Would I survive in Nice, France with English and no French?

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Yes, French people are very warm & polite if people are not obnoxious with them (don't have the attitude of everyone needs to speak English etc). Learn even just a few phrases in French before you go like hello, thank you excuse me, I am sorry I don't speak french, do you speak English, that type of thing. Shows you are making the effort & they will be more than happy to try to communicate with you. Most Europeans speak a couple of languages that usually include English. You will be fine! It is amazing how fast you will start to pick up the language if you try!

Have fun!

MadameZ

You could survive. French people are more enlightened than we are and actually learn to speak foreign languages. If you try and study, you will learn a lot of French during your stay.

Pascalou

I live in Nice and also work for many years in the tourism business.
I can tell, you can "survive" around here even without speaking one single word of french.
But if you stay for about 6 months, you will certainly learn some french and use it.
The bigger shops and shopping businesses employees will speak to you in english, when they will realise you can't french.
But in some places you will meet some people who don't speak any english (not everyone work in the tourism business or did learn english at school !) and you will have to improve your skills, man !

prnigel

The primary problem with Americans visiting European countries is the automatic assumption by most Americans that they should not need to learn the language for the country they visit.
Granted, many Europeans speak several languages, one of which is frequently English, but it is rude to not try to pick up a few basic phrases, at least. We expect (even scream about) extended stay visitors to our country making some attempt to speak American, the least we can do is the same when the situation is reversed. If you're going to be in France for at least 6 months, make an effort to learn some basic French, enough to say hello and goodbye, as well as to ask if someone can speak English and help with directions. also try to find out about hand gestures used locally, since the many European peoples gesture as much, or more, than we do during conversation. You don't want to accidentally insult someone by waving the wrong hand signal (no, I'm not joking. gestures are not universal).
Seriously, look at getting some basic French learned before you go. Good luck.

Kito

Yes, you will survive !
If you learn french, french people will see that you make efforts and will be kind with you even if you don't speak french.

Bruce T

Try hard to learn some French. Though it is easier for someone to speak English in France (than for a Frenchman to speak French in the US or UK), many French ppl do not speak English or are not comfortable speaking English as they are living and working in a French speaking society. You'll get a lot more out of your stay and you will be learning a skill for life if you study French. Ppl "survive" in the US without speaking a word of English (yes, there are ppl living here who cannot even ask for the restroom key in English-- I have encountered them). At least you are an English speaker learning French (many words are similar). I met a woman from Taiwan (who speaks Chinese as a first language and she said that learning French in classes was really hard bc there is no connection between French and Chinese). A phrase book can provide you with some phrases, but you will need to study to be able to understand the book. Also, try to pronounce the French words as accurately as possible.

Bon voyage!

Just ' In

Oh yes no problem !!!
Many french speak english so it's obligatory at school.
Me I'm french and I like english it's my favourite subject at school.
And Nice it's a touristic city, many english , irish and american people live in Nice.
You will meet american ....
bye juju

Rillifane

You will have no difficulty whatever.

The fact is that a recent survey revealed that 16% of Frenchmen stated that they spke flunet English and a large majority stated that they understood at least some English.

In a big, sophisticated city like Nice which has a lot of foreign visitors, there will be a lot of people who speak English.

lauren s

you'll survive w/ english....

while there, hang out w/ french students & your french family rather than other exchange students all the time & you'll learn the french language in less than a month.........insist they speak w/ you in french!!! they will try to be polite by speaking w/ you in english & that will not help you learn french....

you have enough time to learn.....that's what you're there to do!!!!!

French Ingrid

don't worry, you'll learn in France lol no choice

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