Parlez vous francais??
Jul 5th, 2006, 06:15 AM
#22
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I had one year of high school French. When we took the kids to Paris a few years back, we hired a local high school French teacher to tutor us for a few weeks. It was pretty much a waste of money because we didn't learn much. BUT, while no one was impressed with MY French, waiters and shopkeepers got a big kick out of hearing our kids' attempts at the language.
I will say that we encountered a few folks who spoke no English in places that surprised us - selling Metro tickets, for example. For some unknown reason, I expected folks who had jobs like that to speak some English, but of, course, I was wrong. We had a screw up buying our carte orange that cost me about $20 extra because the woman's English was no better than my French - certainly my fault, not hers, but a little better French on my part would have helped.
I will say that we encountered a few folks who spoke no English in places that surprised us - selling Metro tickets, for example. For some unknown reason, I expected folks who had jobs like that to speak some English, but of, course, I was wrong. We had a screw up buying our carte orange that cost me about $20 extra because the woman's English was no better than my French - certainly my fault, not hers, but a little better French on my part would have helped.
Jul 5th, 2006, 02:57 PM
#23
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All this info has been SO helpful. I am grateful for your assistance. Can't wait to print off and practice. I ordered the language tapes from the library today.... anything else you could think of in day-to day words, please post! Merci!
Jul 5th, 2006, 03:54 PM
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Hi Kathryncee,
When I went to Paris a few years ago,I carried around my "French at a Glance" handbook, prepared to struggle through whatever was necessary to make a "good impression". I would stop people on the street for information, directions, etc, & start the conversation by saying, "Excusez-moi. Parlez vous Anglais?" & the Parisien would reply, "Oh sure, I speak English!"There was no problem. Everyone was so amazingly friendly & probably appreciated my attempt to communicate in their language. As it turned out,all I needed to do was carry around my handbook!(I didn't need to speak French!)
I'm sure that if you show that you are making an effort, you will probably not have any difficulties. Bon Chance!
When I went to Paris a few years ago,I carried around my "French at a Glance" handbook, prepared to struggle through whatever was necessary to make a "good impression". I would stop people on the street for information, directions, etc, & start the conversation by saying, "Excusez-moi. Parlez vous Anglais?" & the Parisien would reply, "Oh sure, I speak English!"There was no problem. Everyone was so amazingly friendly & probably appreciated my attempt to communicate in their language. As it turned out,all I needed to do was carry around my handbook!(I didn't need to speak French!)
I'm sure that if you show that you are making an effort, you will probably not have any difficulties. Bon Chance!
Jul 5th, 2006, 05:15 PM
#26
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What about menu's in France? When I was in Italy last year very few places (outside of Palermo) did not have menu's translated into English.. do the French tend to do the same or are they mostly in French? I will say, I am a bit of a timid eater and am terrified of ordering something that if I knew what I ordered I would not eat! Should I study menu/food items as well?
Jul 6th, 2006, 07:43 AM
#27
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In Polly Platt's French or Foe? she gives the magical five words that guarantee a friendly reception. They are "Excusez-moi de vous deranger, monsieur/madame". In Paris only, a touch of "attitude" may be helpful; and remember, the French do not smile at strangers.
Jul 6th, 2006, 07:58 AM
#28
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"and remember, the French do not smile at strangers." 
They probably don't smile to people who don't have a friendly look or behaviour... whatever their nationality.
Oakglen you say that because you don't know me! ;-)
They probably don't smile to people who don't have a friendly look or behaviour... whatever their nationality.
Oakglen you say that because you don't know me! ;-)
Jul 6th, 2006, 08:01 AM
#29
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My experience isn't with France (I lived there for a year, I speak French fluently, my husband and in-laws being French Canadian and us living in Montreal), but I think that for any country you visit where you don't know the language, a phrase book is vital. We visited Spain and Portugal last year and I don't speak either language. We had a small phrase section in the back of our travel guide that was a godsend. It usually contains all the helpful phrases for all the situations you might encounter.
This year we're heading to Germany and the Netherlands, and while I speak German, I don't speak Dutch, hubby speaks neither, so we will have a Dutch phrase book with us.
Good luck and have fun learning!
This year we're heading to Germany and the Netherlands, and while I speak German, I don't speak Dutch, hubby speaks neither, so we will have a Dutch phrase book with us.
Good luck and have fun learning!
Jul 6th, 2006, 08:05 AM
#30
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On your menu question, you may want to just memorize a few of the items you're likely to encounter (and want) in a French restaurant, and perhaps a few of the names of items you want to make sure you avoid! After that, I'm never embarrassed to break out the mini-French-English guide for the ones I just can't figure out. Then, just point and ask.
The only time this didn't work is when my wife wanted one of the fish dishes on the chalkboard at Tour de Monthlery, and couldn't figure out "ouseille." The best the waiter could do was describe it as a "type of grass," but then a diner sitting near us heard us and told us it's sorrel. Which meant absolutely nothing to me, but my wife had heard of it, liked it, ordered it, and loved the dish. By the way, Tour de Monthlery is a blast - closed on weekends, but open 24 hours during the week. Shared tables, hearty portions, great waiters.
Even then
The only time this didn't work is when my wife wanted one of the fish dishes on the chalkboard at Tour de Monthlery, and couldn't figure out "ouseille." The best the waiter could do was describe it as a "type of grass," but then a diner sitting near us heard us and told us it's sorrel. Which meant absolutely nothing to me, but my wife had heard of it, liked it, ordered it, and loved the dish. By the way, Tour de Monthlery is a blast - closed on weekends, but open 24 hours during the week. Shared tables, hearty portions, great waiters.
Even then
Jul 6th, 2006, 08:09 AM
#32
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A multi-lingual phrase book will work even if the person you're asking isn't a native. I've carried a Berlitz with a dozen or so languages for years.
http://www.berlitzpublishing.com/ber...;TAG=&CID=
http://www.berlitzpublishing.com/ber...;TAG=&CID=
http://www.berlitzpublishing.com/ber...;TAG=&CID=
http://www.berlitzpublishing.com/ber...;TAG=&CID=
Jul 7th, 2006, 01:07 AM
#36
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In Paris, most people who deal regularly with tourists will speak some English, although very few are able to converse about anything beyond the immediate needs of their work (selling souvenirs, handling reservations, etc.).
If you move off the beaten path, as for example if you wander into a French supermarket (one rarely sees tourists in supermarkets), you'll encounter people who don't speak any English at all.
Outside Paris, far fewer people speak English with any facility, and many speak none at all. The French are now <i>required</i> to study English in school for years, but the quality of the instruction is so dismal that most graduate without the ability to hold even a simple conversation in the language.
Anything you can say in French will be appreciated. If you are obviously not fluent, your efforts will be interpreted as courtesy, and after a brief exchange in French the French person will often switch to English, if he speaks English better than you speak French. If he speaks no English, then obviously you'll continue to try to get by in French.
In touristy areas, if you don't look local, you'll be addressed in English to begin with (because most tourists have studied English, even those who aren't from English-speaking countries). Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to say "Bonjour" upon entering a place of business, and "Merci" for any service rendered. You can say these in English if you can't remember how to say them in French. "Please" is also expected liberally; in French the expression is used much more often than in English, and while Americans will often leave off the "please" when talking amongst themselves without any implication of rudeness, failing to say it to a French person might seem rude to him, since there are so many more situations in French in which it is routinely used.
If you actually want to speak French, be advised that, starting from zero, most English speakers take about 800 hours to gain some degree of useful fluency; that's about 3 months of full-time study. Motivation and general intelligence are the most important determinants of success in language learning.
If you move off the beaten path, as for example if you wander into a French supermarket (one rarely sees tourists in supermarkets), you'll encounter people who don't speak any English at all.
Outside Paris, far fewer people speak English with any facility, and many speak none at all. The French are now <i>required</i> to study English in school for years, but the quality of the instruction is so dismal that most graduate without the ability to hold even a simple conversation in the language.
Anything you can say in French will be appreciated. If you are obviously not fluent, your efforts will be interpreted as courtesy, and after a brief exchange in French the French person will often switch to English, if he speaks English better than you speak French. If he speaks no English, then obviously you'll continue to try to get by in French.
In touristy areas, if you don't look local, you'll be addressed in English to begin with (because most tourists have studied English, even those who aren't from English-speaking countries). Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to say "Bonjour" upon entering a place of business, and "Merci" for any service rendered. You can say these in English if you can't remember how to say them in French. "Please" is also expected liberally; in French the expression is used much more often than in English, and while Americans will often leave off the "please" when talking amongst themselves without any implication of rudeness, failing to say it to a French person might seem rude to him, since there are so many more situations in French in which it is routinely used.
If you actually want to speak French, be advised that, starting from zero, most English speakers take about 800 hours to gain some degree of useful fluency; that's about 3 months of full-time study. Motivation and general intelligence are the most important determinants of success in language learning.
Jul 7th, 2006, 01:43 AM
#37
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One more thing: the French often dispense with what would be the equivalent of "You're welcome" as a rejoinder to one's "Merci Madame/Monsieur". This can feel a bit disconcerting, but is perfectly fine and implies nothing unfriendly. You might hear back something like "Merci a vous" or "Je vous en prie",or you might get nothing. Bon voyage et bonne chance!
-mimi
-mimi
Jul 7th, 2006, 12:18 PM
#38
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Everyone agrees??? My French is decent, much better than my Spanish, but I am more self-conscious and intimidated speaking French in France than using my horrific Spanish in Spain, Mexico and South America. One of the reasons is that French people are always correcting my grammar and/or pronunciation (esp. older men). Maybe I should appreciate it, but I can’t imagine doing the same to a foreigner here unless he/she was a close friend (To be fair, I have also been complimented on my French many times). My brother, on the other hand, speaks only tourist French (hotels/restaurants/travel) but always apologizes for this shortcoming as if he were a scourge on the earth, and while I have noticed that this is preferred over making demands in English which is obviously rude no matter where you are, when a dispute arises the person often loses the ability to both speak English and comprehend his French. I won’t say this is unique to France, I recently tried out my rusty German in Zurich and was repeatedly begged to just speak English, but I think it is more difficult to get by in Paris without getting involved in some sort of dispute/misunderstanding perhaps because of other cultural differences not related to language (although it seems to me that Parisians are frequently involved in transactional disputes with each other as well). I live in fear of those situations in which there is a complete impasse in communication, and I have had more of them in Paris than anywhere else (Paris is perhaps my favorite city in the world, so please don’t think I am anti-France).
Jul 7th, 2006, 02:13 PM
#39
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First off, before I say anything else, I don't have anything against the French. In fact, I look forward to my trip later this month to France. I am taking a beginner's course through our local Alliance Francaise chapter, and am having a lot of fun.
That being said, I don't know whether the French realize it, but their English pronunciation leaves a lot to be desired. I don't think Americans care too much. I still understand them for the most part, and don't think it's a big deal that they can't pronounce "th" (z), or that they never say the "h" in a word. At least they can speak English, which is more than I can say about my French.
That all being said, I would hope that French people would have a similar attitude toward us. Hey, at least we're trying. I look forward to making an idiot out of myself with my French, or lack thereof. I'll never see any of them again, and I might make a friend or two in the process.
That being said, I don't know whether the French realize it, but their English pronunciation leaves a lot to be desired. I don't think Americans care too much. I still understand them for the most part, and don't think it's a big deal that they can't pronounce "th" (z), or that they never say the "h" in a word. At least they can speak English, which is more than I can say about my French.
That all being said, I would hope that French people would have a similar attitude toward us. Hey, at least we're trying. I look forward to making an idiot out of myself with my French, or lack thereof. I'll never see any of them again, and I might make a friend or two in the process.
Jul 8th, 2006, 12:19 AM
#40
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I realize that we don't feel the same way about correcting someone. I wished I was corrected with my English when I was in London, just one English man did that once and I still remember it helped me a lot (in 1989!).
We correct foreigners not to make fun of them at all, it is a way to help. We are not indifferent, we CARE!
When I'm talking with an English person who makes effort to speak French I may correct him/her sometimes if I think she/he can appreciate it.
I do the same here on fodors, but I repeat it is a way to help. I know we, French people are very bad with our accent because the teachers we had in our youth had bad accent as well. The only way for us to improve it is to spend some time living in a English speaking country, "en totale immersion" we say.
I envy people from the eastern Europe or Russia being able to speak French so quickly, it seems so easy for them!
Just keep in mind to be polite and try as much French speaking as you can when meeting someone in France (even if it is only s'il vous plait or bonjour and merci)and they will love you! voilà!
We correct foreigners not to make fun of them at all, it is a way to help. We are not indifferent, we CARE!
When I'm talking with an English person who makes effort to speak French I may correct him/her sometimes if I think she/he can appreciate it.
I do the same here on fodors, but I repeat it is a way to help. I know we, French people are very bad with our accent because the teachers we had in our youth had bad accent as well. The only way for us to improve it is to spend some time living in a English speaking country, "en totale immersion" we say.
I envy people from the eastern Europe or Russia being able to speak French so quickly, it seems so easy for them!
Just keep in mind to be polite and try as much French speaking as you can when meeting someone in France (even if it is only s'il vous plait or bonjour and merci)and they will love you! voilà!
