Can you get by with English in France?

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Sidsassenach

I'm French so I can answer that

One of our problem is that our school system about languages isnot that good, so many people are not able to speak English after they graduate (but then how many people do you know in the US who can speak, and I do not mean like a robot, but can fllow a conversation, another languages just from school classes?)

But more and more people understand English and can speak it, or at least manage to make their point (hey here I am, right?). It is not hopeless. Or you can find people in the street completely able to answer you as well.

Now what I strongly recommend you is first to borrow an English/French dictionnary from your public library, and second to learn at least "Bonjour", "merci", "au revoir", Also maybe to begin to ask if the person speak English without asssuming, we completely hate that. Ask yourself, what would you feel if a French person comes to you where you live and begin to ask you questions in French.

But do not worr, you'll do fine ;)

antwan the swan

I Swear it is not true, if people can help they will.
Of course you will always find jerks hanging around there and there, but please don't think we are all the same ;)

You do not have to speak french when you go to france or italian when you go to Italy,

Let say you can speak french and there is a french guy lost in NY or London would you help him ?

SKC67

Relax, for a trip its not a problem at all. You can virtually go to any navigable part of france with english. French love tourism (not the tourists).

About language i can tell you one thing- The french dont like when you dont speak french fluently and they hate you more if you speak.

in Paris u'll get along just fine. but, in "rural" France, u need to know some vocab to understand menus and stuff, like, if u were going to Mont St. Michel, or Sarlat (really cool places to see)

SweetMelissa

lol , I'm french , it's true compared to other european countries, we're late , we should speak more foreign languages.
What you hear about English and French people are just clichÃ©s. You know ...ppl say french stinks and all...and we say english ppl dress bad...
Actually I think England and France are quite alike.
The only clichÃ© about french that's true is that we're always complaining.

Michael K

yes just talk louder

BizTravelMan

Yes, it is reasonably true. After all, they are French. You are the visitor and it is down to you to learn the language of the country you are going to visit. That said, if you make at least a passing effort to speak their language, most French people will then gladly help you along (if only to stop you murdering their language). Try and make the effort to learn a bit more before you go and s someone has already said, you won't be treated as a pig ignorant tourist!

alan

You will have no problem a lot of French people speak a little English. I have just come back from a non tourist area of France and had no trouble . I do not speak any French I visit France 4 or 5
times a year

X-weetox

I've been and they were very unco-operative at first but once I tried Francais they were very nice.

paris

Don't worry, it will be O.K. ! In big cities, in hotels, in shops, in restaurants many people speak English, of course not like in U.K., but they'll understand you and you'll have a great vacation.

Espectacularrrrr!

It isn't true for everybody :I'm French, and I do love to speak foreign languages.

bluefairymyst

Most countries have English as a second language. As long as you make an attempt to try to speak theirs, they won't treat you like an ignorant American.

Rillifane

In the big cities it will be no problem at all. In rural areas outside the cities it will be far more difficult.

Certainly it will be less of a problem for an English speaker in France than for a French speaker in the United States.

yes, of course, English is broadly speaking all over the world, and France isn't an exception! if they don't understand you, well, you still have your body language! lol, no, I was joking, but relax, there's nothing to worry about, really... French may be reluctant to speak English, but it may be because they have a bad accent, generally. but, if it can reassure you, take a little dictionary with you, you never know! have a nice trip!

superinteligent shade of blue

If you are in Paris you might manage to get by, but seriously, outside of there your chanced are not great.

The best thing to do is speak the language, even if it is al broken and not pronounced correctly. Yeah, the French speak English reluctantly if at all because, like any other country, they have their own language and it's your job as a traveller to acommodate them, not the other way around.

One way to get around is to write everything you might want to say down, and translate online before leaving. Think of everything that you might say: asking for directions, salutations... and translate them all. This is a great website that will translate basic stuff:
www.freetranslation.com

The best would be to buy a simple guide to French for travelers. There are a lot of phrases in their with the English beside them, it's very easy to use, and you will feel a lot better about yourself for learning another language.

BQE

develop an aussie accent then they will speak english

bor_rabnud

Easy, don't speak

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