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Me and DD are trying to come up with a list of phrases for her French exchange - any ideas?

22 replies

Titsywoo · 21/09/2019 15:57

DD leaves tomorrow for a week in Bordeaux and we thought a list of things she might need to ask for would be useful! So far we've only come up with "Can I use your shower please?" and "Could you please repeat that?" Grin. She's a bit nervous as she is staying with the family on her own and has only spoken to the girl via text a few times as they were only matched early this week!

Any ideas appreciated! Or any other tips people can think of!

OP posts:
NoHummus · 21/09/2019 16:00

"Can I use the WiFi please? What is the password?"
Also phrases around any food allergies or major dislikes she has.

sleepismysuperpower1 · 21/09/2019 16:01

desole - sorry
Je ne comprends pas - I don't understand
Plus lentement -more slowly (as in, please could you speak slower)
Merci de me recevoir - Thank you for having me
Avez-vous le WIFI? - do you have wifi?

i hope she has a great time!

LizzieBananas · 21/09/2019 16:07

I don’t know the French but one thing my classmates and I wanted was the words for basic crockery so we could ask for a fork/bowl etc.

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wellingtonsandwaffles · 21/09/2019 16:09

My big one many years ago was not being able to say “you’re welcome” or “that’s ok” after someone says thank you. I think I remember it being “de rien” (it’s nothing)

SnugglySnerd · 21/09/2019 16:09

How to say if she feels ill or her period starts.

BertieBotts · 21/09/2019 16:17

My tip would be to think more basic than phrases - instead of "Could you please repeat that?" try for something like "Once more, please?" or "Say it again, please?" It will be shorter, simpler and easier to remember, meaning she is more likely to use it.

Likewise a few simple phrases she can put nouns/verbs into are useful.

For example, food:

Do you have any....?
Pass the...please
Some more....please
I don't like....
With....please
Without....please

Things in the house:
Where is (the)...?
Is there a....? (Or you could stick to "do you have any/a")
Show me, please
Can you help me with....?

Language help:

Excuse me. I don't understand.
Slower, please?
Once again, please?

Don't overdo it because she'll never use any of them.

When I went on my French exchange I had one of those "gem" dictionaries so I could carry it around and so if I didn't know the word to go into the gap, I could look up single words at a time, that was really helpful. If she doesn't have one but she has a smartphone, the google translate app can be useful for the same thing - as long as she can trust herself not to over rely on it and use it to translate whole sentences at a time Wink

The key to languages is to start very small, very simple, think in terms of the language she knows being building blocks she can build what she wants to say/communicate from. Start there, rather than starting with the exact phrase in English you would use. That often leads to an overcomplicated translation.

Noseynails · 21/09/2019 16:22

il y a une boîte de soupe dans mon soutien-gorge translates to do you know where I could find a local shop please?

mclover · 21/09/2019 17:54

A few 'flattering' phrases like:
You have a beautiful home
This tastes delicious
Your baby is pretty

highlandcoo · 21/09/2019 22:44

Merci beaucoup - thank you very much

C'est gentil (or gentille for a woman) - that's kind of you

Ça va - that's fine. If someone asks "Ça va?" meaning "Are you OK?" or "Is that OK?" you can reply "Ca va merci " - fine thanks

Je cherche... - I'm looking for ...

"C'est bon" - it's good

LadyLanka · 22/09/2019 03:05

How about:
Puis-je vous aider? Can I help you?

YobaOljazUwaque · 22/09/2019 05:29

This was 30 years ago but the phrase I really needed was "please speak in French slowly - if you speak English I won't learn". - the entire trip my exchange partner's mum spoke to me in English the whole time because she wanted the chance to practice her own language skill. I learned nothing but was too nervous and anxious to say the above. If I had anticipated this issue then practicing saying it beforehand might have helped.

YobaOljazUwaque · 22/09/2019 05:36

@Noseynails don't be mean.

@Titsywoo the phrase this poster suggested does not mean that.

Rather than anticipating phrases, makings sure DD has enough data credit on a phone to be able to use Google Translate, and bookmarking a link to the right URL for that, would be great.

clearsommespace · 22/09/2019 06:17

Ça m'est égal: I don't mind.

J'ai assez mangé: I'm full. (Pleine is the wrong word for full in this context).

Titsywoo · 22/09/2019 14:43

Thanks all - what did noseynails phrase mean?!

We typed up a list of all these and others last night so thanks for your help. She's arrived in Bordeaux now and is already having a great time :)

OP posts:
QueenofLouisiana · 22/09/2019 15:09

Noseynails said: there is a bowl of soup in my bra.

Not helpful. Hmm

Titsywoo · 22/09/2019 15:55

Nice. DD messaged to say the family are mainly speaking to her in english as they are very good at it. Does anyone know how to say "Please can you speak to me in French so I can practise?".

OP posts:
Etino · 22/09/2019 15:58

En Français s’il vous plaît
(Ongfrongsayseevooplay)

Lobsterquadrille2 · 22/09/2019 15:59

Many years ago on my pre A level German exchange, I had to find a dictionary to look up "diarrhoea" in German (Durchfall) to explain why I was reluctant to eat ....

Etino · 22/09/2019 15:59

Je veux parler en Français
(Zheveuparlayongfrongsay)

Etino · 22/09/2019 16:02

Hope these are helpful @Titsywoo, but honestly the best way to learn is to immerse herself.
I passed as French (I’d say fluent but someone will pick me up if I do) after 3 weeks as a very chatty 11year old as I had no one to talk to or translate for me.
I thought the soutien gorge joke was funny

perhapstomorrow · 22/09/2019 16:09

My husband says it's "Ci vouz plait, je voudrais parlez en Francais.".....But what tends to happen is they speak English in France and French when they're in England!

clearsommespace · 22/09/2019 17:15

@59Lobsterquadrille2

I did a little German a long time ago and for some reason 'Durchfall' is one of the few words that I remember Grin
I have never suffered from that complaint in a German speaking country.

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