Do they speak French at the France Pavillion?

[ranman1973]

My daughters all go to French immersion school. The French they learn is pretty good, but it's Canadian French and usually spoken slowly to them in school. Anyone whose ever studied French and then gone to French speaking parts of the world know that academia and real world French are not the same.

We're planning a trip to Europe when they're a bit older, but I'd love them to have to opportunity to practice speaking French, and I was hoping they could do that with staff (or cast members) at World Showcase.

Anyone know if they'll speak French?

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

I may be wrong but I do think that each World Showcase Pavillion hires college age students to work at the Pavillions of their country. I am thinking they do similar to the WDW college program. It is a wonderful experience for the CM from each country but equally wonderful for guests to that "country".

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I do believe most cast members in the pavillions are from whichever country is represented. I took French french (sorry I'm not sure how else to put it! European french?) in high school and did well in it. However, anytime I spoke to someone who was a native french speaker, they struggled to understand me. I tried in Epcot and quite honestly got a lot of eye rolls and strained smiles. I think what happens is because French is a commonly taught language in the US, the CMs just get sick of hearing their language mauled. With the French CMs, I just stopped trying.

I wouldn't discourage your kids from trying but I'm not sure I'd go in expecting much. Not even just because of my experience, but the differences in the languages. My understanding is the differences in the grammar and accent, they really come across as 2 entirely different languages rather than different dialects .

Slightly off topic, I tried to learn Hello, thank you, and goodbye in all the languages of Epcot. I never really got to use the Norse and I never was too clear on which would work better in Morocco (French or Arabic), but out of all the ones I learned and tried, Japanese was by far the most successful. When I counted 3, 2, 1 in Japanese at the pick a pearl counter without them needing to teach me first, every CM within earshot turned around and loved it. They could have been blowing smoke but it was definitely the most noticable reaction.

 

[EagleScout]

As others have noted, yes, the France pavilion has native French speakers, and maybe I just caught them on a good day (every time I go), but people were very courteous when I tried my French. We also tend to go at less crowded times, so workers generally less stressed. The Moroccan workers are also generally great and will often even take the time to teach you basic Arabic words if not busy (as most other pavilions do as well).

 

[asoko]

My daughters all go to French immersion school. The French they learn is pretty good, but it's Canadian French and usually spoken slowly to them in school. Anyone whose ever studied French and then gone to French speaking parts of the world know that academia and real world French are not the same.

We're planning a trip to Europe when they're a bit older, but I'd love them to have to opportunity to practice speaking French, and I was hoping they could do that with staff (or cast members) at World Showcase.

Anyone know if they'll speak French?

You may also meet a French Canadian in Canada pavilion.
My nephew is in Chinese Immersion program and the ladies in the China pavilion were very excited to speak Chinese to him.

I have found the cms in the world showcase to be very welcoming to guests. One of the French cms was working on his English so he was questioning us more than we were him.

We usually speak to the cms at the Kidcot stations.

 

[okw2012]

I wouldn't discourage your kids from trying but I'm not sure I'd go in expecting much. Not even just because of my experience, but the differences in the languages. My understanding is the differences in the grammar and accent, they really come across as 2 entirely different languages rather than different dialects.

That is simply not true! The grammar is identical, vocabulary is mostly the same. Only the accent differs, but no more than US vs UK English.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

That is simply not true! The grammar is identical, vocabulary is mostly the same. Only the accent differs, but no more than US vs UK English.

I do not agree. There are differences between Canadian French and the French spoken in France. Here is a good explanation of the differences:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_French

My DIL is French and during a recent trip to Quebec, she said she had some trouble understanding the French spoken there.

 

[Canooknic]

I do not agree. There are differences between Canadian French and the French spoken in France. Here is a good explanation of the differences:

I grew up in the UK and the French I was taught is different to what my nephews (and soon my boys) are taught here in Canada.
Back to studying for me!!!! I can't let my boys have another way of ganging up on me!

 

[okw2012]

I do not agree. There are differences between Canadian French and the French spoken in France. Here is a good explanation of the differences:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_French

My DIL is French and during a recent trip to Quebec, she said she had some trouble understanding the French spoken there.

There are differences, sure. But as stated on wikipedia:

Formal Quebec French uses essentially the same orthography and grammar as Standard French, with few exceptions, and exhibits moderate lexical differences.

Which is exactly what I said. I happen to be from Quebec and often travel to France where I have friends and inlaws. I have no difficulties in making myself understood or in understanding others.

Of course, if you come from rural Quebec and travel to rural France (or the reverse), it might take a while for you to pick up the accent. But people from Montreal and Paris understand each other very easily. In fact when I am in France people will often think that I have a Belgian accent. Sure, it sounds foreign to them, but they can't always tell where I am from.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I know nothing about french, but I do know at lot about the CMs in the World Showcase and they are wonderful. I would be VERY surprised if any CM in the France area would not be wonderfully encouraging to your little girls. I would try to plan a meal there and encourage your girls to try to order something in French. Maybe let them make a little purchase in one of the store and at least say thank-you in french to the cashier. My DS has a bio-father that is from Mexico and he certainly has some of those beautiful genetic features. When we were in Mexico WS last year, a lot of people tried to talk to him in Spanish. Now he is quite shy and knows not ONE word of Spanish so that did not work out so well, but I would quite impressed at their kindness and efforts!

 

[Maggie Lizer]

OP, I bet your kids will love actually speaking to the French CMs. I know I got a big thrill out of speaking with the Mexican CMs when I was in middle school, learning Spanish. Heck, I was even a bit amused to practice my Spanish (after 15 years of non-use) with our towncar driver a few visits ago.

 

[mimmi]

One of my husband's native languages is French (grew up in Africa and went to French schools for 14 years) and the people in Epcot France were very nice to him, they first thought he was from Paris and one Parisian girl was delighted.
So I would definitely try to talk to them.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

There are differences, sure. But as stated on wikipedia:

Formal Quebec French uses essentially the same orthography and grammar as Standard French, with few exceptions, and exhibits moderate lexical differences.

Which is exactly what I said. I happen to be from Quebec and often travel to France where I have friends and inlaws. I have no difficulties in making myself understood or in understanding others.

Of course, if you come from rural Quebec and travel to rural France (or the reverse), it might take a while for you to pick up the accent. But people from Montreal and Paris understand each other very easily. In fact when I am in France people will often think that I have a Belgian accent. Sure, it sounds foreign to them, but they can't always tell where I am from.

But you've been doing this for years right? You say you travel often. OPs kids are just learning and it was said they're used to having it spoken slowly to them in school. So yes, I stand by my original statement that when you aren't used to both versions, they come across as different languages especially when spoken aloud.

 

[okw2012]

Has little to do with travelling in fact. TV has pretty much standardized French accent, at least to the point where we understand each other very well.

I agree that street level French in Quebec can sometimes sound like a different language. But it is not: the grammar and vocabular is the same, the accent is different. In my initial post I was reacting to someone stating that the grammar was different, which is not true.

OP, your kids will likely have difficulty understanding French from either Canada or France when spoken at full speed. Teachers typically speak much more slowly than anyone on the street. But I'd still encourage your kids to talk with the CMs and ask them to speak slowly. I would bet that this request will be met with a smile and not rolling eyes, at least in Canada

 

[TinkerbellW]

As someone from the UK who learnt French through the British education system, I now teach it as Primary level, I have to say I had no problems understanding the French CM at Epcot. The only thing I would say is they speak rather quickly unless you ask them to speak more slowly. I have also eavesdropped on French- Canadian conversations (sorry only for research purposes) and found the accent very difficult to tune into. Please don't discourage your children from speaking French to the CM, I'm sure they will be only too pleased that they are 'having a go'