You want to learn to speak English, no you want to speak English, that’s different. And also understand, read and write it. Here are some ideas and methods for doing so in London or in England.

English is not the most spoken language in the world, but if Chinese (Mandarin) has the most speakers, the language of Shakespeare comes second, soon followed by the Spanish of Cervantes.

Knowing English is essential if you want to work in IT, business, law, marketing, media and communication, human resources, research, tourism… In short, it is an undeniable asset for your professional career.

Perhaps you have already been to England or Great Britain during your studies?

Between the school trips that you take at a very young age to learn English (or to learn it), then the language exchanges in England when you are a teenager and finally the language stays to improve your English when you are an adult, the opportunities are more or less numerous.

If you haven’t had this chance, don’t worry, it’s not too late.

Learn English with a language course in London

If you have a limited amount of time, taking a language course for several weeks is a very good idea. The courses based on expression and exchange, rather than on teaching French grammar and conjugation, will allow you to quickly acquire the basics or pass levels.

To find out more, you can contact a language organization like Nacel ESL which will allow you to take English courses in London to progress quickly.

There are several training options depending on the organization, you can stay with a host family or in a residence with other students from around the world.

The fact of being immersed in the country, of meeting other people motivated in learning the language, of following courses with new teachers generally allows you to make significant progress.

Be careful, however, to avoid French speakers or at least to make the effort not to speak French to them.

Become an au pair or volunteer in England

For those who want to improve their English and have professional experience abroad, there are several solutions.

For girls between 18 and 27 years old (well also boys but more for girls) becoming an au pair is a good solution. Look at it this way: No more than 25 hours of work per week, room and board, and pocket money.

In exchange, you will take care of young children (no less than 2 years old) and some housework. To avoid unpleasant surprises, go through an agency approved by the international organization: IAPA.

Another solution is to volunteer.

The European Voluntary Service (EVS) has been for years a way to have work experience abroad. The principle? A civic, cultural, or social mission within an association or NGO for a maximum of one year.

All expenses are covered: transportation, accommodation, health insurance, food, and even pocket money. It is too early to know if Brexit will impact this European program. Learn more about EVS.

Aimed primarily at students, recent graduates, or job seekers, aged 18 to 28, the International Corporate Volunteer Program (VIE) is an assignment or internship in a French company abroad for 6 to 24 months. To learn more about the VIE.

Moving to London

Many French people have taken the plunge and moved to London for a year or more. There are 140,000 French citizens in the UK (according to the 2011 census), half of whom live in the capital.

So between a coffee boy who came to learn English and get a taste of London life and the trader living in Kensington and working in the City, they obviously don’t all have the same story.

What brings most of them together, however, is the choice to live between the two countries, the two cultures and the two languages.

If you are considering this choice, there are many websites and Facebook pages to help you settle in. The choice of Brexit leaves some doubt about the future although it is unlikely that a change in bilateral relations between France and England will take place.