Hello all,
I am planning a trip to Paris from 2/18-2/24 with my 12 year old son. We are using Marriott points to stay at the Renaissance Vendome so I think that will be OK and a great central location for seeing many of the central museums and other sites.
I haven%26#39;t been to Paris since 1991 when I was on a guided tour as part of a larger itinerary through Europe. I fell in love with the beauty of the city, but was a bit intimidated by my very limited knowledge of French and how necessary that seemed to be.
Since I have about 5 weeks before I leave, I have the chance to study hard to get at least some conversational basic French in place before the trip. I think that this is necessary both as a show of respect to the country, city, and its citizens and to understand some basic phrases that I will hear frequently.
However, I%26#39;m still a bit intimidated - I remember that last time I was there, locals - even museum guards at the Louvre didn%26#39;t have much patience for my fractured French. I just returned from Rome and Venice and in both places merchants and restauranteurs were very fluet in English and/or were happy and patient to hear me try out my limited Italian.
Sorry for going on a bit - but what should I expect in Paris? I%26#39;ve travelled in Japan where I couldn%26#39;t read the signage and speaking was very difficult, but knowing that in advance and dealing with the very friendly people made the trip comfortable and fun anyway.
I know that I will fall in love again with Paris and will enjoy showing my son all of the sites. I%26#39;d just like to know in advance how much English is accepted and are most restaurants and museums happy to welcome my weak command of the French language?
Thanks in advance!
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Retrac...hubby and I were in Paris this past May, and while we found many people were able and willing to speak English to us, EVERYONE we came across appreciated any effort whatsoever we put forth to speak French. I drilled and drilled myself on the Pimsleur (sp?) language course and pored through our phrase books before we left, while hubby diligently studied maps of the Paris streets and picked out sites for us to see.
Now, sometimes the French I spoke to corrected my grammar, but I didn%26#39;t take it as an insult--nor do I think it was meant as one. Some French shopkeepers barely gave me a chance to try my limited French before they broke into English...others patiently worked their way my sometimes rather mangled grammar and pronounciations and responded by speaking (in French) quite slowly, with additional hand gestures. And some French shopkeepers gamely spoke with me in French until they heard me speak to my hubby in English, when they broke into perfectly fluent English--which I took as a compliment to my hard-studied French, as I thought (perhaps wrongly) that those shopkeepers thought my mastery of French to be better than it is.
Honestly, make every effort you can now to learn at least the basic, polite phrases (practice with your son, if he%26#39;s willing--it might be great fun for you both), take a phrasebook or two with you, and give it a go! I think you will be amazed to see how much communication is actually non-verbal...tone of voice, body language, and hand gestures will convey quite a bit, even when you don%26#39;t understand completely everything that is said to you.
You%26#39; and your son will have a wonderful time!!
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Hello, I see you are new to these boards, so may I suggest you spend some time really perusing some old posts( search under %26quot;teens%26#39; or %26quot;children%26quot; and you will find many super helpful tips. I myself took my then 14 yr old son to Paris 1 1/12 yrs ago.
The language is really not an issue. I only have a little french , but I did fine. I found that it has more to do with %26quot;how %26quot; you do things , or how you percieve things, then language in itself.
Of course you should have the basics , please , thank you , how much , where is, when is , etc. .
There are many posts on manners and customs that may enlighten you , for instance, did you realize that shopkeepers consider it very rude when you enter their shop and do not greet them with a %26quot;bonjour madame/monsieur%26quot;, especially before you ask any other question? They then can sometimes become rather brusque, and perhaps may dismiss you as the rude one! LOL
Anyways, my point is , do the basics, read these boards, and you will have lots of fun. My son loved Paris, and he is neither a history or art buff !!
Check out the %26quot;Catacombs%26quot; bet your son will love them!
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The French are very reserved, not unfriendly, and appreciate any effort at the courtesies in French. Many people speak English, although they aren%26#39;t very confident with it and when you try your French they are encouraged to try their English. I think the French reserve is what gave many people the idea that they (the French) didn%26#39;t approve of foreigners trying to speak their language. Luckily for all of us, the French don%26#39;t expect us to be fluent, but they really do appreciate our efforts. They take it as a sign of respect, which is exactly what most of us intend.
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Thanks to everyone for their helpful comments and suggestions! We%26#39;re very much looking forward to our trip; your emails have erased my concerns. Thanks again!
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Despite several French classes and having several French friends, my French language skills are horrible. In fact, I hacked up the language so bad, once I actually asked a waiter in a restaurant if he was an amputee.
Since the Internet revolution and the increased amount of English language movies in Paris, it is difficult to find someone who does not speak at least a little bit of English. Know some basic terms (Bonjour, merci) and you%26#39;ll get by.
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The absolute easiest way to learn just enough French to show that you tried:
1. Go to your local library and find the language department
2. Find the audio section - within this department
3. Get the Pimsleur French 1 series - you can usually find the 4 disc CD set(I%26#39;ve used the Pimsleur Italian 1 %26amp; 2 series before going to Italy - it REALLY helped)
4. I know you%26#39;re not supposed to , but you can make a copy that you use for your own personal use, and listen to it as you drive to and from work.
I just redid the 4 beginners discs (eight 30 minute lessons)this last week or so (I%26#39;ve done it once before). You%26#39;d be amazed how quickly you can pick up the basic stuff.
General phrases that it covers:
Hello, goodbye
Exuse me, %26quot;pardon%26quot;
Do you understand English/French
Yes, I understand/No I don%26#39;t understand
I understand a little
I am American
Where is....
I would like to eat something
I would like to drink something...
Not hard at all if you apply yourself.
If you are really serious, you can pay for an online subscription that you can use from any computer with internet access from Rosetta Stone. I purchased a 3 month subscription - since I%26#39;m goin in April. It%26#39;s really helpful, especially in learning how to read the words.
I%26#39;m by no means GREAT at it, but I can definitely get by on a few words and phrases....and then hope that they speak a little English!
Have fun!
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My husband and I are going to Paris and Normandy this June and do not speak French, although I speak Spanish a bit. I just got a language disc set that I%26#39;ve been listening to in my car with the basic phrases and I really love it. It%26#39;s a very different approach than attending classes and learning the grammar and reading it, but so far I am picking up what I%26#39;ve gone over. I doubt I will be very proficient, but I really feel it%26#39;s important to try to know as much as possible about the country and language. Your post and comments have reallu reassured me. Hope your trip with your son is wonderful! Thanks!
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Hello Retrac,
It is great that you are going to learn some French for your trip. If you aren%26#39;t able to speak much, dont worry about it though.
Sure it would be nice to speak enough French to have a bit of a conversation wih a local, but I, for one, just cant seem to get it. (Fluncked out of our easy adult classes). It is not hard to get along in Paris with just a few words of French, some hand jesters and a big %26quot;stupid me%26quot; smile..
While some Parisians will say they do not speak English many at least understand a good bit, though not everyone. I have found that most people do not expect you to speak French if you are foreignor (though they would like it). Many different languages are used by visitors to Paris and I think English is the one language in which many can at least communicate with a few words.
And yes, by all means, it is good to know some basic polite expressions as mentioned and its pretty important to say bonjour, merci, pardon, sil vous plait , au revoir and a few other polite words often.........very, very often.
If I should work myself up into being able to ask a whole question in French and I get a response in French..........I am dead in the water. I can ask what a price is but have little idea what the French answer is (unless its 10 or less.... fingers)............ I use a pad and pencil often and can write where I want to go for the cab driver too. Our apartment is near a big, well known computer store and for the life of me I can never get a driver to understand what the name of it is.........When we arrive, they look at me and indicate %26quot;oh, thats what you were saying%26quot;. Somehow we just dont say it so that they can understand us and I cant figure out what we are saying wrong!
I met an English woman one day and got talking to her. She had lived alone in Paris in a very non tourist neighborhood for about 5 years, did not speak French at all and said it was not a problem for her. ( I am sure she must know some words.)
I applaud you for trying to learn some French, but dont be too concerned about it. You probably will do just fine without much.
Have a great trip
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Maybe you can get some inspiration from this - a basic guide to dealing successfullly with the Parisians.
http://www.secretsofparis.com/with-parisians/
Don%26#39;t worry - you will be fine, you bring a positive attitude with you - that will take you anywhere. Just keep the basic rules of politeness and learn the most common words/phrases, as the others have mentioned. And NEVER forget to greet shopkeepers with a cheerful %26quot;Bonjour, Madame/Monsieur%26quot;.
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If your%26#39;e in a company of say 6 people, does everyone have too greet the shopkeeper or just the first one entering?
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