French culture gives a lot of importance to formal etiquette. That’s quite a deviation from American culture.
While Americans carry a relaxed and casual demeanor, the French are particular about grace and poise. No doubt, Americans returning from a vacation in France find the locals aloof and unfriendly.
The language barrier makes things more difficult for American travelers.
If you’re planning a holiday in France, these tips will help you adjust to cultural and language differences quickly.
Learn and Practice Basic Phrases
Learning a new language is fun and enriching. Your holiday can be a good excuse to learn French and practice your learning with locals.
Start with the basics like greetings, asking and telling names, etc. Or the best idea is to hire a French to English translation services to help you understand with their language. As a result, you will have a memorable fun trip to France.
Most importantly pick up the key phrases you’d be needing at the restaurants and shops because that’s where you’ll encounter locals who don’t get American English at all.
Don’t expect the waiter to smile and say “Bonjour” when you greet him in French. The French are not talkative at all. Even a slight nod is a greeting. So don’t take offense or assume that the waiter is being grumpy.
Here’s a pro tip. Jot down the key phrases in a pocket diary so that you can make a quick reference when you seem to get stuck.
Technology to Your Rescue
Travelers can never thank technology enough. Yet again, translation services technology will come in handy when trying to overcome the language barrier in a foreign country.
Google Translate will translate anything you say or type into French within seconds. You just need to play the audio or show the translation to the other person, and your objective will be accomplished. Otherwise, you can always think of and go for a French translator from a certified agency like “Languex” that has a team of trained and experienced certified language translators that can not only translate legal documents & paperwork before your travel to France, but can also train you on a certain language.
If you want to use the app on the go, without WiFi or mobile internet service, you can always download languages for offline use. Using a high-quality language learning app can be a great way to learn a new language conveniently, and with the ability to download languages for offline use, you can practice even when you don't have internet access.
Strictly No Slang or Foul Words
Americans are too used to casual conversations. But when you’re in France, you should avoid slang like “hey, what’s up?”, “let’s chill” or “have a blast”.
The literal interpretation of such phrases can be very confusing for someone who knows little English.
Even when talking to a local who understands English and American accents well, stick to simple and direct phrases.
Mouthing foul words is also absolutely unacceptable, no matter how casually and cheerfully you say them. Those who don’t understand English may still be aware of the common swear words and their meaning.
As far as possible keep your chats simple, direct and formal.
Charades, Why Not?
If you find your French vocabulary to be very limited, you can always act out and convey your message. After all, gestures and signs were the predecessors of every language.
A better idea would be to draw an image representing what you’re trying to say. You need to keep a notebook and pen accessible at all times.
But be mindful about how you approach a local. Everyone might not be interested in a round of charades. And if you think they appear to be annoyed by the idea, just thank them politely and move on.
Be Polite and Courteous, Always
Locals don’t expect travelers to know French very well or speak like natives. But they won’t appreciate impoliteness.
Imagine you’re at a souvenir shop, repeating a phrase several times to a shopkeeper, but without success. Maybe your pronunciation is off, or it’s just the American accent working against you.
Don’t let the frustration mount. It may affect your tone. In French culture, the high pitch is outright rude.
When you find yourself stuck in a situation where you can’t communicate your idea, you must remember to keep your cool. It’s alright to give up.
Final Thoughts
No matter how often you travel to a foreign country, it will take a few years for you to get comfortable speaking the foreign language and interacting with locals.
The important thing is to keep practicing the language. You can take French lessons in your city or France if you’ll be spending a significant time there.
Try to make friends with locals or people who’ve been living in the country for a few years already. You can interact with them without hesitation and they won’t mind your mistakes. This way, you’ll understand the language better and become fluent very quickly.
