"How may I help you?"
We were taken aback. She really wanted us to tell her good morning before she could help us! I realized that it was very important to be polite in French. It might seem rude at first, but now this interaction makes sense to me.
Let me give you a few key phrases to remember:
When entering a shop or office, it's important to greet the people working inside.
Bonjour! (bon-ZHOOR) - Good morning!
Use this when the sun is still up.
Bonsoir! (bon-SWAR) - Good evening!
Use this if it's already dark outside.
When asking for something, it's always important to say please and thank you.
S'il vous plait (seal voo PLAY) - please
Merci (mare-SEA) - thank you
Before you leave, it's also important to say goodbye to the people who helped you.
Au revoir! (oh re-VWAR) - Good bye!
Bonne journée! (bon zhor-NAY) - Have a nice day!
Bonne soirée! (bon swa-RAY) - Have a nice evening!
Can you try using these phrases with your friends? These are some of the first things I learned in French. By now, I can say much more, but it's good to start with words used for being nice to each other.
When it came time to speak French, I always felt so nervous. In the beginning, I avoided raising my hand in class to answer the teacher's questions. What if they made fun of me for saying something wrong? What if they just felt bad for me?
I realized that I really have nothing to be afraid of. I imagined what it might be like for the exchange students we have at my American university. I had classmates from China and Saudi Arabia. They didn't grow up speaking English, so they have accents.
