Translation of Handfeuerwaffe

There are several different TV programs in the hotel room and depending on the country of origin they broadcast in different languages. I believe European TV programs are much longer and have less advertisement than those from North America.
It certainly is one of the reasons that a student from abroad is not as good in English as people who were born in America. This is an obstacle for all students and a challenge for the educational system.
Many thanks for the corrections. Exactly what I needed to be happy. I want to learn French because it's a great language and because it sound so romantic to me. There is a lot more to improve.