Speaking French

[Li-sa]

Just wondering - have any of you made the effort to speak French while in DLP?

DH and I have a very limited knowledge of French but we did say a few bonjours and mercis last time we went and were met by blank expressions from the DLP staff!

Is it worth encouraging our dds to speak a few words of French this time, or will they get the same treatment?

 

[Cyrano]

It will not do any harm

DD has tried speaking a few times but obviously making sure that CM was not busy

 

[bavaria]

Since I am pretty much fluent it isn't making an effort on my part.

Having said that however, I never travel to a country without learning the basics including 'hello, goodbye, thank you, excuse me, etc' and I use them.

In France it is considered polite to acknowledge the person behind the counter with 'Bonjour Madame' etc before launching into a request. (I do get irked by people who walk up to the counter in any country whether English-speaking or otherwise, and say 'Give me two coffees' as this isn't really very polite in any language, and moreso in a country where it is considered rude not to greet the person first before making the request)

Chances are that the CMs will realise that you do not speak French, but at least you have made the effort and displayed respect for your hosts, for the fact is that you are guests in a foreign country.

So my long answer is yes, definitely I encourage everyone to learn a few words and to use them.

 

[Cyrano]

Chances are that the CMs will realise that you do not speak French, but at least you have made the effort and displayed respect for your hosts, for the fact is that you are guests in a foreign country.

 

[I <3 DLP]

i think its nice to have a few words in french, i done french in school but wouldn't be great at it i have the basics and enough to get me by with most everyday things so i try to use it when im over there, my mam has never done French so we bought a fast talk French book with the basics and we have bein goin over it, its quite fun too and its nice to be able to greet people and be polite, id encourage it too but its each to their own

 

[joolz1910]

My french is awful and I'm sure it's pretty unintelligible to the CM's but I still give it a go! I think it shows respect to at least try a few words. I encouraged my then 4 year old to say 'Bonjour' and 'Merci' when we were there and she was delighted when the CM's said something back.

 

[Ware Bears]

I've taught my DDs that if they are a guest in another country it's only polite to say at least hello, goodbye, thank you etc in the language of the country they're visiting.

We use Bonjour, Bonsoir, Merci, S'il vous plaît, Au Revoir etc etc and you can tell it's appreciated although the lovely smiles we get given may be because of our appalling accents!!

 

[Jeccaboos]

My french is awful and I'm sure it's pretty unintelligible to the CM's but I still give it a go! I think it shows respect to at least try a few words. I encouraged my then 4 year old to say 'Bonjour' and 'Merci' when we were there and she was delighted when the CM's said something back.

My daughter was the same - she always had a little giggle when saying it and was always pleased when the CM's spoke back in French to her.

 

[tiring_day]

Yes a few words of the native tongue were appreciated when we were there and we encouraged Josh (2 at the time) to try as well. My problem is trying to not slip into my 'allo 'allo French accent.

I have borrowed some Linguaphone CD's and I am going to try to learn a little more before we go back again in January.

steve

 

[giuly09]

I can go as far as saying *Bonjour*, *Bonsoir*, *Merci* but it's a lot safer for them if i dont try and read the menu in french LOL

 

[DebIreland]

Is it worth encouraging our dds to speak a few words of French this time

Oh definitely! My French is basic but I thoroughly enjoy using the bit I have whenever we get to France. I sent my 13 year old to order coffees and juice at the counter in a cafe in Brittany last year and he was beaming ear to ear cause he was understood! In terms of experience and confidence it was probably worth 2 months in the classroom!!

Like others have said, using even a little bit of French shows you have respect for the country/culture you're visiting.

or will they get the same treatment?

I'd say you just got unlucky last time. My very basic French was appreciated and it really is basic, lol!

 

[DebIreland]

My problem is trying to not slip into my 'allo 'allo French accent.

 

[cap'njack.]

I always attempt a little French while there, although ususally if the CM speaks German I'll speak German to them instead. That always confuses everyone!

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

I used my French alot this time around, well Merci and bonjour lol. I wanted to branch out but felt like what i said wouldn't make any sense lol.

 

[scream machine]

My two kids loved that they learnt some French, they got quite addicted to saying, "Bonjour, Au Revoir, Merci and Bonsoir".

They even used to thank the toll cashiers on the motorways in French from the back seat of the car, they were like little parrots

I thought it was lovely and they couldnt wait to show off their new words when they got back to school either. They were 5 and 8 at the time.

I do think its respectful to at least try to speak a few words of the native language in another country, even if it is very basic.

 

[Li-sa]

Thanks everyone...I always like to try and speak a bit of local lingo where ever we go on holiday, but was just a little worried that my kids might get ignored if they tried at DLP.
I'll start teaching them some French and hope they get a good response.

 

[PJackson]

I speak a little (have A Level but terrible speaker!). I did use some this time - just a little - things like wanting meat well cooked - the waitress didn't understand until I asked in french! Also in Cafe Mickey our waitress was either a little ahem, dim, or we were very intelligible as I ended up ordering bits in French too! We always said hello, goodbye and thank you (very much in some cases) in French - it seems appreciated. My DD1 (3.5 years) even tried some too

 

[Danauk]

I do the usual hello, good bye, please, thank you etc in French. DH is better at French than I am so he usually speaks more. He quite often gets replies in French too, which is more than I do!! The only trouble this time is our theatre group are doing Allo Allo in a few weeks and DH is in it. Luckily he isn't playing the policeman (he's Gruber, the one with the little tank!! lol)

 

[Dianetigger]

We do all the usual Bonjour, Bonsoir etc., as I think it's only respectful to at least make some effort however small.
What amused my three this time was that every time at breakfast (Newport Bay) we would do this, then we were asked (in French) how many for breakfast and I'd answer in French and then we'd be greeted with a whole more French which we didn't understand!
My son also took a shine to using some spanish whilst there on POC, (after realising the CM was speaking Spanish to the family in front of us), backfired though as he couldn't understand any of what was said back to him but he thought he was being clever.

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

We do all the usual Bonjour, Bonsoir etc., as I think it's only respectful to at least make some effort however small.
What amused my three this time was that every time at breakfast (Newport Bay) we would do this, then we were asked (in French) how many for breakfast and I'd answer in French and then we'd be greeted with a whole more French which we didn't understand!
My son also took a shine to using some spanish whilst there on POC, (after realising the CM was speaking Spanish to the family in front of us), backfired though as he couldn't understand any of what was said back to him but he thought he was being clever.

Bless your son for trying though!