NedandAnn, you picked a good country for a dream trip. You sound motivated. If you have enough time, I'd recommend trying to learn some of the language, particularly if you're planning to spend a lot of time outside of Paris. It's not necessary, but if you're even somewhat successful you'll add layers of experience to your trip that will never happen to people who don't speak other languages. I don't know if plugs are allowed, but the best tapes I've found are the "Speed Series" (Italian, French, etc). Use a good search engine and you can probably find a source. Bon voyage!

Ned and Ann - <BR> <BR>I can get through a transaction in French, but can't hold a conversation. Ditto with Spanish. <BR> <BR>A couple of things to try that work for me: <BR> <BR>1. When entering a store, make eye contact with the store keeper, say 'good morning/afternoon/evening', and when you leave, say good-bye. Most tourists don't do that (or I've witnessed). <BR> <BR>2. When starting a conversation - always begin in the local language, even if you're fumbling through it. <BR> <BR>3. Smile! :-) <BR> <BR>4. Buy a English/French food dictionary (there's a great one for sale in the Brentano's book store in the 1st arr. near the Opera House). Helps A LOT since there are so many different ways to say the same thing. <BR> <BR>You'll get by just fine! Enjoy your trip!

I've always said I am semi-lingual: I speak and understand broken English. Actually, I'm surprised how much high school French I've remembered, and have had friends from other countries since high school (Japan, Iran, many South American countries, Sweden and India). When my daughter was a gymnast midst Glasnost we got two Russian coaches. We all tried the 10 minutes a day books to learn Russian. The influence was strong -- My daughter (now grown) is fluent in Spanish and took German for several years. My husband and I had an enjoyable time visiting with a German couple in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. When you're not fluent, you simply have to listen carefully and not get impatient. Refresh yourself on the "courtesy" vocabluary, hello, good night, please, thank you, yes, no and so forth as all have suggested. The Berlitz Italian tape was terrific before our most recent trip. Parle inglese? Non parle italiano molto bene....Apparently I got the accent perfect because people kept saying No no you speak GOOD Italian. Then I had to confess that was only true for those two sentences. Our trip to Paris two years ago went exceptionally well, and some of those important phrases do come back to you...maybe not when you needed them most, but next time.....

Si.

Just make yourself a little cheat sheet with certain words and phrases you think you'll need to kow. Please thankyou, where is the toilet, how much, you'll pick up words there. We just returned from Turkey last month, and spent 4 days on aboat with 3 Turks, and 5 Germans. Unbelievably, we did just fine. You can figure out lots of foriegn words and many sound just like english with a vowel tacked onto the end.

I speak fluent French, but only have a very light smattering of German, even less Spanish and nothing of any other language apart from the odd greeting, please, thankyou and numbers up to 10. <BR> <BR>It definitely helps to be able to speak a few words of the language of the country you are in, as people do like it if you make the effort. I usually get a phrase book and tape 2-3 months ahead and just learn a few basics. Even if you can just manage please, thank you, hello, goodbye and a few numbers, combined with a smile this can go a long way. It's the difference between standing at a market stall gazing longingly at those luscious whatevers and being able to point, say a number, and please, and get just what you want! <BR> <BR>In Europe, most people do speak at least some English - nearly everyone learns it at school, and if you make a small effort, they will help you out. <BR> <BR>Don't let it worry you, but make a bit of an effort, and have a great holiday.

My husband is a language teacher and translator for the courts. He's fluent in Spanish, German, Italian, French, English (he didn't move to the USA until he was a teen and never spoke English until he was 14) and Hebrew. He speaks these with no "foreign accent" so people can never tell where he is from when we travel. He loves to travel in countries where he is fluent, so we often go to Europe. He wasn't very happy when we have been to places like Croatia where he couldn't get into his typical long conversations with everyone he meets. Me? Well, I plan the trips in great detail and do all the booking and navigating everywhere. I know some German and Spanish but it's 1% of what my husband knows. Everyone has their strong suit.

Hi Ned and Ann <BR>I majored in French and Japanese at University. Both languages have grown very rusty through disuse. I have also picked up a smattering of Italian, and am currently studying German in preparation for my next trip. <BR>I agree that learning a few basic phrases before you travel will greatly enhance your experience, and that any attempts you make will be appreciated. However, if you do not have an aptitude for foreign languages, please don't worry. I have always found that the level of English attained by many Europeans puts my best efforts at their language well and truly to shame.

Hi Ned and Anne, <BR>I am semi-fluent in French, but rarely get a chance to use it becuase most French people (especially younger) are anxious to show off and practice their English (especially in large cities). American cinema/TV is admired there, which helps. <BR>I've found that outside of basic phrasebook lingo, the really valuable things are (1) try to learn basic pronunciation of a language (vowels, e.g.), (2) spend some time on the plane learning what menu items mean, and <BR>(3) learn the monetary system and shopping terms well. <BR>To our fortune, most Europeans are thankfully multilingual, and know that most of us are not. A good hotel staff <BR>will put you immediately at ease. Worry <BR>not! <BR>If you choose to learn it, "Learn French Now" from Transparent Language (ck 'net for good deals) with CD/microphone attachment is a fun and inexpensive way to learn the basics of a language.

I'm barely fluent in English but I have managed to get by quite well in my travels as long as I know how to say: Hello, thank you, excuse me, where is the bathroom and coffee. As long as you can say these words in the language of the country you're in, with a big smile on your face, you're home free!

Ned and Ann, <BR>Don't worry! All the previous replys are so right. As long as you learn a few polite words, you'll do fine. I can read and understand a little bit of Italian and Spanish and even less French. German escapes me entirely and we just returned from Egypt where there was absolutly no chance of me comprehending any of the language or reading anything either and my husband and I had a ball! Most people have been so friendly to us and have gone literally miles out of their way to help us. The one thing I always try to learn before I go are the words for anything I absolutely won't eat! It has saved me more than once in a restaurant when jetlagged! Have a wonderful trip - relax and enjoy and don't be afraid to ask for help!

I speak English,German,Japanese,Italian,Russian.I've been a lot of times in France and Spain,not speaking the languange,but it was not the same experience.In most of the countries explanations in museums,churches are written only in the local languange,or one long page in the local languange ,and 3 short sentences in English.Audioguide in the Louvre has explanation in French about 3 times more object than in English.Guided tours in the local languange to the locals give the real stuff.Once in Japan in Nara visiting the big Budha statue,there was a long text in Japanese about history,art etc.Only one sentence in English:Do not climb up the Buddha.Understanding the local languange makes your trip much more enjoyable.I could not imagine my life without speaking all these languanges,not watching films in original etc.I know learning languanges is difficult,but it is definitely worth the effort. <BR>Eva

I speak French fairly well, and studied Spanish, German, and Japanese a bit in school so I can muddle around slightly in those, although I've forgotten most of the Japanese due to lack of use. I'm currently using a Berlitz CD to work on "tourist Italian" in preparation for a trip at the end of this month ("Vorrei ______, per favore..."). I have found that using language tapes or CDs a bit prior to a trip is very helpful (and bring along a phrasebook with a good menu translator too).