience it would be wise to get your paper translated into English. Interestingly, as an example, China only publishes in Chinese.

[andyh4]

Gardengirl wrote:

I find it takes a very short time when returning to France after an absence of 2 or 3 weeks during the year, or 2 months following each summer in England to be up to speed in French.

Unquote

2 or 3 weeks!!!

In both Germany and France my teams told me that I suffered Monday Morning Language deficiency. A weekend of being exposed to the BBC, the OH and with only a bit of Bonjour or Guten Tag in the shops rather than proper conversation, meant that my language proficiency had dropped noticeably.

[lindal1000]

It is true that many writers write the first draft of a paper in their mother tongue and then translate. The problem often comes with the use of a non specialist translator, who is not fully fluent in the professional nuances of the language.

Hence why I have often been asked to rewrite papers that have already been officially translated.

Of course no one is compelled to publish anything, but academic progression is dependent on successful publication in journals with a high impact factor, and these are for the most part English language journals. To give you an idea, my therapy colleagues doing doctorates in France will have to do at least one paper for an International (English language) journal. So for the practitioner who wants to qualify and get a job and not do much else, then they need to understand written English enough to search and read the literature and that's about it. Those wanting to go on to do research, to attend international conferences or to have a career at a senior level will need a higher level.

Chancer , my day to day French is still very much a work in progress. I struggle with people who speak quickly, with slang, idioms and strong accents, and my own French accent is terrible, although I'm told it's amusing. However, I am very fluent in my professional field, so have discussed at length the best way of expressing certain ideas in French and English in a way that would have little interest for anyone not in my profession.

[Magoo]

Looking at the forum baiters I'm expecting to be shot down but I too am looking for an English speaking doctor in the area - Nerac or Condom.

My English speaking Doctor (working in a tiny village here) has just retired on ill health and as I have an auto immune condition with lots of complications I prefer to discuss the intricacies of treatment in my mother tongue. For all you doubters, my specialist in Agen is also fluent in English. Please PM me if you can help. Thx

[idun]

Shot down........?

You know I have no time for anyone who is a long term french resident to expect continuous 'special' treatment.

And if something went wrong, as you are so exigent, who will be to blame if something is lost in translation? So, as most doctors do speak some english, I would not blame any of them for strictly treating you in french.

[Cathar Tours]

I wouldn't feel embarrassed asking and I am in a similar boat. Some people are just rude and self righteous (like the one that has just posted) but ignore them. Personally I only deal with English speaking healthcare people in France. Some of the hospitals now produce documentation and secretariat services in English and many of their doctors and nurses speak English. I have been here a couple of years and it has not been a problem.

[minnie]

Magoo - Why don't you pm the original poster since they have found an English speaking Doctor in Nerac.

[Magoo]

I have Minnie but I may have found a doctor even closer to me than Nerac. Thanks for your reply

[Magoo]

Actually idun, I have had a Mauritian doctor; a German doctor and a Cote D'Ivoire Dentist - all fluent and all happy to secure the best treatment for me even thou I'm so 'demanding' as you so succinctly put it.

I deal with specialists who do not speak to me in English which is fine but if I need the finer details gone over again in English my generaliste has helped me. For me it's not just a matter of a headache or ingrowing toenail.

Thank you for your input thou - I knew you'd comment although not sure why as you haven't added to the call for help on this thread, as far as I can see, just scared others in need off of asking for advice and help.

[idun]

Well if I frighten people off, how do they cope with straight talking french people, in France, who make me seem like a pussy cat[blink]