Do people in france talk american like the rest of the free world? i'm going there for a job want to fit in?

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Jess

"When in Rome.." comes to mind here. How many times have you heard people in this country say "You're in America, learn to speak English (insert lovely racial slur here)"? Of course, you're going to come across French people who can speak English, Europe is much better about teaching other languages from a very early level in schools. However, in France, it kinds stands to reason that they're going to speak primarily, if not exclusively, French. ;) You're an American in France, I'm sure you'd expect a Frenchman/woman to speak English in America.

If you'd really like to fit in, learn French, there are some wonderful books and programs that can teach you languages for a relatively low cost. Try the language section of your local book store. It may seem difficult at first,but living there will help you along wonderfully.

Best of luck!

Pastor Dave

If you're really polite, humble and respectful as a good guest should be, you'll be surprised how many of them can speak English well enough to communicate.

However, if you're not as polite, humble, and respectful as a good guest should be, the French are pretty good at making you feel miserable.

Do everything you can to understand and respect your culture. Learn to appreciate what they appreciate. For example, don't talk about Pabst Blue Ribbon--Talk about 1664 (http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLC,GGLC:1969-53,GGLC:en&q=1664). It's unrealistic to think that you can learn French if you're only there for a few weeks, but you can always treat people with respect and learn to appreciate their world.

Guerrilla Soldier

well for one you have to smell bad, so you're good to go with that, for two, you have to drink alot, and you're good to go there, three, you have to be ignorant, so you've got that too..but as far as speaking American, no they don't although if it wasn't for us, they'd be speaking german..

EDIT: You really should go through all your questions and pick best answers or something...

Andreji

I'm sure by "american" you mean putting your hand under your armpit and flapping your arm so it sounds like you farted.

so no, they don't, no you won't fit in, I can tell right away.

ohhh btw, they don't either in the following countries of the "rest of the free world":
-Germany
-Spain
-Austria
-Switzerland
-Denmark
-Italy
-Sweden
-Norway
-Finland
-Greece
-Colombia
-Venezuela*
-Brazil
-Chile
-Peru
-Ecuador
-Bolivia
-Argentina
-Paraguay
-Uruguay
-Panama
-Costa Rica, etc just to name a few. and that's giving you the benefit of the doubt that by american you mean english, otherwise count the british isles and the commonwealth out as well

so, as you can see, best tip would be to remain king of the hill sippin' PBR (which you won't find in france, mind you) in the 'babble-belt'.

*disputably not part of the free world

alakit013

On some unknown reason French people prefer not to speak English even if they know it.

webstergirl3210

american is not a language. french ppl prefer to speak french. however, a fair number of french do speak english.

pipicapuce

Fortunately in France people can talk freely in french like the rest of the free world except the USA ...
By the way in the USA can people speak in human being's language ?
I have never heard that the people in the US spoke the human language.

oliver_alden

Ha, ha.

Sorry - hong-ha-hong-ha-hong.

oh, you'll fit right in

dutchcutie68

parle vous english???? Hahahaha you better start learning some frensh there hun cause they really are some rude people there and very very ignorant, they just don't wanna help you out, even if you plannin on spending lots of money in there shop, they still don't speak english to you at all. so best of luck

Espectacularrrrr!

There are lots of people in France who speak ENGLISH (American doesn't exist). But if you're going to France for work, you should start learning the basis, cause we usually don't use English here. We have a beautiful language, and it's our native language, so I really don't see why we should make efforts to understand English.

Travel With Julie

The French usually do know some English, but they tend to prefer not to speak it with Americans. I used to hold that against them, but then I realized that if people came to the U.S. all the time speaking another language and "expecting" me to speak it back to them, I would think twice. I live in America and English is our official language. In France the official language is French, so why should they speak English?

When I travel, which I do often for business, I always try to speak in their native language, even if it is broken. The citizens of that country tend to appreciate the effort and will almost always attempt a conversation and try to help me with my pronunciation.

I used to live in Italy and didn't know any Italian before I got there. I had books and taught myself - along with just listening and speaking whenever I could. They don't laugh at you, but realize that you are genuinely putting forth the effort to learn their language.

So here are my recommendations:

1. Don't hold it against the French if they are not willing to converse in English - they don't have to.

2. Learn as much French as you can and use it as often as you can.

3. American is not a language - English is. If you stop to think that just because many people around the world speak English to some extent and that it is taught in many schools around the world, that does not make English-speaking people any more "special" or "priviledged" than anyone else!

Rhapsody

I am sure most of them talk American but there might be a minority who speak English and one or two people who actually speak French. Fancy that! If you manage to avoid these people who are obviously racist and extremely selfish you'll be fine.

TheOnlyBeldin

Yes, but they speak it with an Australian accent...

I know this!

The French don't like to speak English and they don't like it when you speak to them in English either!

So I think you are going to have to learn French pretty quick!

â™¥ sannah â™¥

The language you mean is called ENGLISH. American isn't spoken by anyone in Europe (except Americans of course). Try to learn French!!! It is really not a difficult language.

But by the way, young people in France talk English, at least most of them. But when you come in their country to work there and you want "to fit in" as you said, why do you want THEM to talk YOUR language??? Seriously, it has to be the other way around. Think about that!!!!

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