For the year Im living in France teaching English. I actually have a masters in French but its been over a year since ive spoken it and my masters is in language teaching not so much strict speaking. I just want to know how not to stick out as an american...could you help me with how to casually say a few things...without sounding like a textbook.
How to ask for directions, what to say when you approach someone, etc. How to let them know you really apprectiate it without just saying merci.
How to ask for a pack of cigarettes, coffee, and a carte orange at a tabac.
How to stop someone and ask for help.
How to firmly tell someone to leave you alone if they try to bother you...even how to insult them a bit.
How to tell someone you dont want what theyve shown you in a store...thanks but no thanks...
What to say when you call someone about an apartment you saw in the paper.
Je vous remercie mille fois!
2007-10-09 22:10:31 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
What im trying to do is NOT sound like a textbook, get it? Im talking about a dumbed down french that is often spoken in the form of slang...
2007-10-09 22:17:34 · update #1
Why do you want to hide your nationality? French people come here and after 25 years, they sound exactly as they did on the first day. You appreciate something, why not say "merci." You want cigarettes, give the brand name: "Gauloises, s'il vous plait." You want someone to leave you alone: "Fiche-moi le camp." You don't want something, "Merci, non." You want an apartment: "On me dit que vous avez un apartement a louer; peut-on faire rendez-vous pour le voir?" As for your accent, you'll never get rid of it, and why should you? There are dozens of regional American accents. Be yourself and people will respect you. Oh, and as for directions, just ask a fragmented question: "Le Louvre, s'il vous plait?" Have fun.
2007-10-09 23:36:06 · answer #1 · answered by Elaine P...is for Poetry 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
that's conceivable, while you're loaded. look at Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, all of them stay in South of France on occasion and that all of them do no longer communicate French. all of them have interpreters and bodyguards to do the no longer basic artwork of speaking and safeguarding. you are able to artwork in an English speaking enterprise with English speaking persons, yet what approximately on a daily basis existence needs ? you won't be able to maintain searching for shops, supermarkets, pharmacy, government departments, positioned up places of work, application carriers, hospitals which run via English speaking persons.
2016-10-08 23:01:26 · answer #2 · answered by thao 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
problem is : if you speak like a frenchman although you have an american accent, it might sound a little preposterous... i'd stick to the french you learnt... that's better than to try everything to sound "up to date" and "fashionable" whilst you aren't because you are not french.
2007-10-09 22:57:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In fact, i think there s nothing special and you only have to considerate the person you are speaking with : young, old, man, woman, as you do in english...and practice.
If you need more help : boypip@yahoo.com and i'll send you my phone number just to talk.
2007-10-10 02:57:42 · answer #4 · answered by Tropicana h 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"I actually have a masters in French" -
Buy a basic interpret-book - then go back soon to Stendhal
( in french )
You're not serious
2007-10-09 22:15:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋