passive smoking

mild torture

99% of my work colleagues are French.  50% of our job involves dealing with non French speakers, so the official working language is English.  There are 3 types of English speakers amongst the French;

1. Excellent English speakers, with or without a strong French accent (approximately 20% of my colleagues)

2. Totally useless but have a good laugh and mostly use pantomime gestures (none of my colleagues)

3. Mediocre English speakers, who make themselves passably understood (around 80% of my colleagues)

I have spent this afternoon listening to category 3, and it is exhausting. 

I know they make an admirable effort and I know how difficult it is to speak in front of an audience in a foreign language .... BUT it is unbearable to listen to.

I am now listening to BBC Radio 4 on the internet for some light relief.