me

Just go have a good time. You can't learn the French accent until you can understand and hear it first. So I would make the goal of this trip <BR><BR>ON trip#1 to listen and understand. <BR><BR>On a later date, return again to France...... <BR><BR>Trip #2, tackle the pronunciation. <BR><BR>In the meantime, back in the states between or before your travel to France, buy some French music or rent a sub-titled French movie. I think there are even some online free internet radio stations from France. I think music is the best way to learn a language since you can do it while jogging, driving, or working but just my opinion. <BR><BR>Another idea is to go to the local unversity and post an ad to offer free English tutoring to a French student. Most local universities have a broad spectrum of international students, and while their English will be more than likely excellent, I am sure they could use some help with fine-tuning pronunciation or someone to review an essay for correctness. Just some helpful(??) ideas if your really want to learn a language. Good luck.

Janine

I personally find the French (including Parisians) quite polite and amicable if you make the effort to communicate in their own language. The reverse side of this being, they do NOT respond well (if at all) to people who just start talking at them in English.<BR><BR>With so little time to learn the language, I would concentrate on a few standard expressions, expecially &quot;Excusez-moi madame/monsieur, parlez-vous anglais?&quot; It will be rare that you receive an enthusiastic &quot;Oui!&quot; to this question. I believe this has more to do with a lack of confidence in their own abilities, rather than any reluctance to assist. More likely is the response &quot;un peu&quot; - from there you can judge which language the dialogue is going to best proceed in.<BR><BR>One word to remember for politeness is &quot;pardon&quot;. I noticed the French using this all the time when they accidentally bump or brush against you in the street or metro.<BR><BR>Do take a French phrase book. The good ones are full of lots of useful vocab, phrases and information organised according to situation, and are small and light to carry around.

Mike

Quinty, paste the address, below, onto your address bar, above. There are numerous radio stations you can listen to from France. For jazz fans, the station out of Lyon is good. The ones at the top of the list are good for just listening to people talk. The France Musiques is a decent classical station. Hope this helps, M. http://www.mikesradioworld.com/eu_fr.html