I am not good at languages--I have a phrase and word book--English to French..However, pronouncing the french words ,even with the alphabet hints, seems so difficult i doubt anyone could understand what i am trying to say..
Amazon has a battery translator,,mostly phrases, for $ 40 to $ 50. I am sure when I get back I could sell it on eBay or just give to a friend...
Reviews on Amazon are mostly positive, but point out just "phrases" can be limiting...
In my case , anything would be better than the "jibberish" I produce !!!
Has anyone had experience with these devices???

I would think a battery-powered translator would be a good idea if you're really desperate. Paying $40-50 would be a small price to pay to alleviate your nervousness.

I use a Spanish/English bilingual electronic dictionary--mostly so that I don't have to put my book down when the book is in Spanish, but I already know a lot of Spanish, so pronouncing the words isn't a problem. I must say, however, that in an emergency, even pointing at a word in a dictionary is a whole lot better than miming or gesturing.

This topic tales me back many years to a time in Tokyo when I had monthly cramps and was able to point to the appropriate Japanese word in my trusty dictionary so I could get some pain medication. Just miming that I had a stomach ache did not do the job.

I don't speak any French, but I didn't have any difficulty in communicating in France. Many people in the tourist industry speak some English.

My only suggestion would be to get a Menu Master if you're at all squeamish about adventurous eating. I don't eat organ meats, but I would have ordered veal kidneys if not for my Marlings Menu Master.

The only other problem I had was that I didn't know the French for "rental car return" and spent about an hour driving around Charles de Gaulle trying to find the appropriate place. It was maddening.

I'm not really sold on the translator products. Even with one, you won't get much in the way of a conversation, so the utility is limited. I bought a "speaking" translator program for my iPhone when I went to Japan, which has far fewer English speakers than France, and didn't really use it at all. At the end of the day, pointing and sign language were the real methods of communication.

Then again, I am somewhat outspoken in my belief that even learning hello and goodbye is a waste of time for anything more than the novelty. I mean, what good is presenting the perfectly formed order at a restaurant if you stare blankly when they ask what dressing you would like with your salad? I say that the best strategy is to admit up-front that you don't speak the language so that everyone can adapt from the beginning.

My advice - practice "Parlez-Vous Anglais?" This will be the single most important phrase you can learn. If you run into any sort of trouble, do what I do and pretend that you are Scandinavian and look down on them for not speaking English.

Waste of money. I don't speak a word of French and could make myself understood. Ditto for Polish, Czech, Magyar, even Japanese.

That menu master thingy sounds potentially useful.

If you don't speak the language, you don't speak the language. The only thing you need to learn how to say IN French is a fluent, understandable "I'm sorry, I don't speak French." and sound like you mean ti.

I can't see how that device will be useful in practical situations. Better to simply get comfortable traveling, and learn how to get around without needing a lot of conversation (I'd never ask instructions on the street, I'd use my map, etc.). Phrase book for decifering restaurant menus. Let your hotel front desk help if you need phone calls.

I have never understood how one works with these. No one in another country wants to waste time while you fiddle with some gadget. If someone walked up to me with one of those things, I'd run away.

Hope I don't get kicked off the board for admitting I purchased a Rick Steve's French phrase book and most every situation is covered in different chapters.
Seems one could look up something in the little book as easily as use a translator and just show the phrase to someone if you didn't want to try to say it. We only use the basic phrases and have
never had a major problem communicating and sometimes it has just been fun trying to be understood and understanding. I don't think anyone would expect you to speak perfectly but
would just appreciate your effort.
I personally would not bother with a translator. Relax and have a good trip.

I tried to learn French by listening to CD's before my trip last year. Although I thought that I was pronouncing the words as I heard them as soon as I tried them out in Paris the person I was speaking to immediately switched to English. My theory is that they couldn't stand to hear their language butchered. Try at least to learn bon jour, s'il vous plait etc. I wanted to know the words for menu items as I had no intention of eating innards. Besides the language cd's you might try BBC's website. They have a short course on various languages for free.

After feedback from all of you I decided not to buy the item..
Ironically, I met a retired French teacher at the Senior Center---she is going to compose a short list of words that she feels will be of value....and supervise my pronouncing "skills".
Merci to all that replied....