How much French do you need to get by?

[Trevor Wbm]

I've been working on improving my French for about 4 years now and have got to the stage where I can have conversations with French folk, particularly ones who are keen to improve their English, so we fill in each other's missing words. (Forgot the word for whale last week, ended up with 'le plus grande animale dans la mer' which got me back to 'baleine', partly through the medium of dance as I leapt about indicating a waterspout).
How much French do you need is a diffucult one to answer - you won't need the French for 'My clutch needs replacing' until it does.
You could maybe get hold of a phrase book that's scenario based so you are prepared for the site reception, service station, supermarket check-out, restaurant etc. along with responses that, if needs be, the French chaps can point at.
If you stay in the popular toursist areas, a lot of the staff will speak enough English for you not to have to bother, but it always pays to start a 'Bonjour', even if it's followed by 'Parlez vous Anglais'? If you go off the beaten track the chances of a 'Non' increase, be that because the don't or won't speak English.

Found this as an example. (I think seeing the words is better than just copying the noises they make, it's very often the case that you can see the French word is very similar to it's English counterpart or an alternative that works and that helps remember it such as: I live = J'habite ..... habitation)

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[The Wino]

I think there's no need to worry how much French you're going to need as when you get there you're going to have whatever you've got which hopefully will cover a few basis at least and is unlikely to cover all events. The thing that's certain is the sooner you start and more often you try to use it the better you'll get.

 

[1967bowesj]

A little French goes a long way so the basics of greeting and ordering food and drinks to start with.

Duolingo is a great app for learning French.

And make sure you learn the difference between Andouillette and Andouille if you like sausages or find out the hard way

Thats the app i started last year when we first talked about going to france, should have stuck with it.

 

[L' Hobo]

The best thing to keep in the van is a Visual Dictionary, there are French ones but even an English one is helpful to show the other person what you are talking about in any language. I think they are published by DK publishing.

Just checked, yes, it is DK and are available as an app.

 

[OutTheOffice]

We are in France at the moment, you just need a little bit of the language to start the conversation off, then the person you are talking to will generally bail you out, assuming they can. But start off in English and you might well get a frosty response. This simplistic approach is all fine unless you need something out the ordinary, like a mechanical breakdown so a good translation app on the phone will save your life

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[Rapides]

I have degree level French and whilst it’s obviously enough to get by I still get flustered when a speaker is too fast for me or I don’t have the vocabulary. No substitute for immersing yourself in the culture, which I’ve never done.

 

[Ridgeway]

About this much:

 

[Roger20]

I remember once in the early days of our relationship, when there was a bit of an emergency, rushing up to the boatyard owner babbling about the problem. He took me by the arm and kindly said "First we greet, then we'll solve the problem."

I read recently that "bonjour monsieur or bonjour madame" is less impersonal than simply "bonjour" - tried it recently and it seems to get a warmer response.

 

[Minxy]

I read recently that "bonjour monsieur or bonjour madame" is less impersonal than simply "bonjour" - tried it recently and it seems to get a warmer response.

It's quite common for us to be greeted with "monsieur dame" without "bonjour" when passing others.

 

[Folkranger]

I learned a little French from a Language tape, made sure I had the pronounciation exactly the same as the guy on the tape. Met a French girl who wanted to know why I talked like I did. When she listened to the voice on my tape she said, but that guy is outrageously gay. Oops!

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[sedge]

Frankie - I like to think you'd have been proud of me when we had a slow puncture in a rear tyre on our original motorhome whilst staying on the aire at Cabanes de Fleurie some years ago. Went to a Moho place we knew but they were closed for lunch, so went on to a nearby garage forecourt and went in their shop and asked the lady behind the counter Est ce que un atelier pres d'ici ou est il possible pour acheter un nouveau pneu ou possiblement pour reparer notre pneu ?

Took me several goes muttering to myself before I attempted this approach working out how to tell her we probably needed a new pneu!

 

[L' Hobo]

Frankie - I like to think you'd have been proud of me when we had a slow puncture in a rear tyre on our original motorhome whilst staying on the aire at Cabanes de Fleurie some years ago. Went to a Moho place we knew but they were closed for lunch, so went on to a nearby garage forecourt and went in their shop and asked the lady behind the counter Est ce que un atelier pres d'ici ou est il possible pour acheter un nouveau pneu ou possiblement pour reparer notre pneu ?

Took me several goes muttering to myself before I attempted this approach working out how to tell her we probably needed a new pneu!

and why would you need a large African antelope? ........Sorry! That, of course, is a gnu..... (must get to SpecSavers)

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

I learned my French from watching TV, it's not my fault that the French don't get it

 

[nicholsong]

I was taking my yacht down the french canals and we had a horrible day in the rain. Finally moored in a small village and went to the only bar with food and asked in French if we could eat.

The reply from the boss came back in Scouse accent - fell off me bar stool - cracking evening. He had been there twenty years, but still a Scourcer

 

[DerryW]

No then, long time ago when I was at school the idea of learning a foreign language was English for us pitmatic northerners.
So being good with French German etc, how much would you say is really needed to at least show willing when in French.
Next year might see us spending 3 or 4 weeks there as sister in law is desperate to go back there.
Not worried about the travel or driving I just would like to make a effort to speak some French when over there.

Google Translate is your friend

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[sedge]

Yes I was comparing what Reallyretired had said, he meant to say "merci beaucoup" but when he spoke it sounded like "merci beau cul".

OK, but yodeli - would not a lady have a belle backside rather than a beau one? - or is it a male word anyway?

 

[Widge]

I learned my French from watching TV, it's not my fault that the French don't get it

There is a french film called LA GRANDE VADROUILLE, about two birtish airforce officers being helped to escape france during the war, maybe a little more slapstick than Allo Allo but along the same lines.
Here is a trailer.

 

[Ridgeway]

There is a french film called LA GRANDE VADROUILLE, about two birtish airforce officers being helped to escape france during the war, maybe a little more slapstick than Allo Allo but along the same lines.
Here is a trailer.

Widge is missing the important bit, it has Louis de Funes, Bourvil and Terry Thomas in it, what a combo

It’s how my neighbour suggested we learnt French 20yrs ago, watching this with subtitles.

“Two for tea and tea for two” is now a standard hum in our house

 

[Widge]

Widge is missing the important bit, it has Louis de Funes, Bourvil and Terry Thomas in it, what a combo

It’s how my neighbour suggested we learnt French 20yrs ago, watching this with subtitles.

“Two for tea and tea for two” is now a standard hum in our house

To be honest I had forgotten terry thomas was in it, I also have not seen it all, I have caught the end of it a couple of times when it has been on french tv but not all the way through. Maybe I need to search for a copy on dvd.

 

[Ridgeway]

To be honest I had forgotten terry thomas was in it, I also have not seen it all, I have caught the end of it a couple of times when it has been on french tv but not all the way through. Maybe I need to search for a copy on dvd.

I think our DVD of it is nearly worn through. LGV is a great talking point in French conversations a nice common thread between the two countries

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[yodeli]

OK, but yodeli - would not a lady have a belle backside rather than a beau one? - or is it a male word anyway?

Deffo beau! Beau cul, a tad rude, beau derrière is better, and new word for the youngsters is boule but masculin, so beau boule.
Only feminin version is with fesses
Belles fesses!

 

[denisejoe]

Years ago took granddaughter to France in van she was about 10 and she had just started French at school, there were some French children the same age playing in the sand dunes I said go and play but she didn’t want to anyway kicked her out 15 minutes later she came back with all of them and introduced them after that we didn’t see her much for that holiday.

 

[yodeli]

I've been working on improving my French for about 4 years now and have got to the stage where I can have conversations with French folk, particularly ones who are keen to improve their English, so we fill in each other's missing words. (Forgot the word for whale last week, ended up with 'le plus grande animale dans la mer' which got me back to 'baleine', partly through the medium of dance as I leapt about indicating a waterspout).
How much French do you need is a diffucult one to answer - you won't need the French for 'My clutch needs replacing' until it does.
You could maybe get hold of a phrase book that's scenario based so you are prepared for the site reception, service station, supermarket check-out, restaurant etc. along with responses that, if needs be, the French chaps can point at.
If you stay in the popular toursist areas, a lot of the staff will speak enough English for you not to have to bother, but it always pays to start a 'Bonjour', even if it's followed by 'Parlez vous Anglais'? If you go off the beaten track the chances of a 'Non' increase, be that because the don't or won't speak English.

Found this as an example. (I think seeing the words is better than just copying the noises they make, it's very often the case that you can see the French word is very similar to it's English counterpart or an alternative that works and that helps remember it such as: I live = J'habite ..... habitation)

Amazon product ASIN 1786573873

As far as I am concerned, I will judge your french being good if I see you are able to switch from vous to tu and vice versa whenever needed, be it singular or plural . It's the main mistake I came across as a teacher when correcting basic French..

 

[Trevor Wbm]

As far as I am concerned, I will judge your french being good if I see you are able to switch from vous to tu and vice versa whenever needed, be it singular or plural . It's the main mistake I came across as a teacher when correcting basic French..

Interesting criteria. I've never met a French person who can give me a definitive answer to that, other than 'Ça dépend'. I wait 'til they 'tu' me first.

 

[L' Hobo]

Most of my life, I have managed with cheery greeting, Bonjour, comment allez-vous? (Basic French Grunt and hand gestures.) Excuse-em-voir, Av-a-vous. une problem or grand probleme! Combien. Merci and a cheery Av-oir!

For the last few years, I have found a good French VISUAL dictionary shows pictures and itemises most things including vehicles?
(Another small pocket book I've had for nearly 40yrs is, 'The Euro Mate' by RICHARD DREW PUBLISHNG, a 6-1 Language guide covering all of Europe)

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[Widge]

I was taking my yacht down the french canals and we had a horrible day in the rain. Finally moored in a small village and went to the only bar with food and asked in French if we could eat.

The reply from the boss came back in Scouse accent - fell off me bar stool - cracking evening. He had been there twenty years, but still a Scourcer

Just as well he wasn't from newcastle , I don't think google translate works for geordie.