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From: cherson@fsleng.DEC
Newsgroups: net.travel
Subject: Paris
Message-ID: <1859@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 26-Apr-85 08:42:07 EDT
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Posted: Fri Apr 26 08:42:07 1985
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Just thought that I'd like to make one comment about what Mickey Levine said
in relation to speaking French in Paris.  I've been there and had a much better
than expected time, without being fluent in French.

I found through my experience that if you make an effort to phrase what you 
want to say in French, then you'll be appreciated by most Parisiens.  This
shouldn't be regarded as strange, how would you like it if a tourist came up
to you in the street and asked you all sorts of things in a foreign 
language and when he/she was asked what they meant in English they just kept
blabbering on in their language and expected you to speak it in return?

There has always been a keen competition between French and English, and the
ascendency  of English after WWII hurt the French somewhat (being a somewhat
narcissistic people).  So going to the capital of France and sticking to the
English language exclusively can only bring you complications.

Jeez, why do Americans get so bent out of shape about attempting to learn
another language?

					David Cherson