"I can't speak for the rest of the country, but I personally believe that Paris has outgrown its image of snooty waiters whose demeanor changes the second you utter the word "hello" (or poorly pronounce "bonjour"). And yet, there is no doubt that learning a bit of French is going to be worth your while - and not just to ward off the haughtiness of waiters. Learning French offers deeper insight into the culture, and also widens the scope of people with whom you can interact."
"While you might wish you could download a language as easily as you could an app, there just is no getting around it: The only way to learn a language is through time, hard work, and giving yourself permission to sound like a bumbling fool in front of strangers. For me, I had no choice but to stammer my way through six months of sub-par French in front of my colleagues before it started to click."
Paris maintains a reputation for requiring French, yet English is more widely spoken than before; making an effort with French still improves access to people and culture. Practical immersion in cafés with staff and customers builds conversational confidence. Language learning demands time, sustained effort, and tolerance for mistakes before competence emerges. Combining formal lessons with everyday practice accelerates progress. No single shortcut guarantees fluency, but deliberate strategies shorten the gap between feeling like a visitor and feeling at home in Paris.
Read at HiP Paris Blog
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