Rocket French Community

About how much English is spoken in France

Hi there,
that really depends who you talk to. Most younger people will have some understanding of English. If you are in bigger cities most people will be bale to help you out with basic or some even more advanced English.
It really depends.

Having just gotten back from Nice/Cannes and surrounding area, I can say that this course was a life savior. Don't get me wrong about 10% could speak English fairly well, and around 50 - 75% could speak "Just a little" OR as I stated to them "Juste un petit peu français"

But without this course I wouldn't have had as much fun or been able to at least try. Several shops I Stopped into the people working could not speak any English at all, thankfully my 1 month of practice came in real handy and asking the too slow down was wonderful as I could just make out what they were saying.

I would highly recommend that you at least learn some or you will be like several of the people on my trip and not even be able to order food or a Coffee.

Also as a side note, some people did get upset with others on my trip because they were not even willing to try, they got upset to the point of being rude. To be honest I can't blame them, English speaking people tend to be very arrogant about others learning English... well we are not in an English speaking Country at the time... so adapt.

Thanks Rocket Languages for an inexpensive way for me to really enjoy my vacation.

I agree completely with Joey4420.
So many English people are too lazy to even try to learn the basics. They will say, to better French speakers than myself, 'I wish I could speak French like you'. When asked how much time they spend learning the response is usually a blank look. In other words no time. I don't know whether Americans are similar, I don't meet many in my part of France.
The worst case I came across was when two couples in a bar asked loudly for 4 coke. The barman, unsurprisingly hadn't the slightest idea what they wanted, so they continued with their demand more loudly. I said, 'they want 4 coca colas', in my best French which sorted out the situation. Needles to say I wasn't thanked.

I moved to Paris 3 months ago now. When I arrived I did not know any French besides bonjour and au revoir. I tried to use 2 other programs on top of the market which I got bored of very quickly. I started to think I will never be able to speak French at all. Then I stumbled across Rocket Languages 'by accident' and I am glad! Although I can not hold a conversation in French to any deep level I am able to get by asking for the things that I need and desire, greeting myself and speaking about a few basic things. I have come to find there are alot of people who speak English (in Paris at least), but they try not to use it. They kind of like to hear you make the effort first, which for a learner is great. I also hear of some people who live here and never speak and French and they get by speaking only English, but I think this is a great shame and a little rude if you are to live in this country.

I found France to be quite differant from Montreal. In France I found that almost no one would offer to speak English unless I asked them to. I thought they were very patient though and willing to let me struggle through until I was understood. If I asked, many, in Paris at least, could help in English.

In Montreal, most people speak French and English very well, but they jump back and forth all the time to the point that it is distracting. If you don't speak French well enough, they just jump to English and let it go.