visiting Paris, France

[benjiboy]

The English used to be very arrogant. They had all the reasons to be so since after the Spanish Armada, they have become the top power in the world for some 300 or so years. In the WWII they won the war and liberated France and defeated the German (all because they had the Americans on their side). So everyone else should speak English. Things have changed since then and the English are beginning to learn more foreign languages. On the other hand, in many parts of Europe where I have been to, many people spoke English to a respectable standard.

English would probably get by in most towns in western Europe. But not quite in more remote villages. I once went to a village in Austria and no one spoke English. Ordering food from a pure German menu was surprisingly difficult, even with sign language. That was the reason why I decided to stick my finger out and learned enough in French, German and Italian so as to be able to understand most ordinary menus and to read bus and train timetables and to rent a room in hotels. Beyond these....Well....No comment!

We British, when confronted by johnny foreigner, used to speak very slowly and loudly and expect them to understand.

 

[Steve Smith]

Does your son go to Eton?.

I hope not. I don't think I could afford the uniform!

It's just a standard county owned high school. However, a lot of our high schools our now also called colleges. My son's is a language college and the one my wife works at is a sports college. They still provide the full prospectus but if you can choose a school if you want to take a particular subject a bit further.


Steve.

 

[Steve Smith]

We British, when confronted by johnny foreigner, used to speak very slowly and loudly and expect them to understand.

I think that's the advice given in the Collins English - Foreign, Foreign - English dictionary.



Steve.

 

[benjiboy]

I think that's the advice given in the Collins English - Foreign, Foreign - English dictionary.



Steve.

I was kidding, of course Steve, but being an island nation it's amazing how insular in our thinking we British can be.

 

[Windscale]

I think that's the advice given in the Collins English - Foreign, Foreign - English dictionary.



Steve.

The English even did this to the Irish.

 

[hughitb]

The English even did this to the Irish.

Ha! I just thought they were all just kind of slow and stupid and that's why they spoke that way

Seriously though, I can concur with the fact that it is almost impossible to get a Parisian to speak French to you once they realise you are a native English speaker. My French is completely terrible so it's just as well in my case, but I have a friend who has lived in Paris for about 10 years, is completely fluent, and still sometimes has enormous difficulty getting waiters in restaurants to actually converse in French with him.

However, if you don't let this bother you, make a token effort to speak French and then gracefully concede that things are better managed in English then, in my experience at least, Paris is a perfectly friendly place, and people are generally polite and helpful.

 

[Windscale]

The way I have always done it is that I always start by saying that I only speak a little bit French (in French of course) before moving on to the main point of the conversation. Most French people I came across would understand that I am making an effort to speak their language and they will become much more helpful.

 

[frank]

After "Parle vous Anglaise?" I'd always add, "Je sui Canadien." My family and I had a wonderful time in southern France and several days in Paris this past summer. Not a single negative experience or bad attitude. No problem at all with photography either.

 

[AutumnJazz]

Je suis...

 

[Steve Smith]

I'd always add, "Je sui Canadien."

Je suis...

It's a silent 's' !






Steve.

 

[frank]

Hey, I barely speak it, let alone spell it.

 

[Robert Hall]

However, if you don't let this bother you, make a token effort to speak French and then gracefully concede that things are better managed in English then, in my experience at least, Paris is a perfectly friendly place, and people are generally polite and helpful.

Thank god, you guys were freaking me out.

 

[AutumnJazz]

http://www.flickr.com/groups/onthestreet/discuss/72157607444359472/

It appears police can be stupid everywhere, which isn't surprising...

 

[MitchDeYoung]

I speak both English and fluent french and i am from, canada. I personally didnt think it was a very difficult thing to learn but im basically the only 15 year old i know that shoots 8x10 collodian glass plates.

Knowing a bit of everything is better then knowing a lot about one thing in most situations I've found.

 

[spark]

I speak both English and fluent french and i am from, canada. I personally didnt think it was a very difficult thing to learn but im basically the only 15 year old i know that shoots 8x10 collodian glass plates.

Knowing a bit of everything is better then knowing a lot about one thing in most situations I've found.

Mitch- you've learned the secret to a mostly enjoyable life with mostly continuous employment.

 

[Windscale]

I speak both English and fluent french and i am from, canada. I personally didnt think it was a very difficult thing to learn but im basically the only 15 year old i know that shoots 8x10 collodian glass plates.

Knowing a bit of everything is better then knowing a lot about one thing in most situations I've found.

Wow! What size would you wish get to when you have grown up?

 

[MitchDeYoung]

Wow! What size would you wish get to when you have grown up?

well im not sure, a longer film forsure.

 

[Windscale]

well im not sure, a longer film forsure.

Very good. I used to be like that as well although I only got no longer than 612 and an occasional play with 4x5. Now I have got on a bit and all is reverting back to little 6x6s and a small 645 for really taking pictures. 35mm for p&s mostly. Have fun, young man, whilst you are strong.