I now live in France 6 months of the year. I have 6 friends in Paris that I hang out with and only 1 speaks considerable English. The one thing they all find extremely annoying is the Americans who start a conversation in English without first asking if you speak English. It gives them the impression that you think everyone should speak English and shows a lack of respect for their own French language. This of course leads to the popular opinion among many Americans that the French are rude.

Larry J

I think that pat is right on with his/her suggestion about young people. Most have learned some English in school and are more keen (less inhibited) to use it. If and when you have to find something out, try approaching a teenager - I think you will also find then less intimidating than at home.

It appears to me that if you can speak Spanish, and English you can get around most places--and like the above posters say, learn enough phrases to let them know you are trying. I advise my students to learn Spanish, whatever else they do language wise. I think most of the southern hemisphere, with the exception of Brazil, speaks Spanish, plus most of the day workers around here, and half my little nephews class mates. WE are going to be a dual language country soon, whether we like it or not.

larry...what about germans who go to france and speak english...poles, swedes, danes, chinese, russians, czechs, etc, etc??? all just as likely to speak english in france as americans and many who also think/expect that everyone should speak english.

anyone in europe who wants to be at all cosmopolitan in his career or social life will speak english. otherwise, they are bound largely by their small territory of their country (or their country's former empire in the case of france). if they choose a second language besides english, this doesn't give them nearly the opportunities. in international circles (social, business, scientific, educational, etc) english is a must.

i realise that this is not the politically correct view on this board but it is the truth in europe today. english is not just another language.

Like others said, just learn some very basic phrases-please, thank you, where is...etc. Many times people will answer you in english if you at least attempt a few words in their language, but don't COUNT on being able to speak english with people. If you go to very heavily touristed cities, most everyone you encounter in the tourist trade (hotels, etc) will speak some english. The more off the beaten path you go, the less you will find english speakers.

I've been to countries where I spoke nothing but please and thank you. I just did lots of pointing and lots of looking up words (like menu items) inmy pocket dictionary. It really won't hurt your trip to not speak the language, though obviously if you do you can have a richer experience.

And just remember-it's not THEIR responsibility to be able to communicate with you if you can't make yourself understood. Don't ask if they speak english IN english (ask in their language), don't start talking loudly when trying to make yourself understood (like that is going to make a non-english speaker understand you!), and don't try to get complicated with asking about menu items. I've seen so many American tourists who have found a waiter that does speak a little english drill him about menu items, and the poor guy is doing the best he can, but doesn't understand all of their questions). Keep it simple and don't get frustrated with others.

"The one thing they all find extremely annoying is the Americans who start a conversation in English without first asking if you speak English. It gives them the impression that you think everyone should speak English and shows a lack of respect for their own French language. This of course leads to the popular opinion among many Americans that the French are rude."
>>>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>

Does it not also lead to the popular opinion among many French that the Americans are rude?

In Russia, even in big towns like St. Petersburg and Moscow, english speaking locals are rare, but recently are on the rise (especially those working in the tourism industry/tourism related industry). The vendors, people in shops/malls, other than that, I think it may be a little tough to travel here without a clear idea.

Imagine me, in my first week in Russia, literally communicating with Russians with a my fingers and expression, using a lot of 'etot' 'etot' (this, this). That's a loooong time ago! I speak fluent Russian now, thankfully.

Now, I'm embarking a journey through countries that speak German, French, Dutch, Flemish, Italian... I'm going to be a bit worried to be thrown back all over again into that unfamiliar feeling.

All those aside, can somebody lead me to a good website listing useful phrases in Italian and German? The books sold here all translates other languages to Russian, not as helpful as I could wish it to be.

I was wondering the same thing - how will I manage in Barcelona without Spanish (trying to learn some phrases with an online course at the moment)? I don't expect my French and German to be useful.

French and Catalan are rather similar. I had no problems whith French (and English) in Barcelona. No need to worry :-). However, there are many "Spanish immigrants" living there :D

I stayed in an apartment in a very residential (as opposed to touristy or commercial) area of the 7th arrondisement. I was having some sinus problems, and decided to go to the pharmacy across the street. I greeted the salesperson in French and asked if anyone spoke English, and was a little surprised that no one came forward. So, I used what little French vocabulary I remembered from some college French (think I said, "J' ai besion de quelque chose pour la nez." Please don't laugh at my French), which combined with pointing to my nose, managed to get the clerk to hand me some medicine which proved very effective. I think that simply by pointing and gesturing, someone with even less exposure to French would have gotten the same result.

As long as you aren't trying to engage in complex communications, the lack of a common language between you and any Europeans you encounter is unlikely to pose a significant problem.

Thank you, logos999. Or should I say gracias? I have another 3 weeks to practice.

I have found that (as others have mentioned) that if you can't speak the local language in Europe the first thing you say is hello (good day, etc.) in the local language. It is always polite to greet someone before you start speaking. Then you ask (in the local language-you can learn this phrase in any guidebook-if they speak English). Don't just walk up to someone and start speaking English without these polite civilities.

I've also found that of those who don't speak English they are more willing to help you if you follow that rule and say it with a smile.

Also, don't worry so much about grammar or getting the article correct (i.e. the masculine/feminine nouns, the verb tense, etc).

My brother, who was trying very hard to learn Italian, would spend so much time trying to get every word of the sentence correct that he would still be figuring it out long after my husband would say (with a smile) in a tone reflecting a question "olive oil", we'd have our bottle and be out of the shop before my brother had worked out the correct verb tense. (no criticism of my brother, he has since studied Italian in Bologna and become quite proficient). But for our basic tourist Italian we fared better at getting what we needed at that time.

Also another trick I have learned it that if even if learn to speak a few words and ask a question in the local language my ear is not well trained enough to understand the answer. So now I carry a small pad and pen and ask them (learn this in the local language) "please write". If I don't understand the cost, or which track number for the train to Vienna, where the post office is, I simply ask them to please write it down., Important- learn the difference between the printing of the numbers one and seven in Europe!

Just to say that in many parts of Europe, you don't have to go far from the tourist trail to find local people speaking only their own language.

In my area, there are very few English speakers.

Peter

Right on, neopatrick. It does. You can get by in Europe with just English, but you'll open up more doors, win more hearts, get better rewards, leading to all sorts of wonderful unlooked-for experiences and generosities, if you take the trouble to learn at least enough of the local language to greet people in it and ask "Can you speak English" in it.

>Or should I say gracias?
It's "Gràcies" in the local language. :-). Learing a few words of Catalan will make a lasting impression.

<<Also, in this day of CNN, people say they learned english by watching it.<<

We have it here in Switzerland and every hotel in Paris that I've stayed in and also the thalasso spas in Bretagne have it. In fact, in Carnac it was the only English station.

I'm an American who moved over to Switzerland 8 years ago and had just a little bit of French from courses taken years earlier and I live in a fairly large city, Lausanne, and not many of the local people speak English. It all depends on socio-economic background, education, not just age. It's been a struggle to master the language because I work in English and don't have to speak it that often but realize that it's necessary for my everyday life of shopping, etc.

What's odd is that when I am in Italy and someone speaks Italian to me I automatically respond in French! It surprises me every time it happens but it's consistent! I never use English there at all.

>We have it here
It's unencryted on the Astra satellites (ZDF free TV bouquet) that is used by the majority of European TV viewers. So basically "everyone" can watch CNN. FOX is encoded as pay-tv and only available in certain countries (Spain, Italy, not Germany)

This thread is interesting and on point: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1011767

I have a standard list of "must learn" words and phrases I feel I have to learn before I travel to a new country. If I learn these I have found it makes life easy, it is greatly appreciated and others will speak English if they know it or we can both resort to pantomime and it remains friendly. My standard phrases are:
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, excuse me, I'm sorry,and I don't speak (insert language here), do you speak English?
I have found that enter, exit, toilet and those words are picked up very quickly. Does anyone else have must learn phrases to add to the list?

Where ever I go abroad I prepare and laminate some small "idiot" cards with some basic phrases on each. I have one with words like how much is.. what is that... etc. another one with hello, thankyou, excuse me. One for use in a restaurant etc.