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Will I have a hard time while in France if I only know Sesame Street french?

I’m planning on going to France for a couple weeks and I really only know a little bit of French like numbers, certain foods, animals, body parts…basically what they teach on Sesame Street. Do most people who work in resturants and hotels speak English? How hard do you think it will be to communicate with people?

This question is asked quite often here, you’ll find it and the answers if you do a search.

In short, the French do not hate Americans (they dislike Bush, which is a different thing).

Many French speak some English but they are far from fluent and are afraid of showing how bad their English is. If you speak fast, with a heavy accent, they will just give up without even trying. Slow and articulate, and use simple words.

French are very formal people (it has been said that the French are the Japanese of Europe). There are some rules of behaviour that are considered basic politeness, foreigners ignore them at their own risk.
Always say Bonjour, even if you don’t speak French. Whenever you enter a shop, want to buy a ticket, or ask for information use that magical formula which unlocks the French normal behaviour. Don’t and you will get the cold shoulder treatment reserved to rude people. You can follow that by : do you speak English? You’ll be surprised by the number of yes you will suddenly get.
Excuse me, please and thank you, in French preferably (Excusez moi, s’il vous plait, merci). If you listen around you will quickly realise that the French use them so automatically they don’t even stop for breath between that and the rest of the sentence.

Don’t grab or touch people, keep your voice muted (you’ll notice that it is the tourists you hear in France).

If you go to Paris you will find plenty of English speakers, tourism is a huge industry there, the percentage is way less in other cities.

Have a nice trip.

Sesame Street: Take the Hand of One You Love

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