--- In qalam@yahoogroups.com, "Peter T. Daniels" <grammatim@...>
wrote:

> Andrew Dunbar wrote:
> > I've been under the impression that French spelling
> > is easy for (native) French speakers and difficult
>
> That's certainly not what my French teachers said!

I have trained in a system in Ontario, at the Franco-Ontarian
Centre, that approaches both lgs *as native languages* and my
impression, without proof, is that French spelling is at least as
hard, if not harder, for French children as English spelling is for
English children. The difficulties are different since French has a
myriad of rules. But one is mistaken to think that once the rules
are learned, (I should say, if ever) the task is over.

Having said that I know children who have lived in France for a year
and come back with exquisite spelling because of the emphasis on
that in the French school system. To spell correctly is highly
valued but that only begs the question - well, it is not a contest -
but to write well in French is quite a skill.

Suzanne