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Motivation for French Language Learning

I think maybe the food, the cuisine, and also the arts, the art culture there...And like the museum, Louvre...I think it’s very prestigious and pretty. - Evelynne

  • Interest in studying foreign languages

  • Admiration for French culture

  • Perception of French as a beautiful language

  • French people are romantic

  • Fondness for reading French publications, French music and French films

  • The wish to live or study in France or in a French-speaking country

  • Future careers

  • No special reason but an ordinary subject of study

(Leung, 1998)

  • Desire to travel to France

  • Beautiful French language

  • Fascinating French culture

  • French people as romantic

  • Authentic French dining experience

  • Admiration for French living style

  • To gain global perspective

  • Career

(Interview result)

I''ve always wanted to go to France, and travel, to visit the museums and see the Eiffel Tower.  - Evelynne

French language is beautiful. French culture is romantic,  everything in French culture is delicate, such as cuisines, arts. - Candy

I want to travel to France, to Paris. - Candy

Comparing to a research study nearly a decade ago, undergraduates in HKU expressed very similar views on their motivation for learning French. There remains the admiration for French culture, language and the desire to travel to France. Despite the fact that there has been an increasing tendency of people to learn Putonghua in recent years due to practical reasons, the perception of French language and status has not changed hugely.

Attitudes towards the French Language, Culture & People

French has a high status in Hong Kong, it is more priviledged and prestigious in Hong Kong comparing to other minority languages. (Candy)

French respresents a prestigious status. When people talk about French, they think of noble language, noble people.                 

(Evelynne)

Only international schools offer French subject, and those schools are regarded as high-class. (Candy)

Hong Kongers’ general perception of the status of French in Hong Kong is positive. French people are well-respected and welcomed. French language is positively ‘stereotyped’ as prestigious and high-class. Time changes, such perception yet remains consistent.

Popularity of French language

French is not emphasized anymore after the Handover, and it's not commonly used or spoken in Hong Kong.

(Evelynne)

People in Hong Kong nowadays learn Putonghua rather than other foreign languages.

(Evelynne)

 

From the interviews, it is found that there has been a decline of number of people learning French in Hong Kong. The trend of learning French is not as strong as before. The connection between Hong Kong and France is similar and stable as it has always been. Meanwhile, the development of Hong Kong and mainland China relationship is rapid. Since Putonghua is the official language in China, and Hong Kong has developed stronger and stronger bond with mainland China, people feel the need to have good command of Putonghua, in order to grasp future opportunities and enhance competitiveness. More and more communications are happening in Putonghua, it may be the major reason that people nowadays opt for Putonghua study.

Anticipated Difficulties  for French people in HK

The biggest difficulty may be language barrier.

Most local people can only speak Cantonese.

(Candy)

French people may switch to speak English very often, at work, with friends from other nationalities. So they may speak less French. (Evelynne)

Despite all the warm and positive side of living in Hong Kong, French people still face some difficulties living in Hong Kong from local Hong Kongers’ perspectives. The biggest challenge assumed is language barrier. Although French people find no problem working in Hong Kong because working partners can speak good English, they nevertheless still need to face the ‘reality’. Most of local Hong Kongers may be able to speak very little English, while only a small proportion has high proficiency of English. They are those French people meet and work within their workplace. In daily lives, such as in the markets, districts other than Hong Kong Island, French people may face huge difficulties communicating or even asking for directions. Therefore, French people may experience some troubles when they visit some local places.

 

According to Sapir (1921), “language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desire by means of voluntarily produced symbols.” Language is a part of culture and a part of human behavior. It is also a concern that French people living in Hong Kong cannot blend into local community truly, given that they are not able to speak the local language. They may lack authentic experience of living locally, interacting locally. Their circle may remain to be international, foreign, or within their own nationality. Therefore, language barrier hinders their real integration into the city and community.

 

In addition, cultural difference also affects French people’s living in Hong Kong, and it is also applicable to other foreigners. Since language is influenced and shaped by culture. It reflects culture. Cultural differences are the most serious areas causing misunderstanding, unpleasantness and even conflict in cross-cultural communication. 

The process of integrating to society in Hong Kong is complicated. It can be easy or difficult, depending on different individuals.

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