As part of applying for my 10-year card, I took the TCF pour la carte de résident in June. This is a slightly easier test than the one for French citizenship, which requires a B1 level of competence. The TCF Carte de Résident requires an A2 level of French language.

HOW TO REGISTER

I went to ILE International in Paris, but here is the list of all the schools in every country that administer this test.

You should register as early as you can. At the very least, take the test a month before your appointment to be safe to get your results in time. The dates do fill up so don’t wait! Also consider that if you need to retake the test, you have to wait a month before you can do so.

WHAT TO BRING

To take the test I needed:

• My convocation (the email proving I registered), printed.
• La convention signée — a document attached to my registration email that lays out the rules of the test. You must print and sign.
• A valid ID (carte de résident or passport. NOTE: Driver’s licenses are NOT accepted.)
• An envelope “Lettre suivie” (préaffranchie). You get this at La Poste. It needs to be “format A4” and you need to fill out your address in advance. This is what they send you your results in.

WHAT’S IN THE TEST?

The TCF pour la carte de résident test is comprised of four sections. At most centers, the first three parts are completed at a computer with headphones. Once you start the test, you will get an introduction/example of each section and how it works before each portion starts. You click a button to begin each section, so you can take a breather between each one if you need.

PART 1: Oral comprehension – 15 minutes
20 multiple choice questions. I found this to be the most difficult section. You listen to a snippet of a conversation or report and then choose an answer to a question about what was in it. Sometimes the answer choices are spoken, and sometimes they are in text. You only get to listen once, and it is timed with what felt like about 15 seconds to make a choice. This seemed quick to me and the questions get progressively harder. EXAMPLE QUESTIONS

PART 2: Written comprehension – 20 minutes
20 multiple choice questions. You’ll be presented with various notices, letters, flyers, etc., to read and then answer questions about the content. You have 20 minutes total to answer, and can toggle or skip between questions. EXAMPLE QUESTIONS

PART 3: Written expression – 30 minutes
Respond to three emails or letters with approximately 50-word responses. You have 30 minutes to complete this section, which felt like more than enough time to me, and you can switch between the three responses as you wish. EXAMPLE QUESTIONS

This is the end of the computer-administrated portion. After completing it, I was shown my expected level (A1, A2, B1, etc.) for the first two, multiple-choice sections. However, the written portion has to be checked by a human so you don’t get a grade for that yet.

PART 4: Oral exam – 10 minutes
This portion is done with a teacher/administrator. It is tape recorded and will be graded by both the person you take it with, and another person. During my oral test, there were three parts:

• 3 minutes of introducing/talking about yourself.
• 3:30 minutes of playing out a scenario with the administrator. In mine, I was looking to buy a pet and she worked at a pet store.
• 3:30 minutes of talking about something you like to do. In my case the prompt was the type of shops I like to go to and why.
• EXAMPLE QUESTIONS

Plan to spend two to three hours at the testing center including check in, instructions and wait times. You can expect your results in ten days to three weeks (mine arrived in that window) and the document is valid for two years.

HOW TO PREPARE

Below are a few resources you can use to prepare and practice for the TCF Résident. Note that many centers also include preparation documents or lessons in the price of the test.

• TV 5 Monde lessons: https://apprendre.tv5monde.com/fr/tcf
• RFI lessons (more difficult questions): https://savoirs.rfi.fr/fr/apprendre-enseigner/langue-francaise/tcf-test-de-connaissance-du-francais
• CIEP.fr materials: https://www.ciep.fr/sites/default/files/atoms/files/focus_ressources-preparation-tcf.pdf

Have you taken the TCF Carte de Résident test? What was your experience like? Leave a comment and share!

How much it will cost you and how intense of a program you’ll want depends on why you’re in France.

Maybe you’re like my friend Kristi who saved up to spend a summer in Paris. She wanted to learn basics but spend more time seeing the city, not all day sitting in class. Or maybe you’re in France on some sort of Eat, Pray, Love mission finding yourself in croissants, vineyards and Pierres. You may be more interested in social language swaps (where some men come just to meet foreign women) than one-on-one classes. Or maybe you’re like me and wanted to learn as fast as possible without your head exploding so you can talk to your belle-maman (mother-in-law in French is “beautiful mom.” Much nicer, no?).

There are way too many options to give you all of them, but here are the best language schools and programs I’ve personally tried or have otherwise looked into.

IF YOU WANT SMALLER CLASSES

When I first moved to Paris in June 2017, I wanted a smaller school with more personalized feeling to kick start my French learning. I already had the basics, and was looking for a program that would focus a lot of class time on speaking. I found three options that looked great. They don’t have libraries and movie screenings, but do provide a boutique, personal style of learning.

A smaller school is also a good option if you’re only going to be in France for a couple weeks and want to brush up your French quickly. None of these schools utilize textbooks, focusing more on conversational skills and using worksheets when needed.

Lutece Langue (www.lutece-langue.com)

I ended up going with Lutece Langue because it had great reviews, was close to my apartment (the school has since moved to the Saint Germain area) and is at a good price point. I’m very glad I did. My classes were never more that 4 or 5 people, my teacher Christine was excellent, patient and fun, and at least half the class was spent practicing conversation. Every day felt like a safe, welcoming place to make mistakes and improve my French speaking, which is exactly what I needed.

Classes are capped at two to seven people. I took the intensive 15 hour a week program in the morning, which cost 246.50€ a week (a little less if you sign up for four or more weeks). They offer also ofter specialized workshops. I liked that the age range of students in my class was from 24-55 years old, and wasn’t all college students. They also have a teacher who speaks Japanese if interesting for you as a student from Japan. Check out the website for all the class options.

French As You Like It (www.frenchasyoulikeit.com)

FAYLI is another boutique school with “micro group” classes capped at six people. This school actually caters mostly to children studying French, but also has programs for adults during the morning and evening.

Located in le Marais near Bastille, the prices are higher than the other two boutique schools I contacted at 445€ a week for a full morning, 3.5 hour a day course (17.5 hours/week). Check out the website for full list of class options.

I studied here for just a couple of weeks while trying to get back into the swing of learning following a long break due to work. After my experience, I would say it lacks the amount of adult students to provide levels for everyone. My first week had just one other student and it was a good match level-wise, but my second week there were five students and our levels ranged too much for my liking. For kids, there are many more classes and I think it could be a great choice. Also if you are just visiting Paris and want to a place to practice and improve your conversation for a short amount of time. But for long-term learning it wouldn’t be my first choice.

L’Atelier9 (www.latelier9.com)

I stumbled upon this school online while looking through message board reviews about French programs in Paris, and was impressed by how much students loved the experience. Classes have nine people tops (hence the name) and L’Atelier9 offers a multimedia experience using songs, newspapers, videos and games in addition to the conversational program.

The “Intensive Plus” program is from 9am-1pm each day plus one workshop a week, and costs 295€ a week with rate discounts for each consecutive week you sign up for. L’Atelier9 also offers Spanish language courses if you’re interested in doubling up on your lessons.

IF YOU WANT A LOT OF RESOURCES

Alliance Française (www.alliancefr.org)

When I lived in France for three months in 2013, I could hardly say bonsoir and needed to start pretty much at the beginning. I had taken a short course at the Alliance Française in New York, and decided to continue at the Alliance Française de Paris.

I was surprised that the textbooks were different from the New York outpost (it’s apparently not standardized across the world), but impressed with the entire operation. Located in the Montparnasse area, the building is very large with a cinema, language lab, large library and access to loads of free tours and activities for students. It’s a great place if you plan to do a lot of studying and want resources, or are new to Paris and want to meet people from all over the world.

My beginner classes could be large at times, 15 or more people, but the teacher and program were solid. Depending on your budget, you can do everything from a few hours a week to full days of private study at Alliance Française. I personally know people who started here as complete beginners and came out of the program as advanced speakers.

I recently re-enrolled here for an intermediate program and had an excellent experience with the placement exam. The two teachers I spoke with spent over an hour with me and took great care to make sure I was put in the correct level and class type for me. My afternoon classes were well structured and the teachers enthusiastic.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK A LOT

A great way to practice your speaking skills is to go to a language exchange group event where English and French native speakers get together and practice together in both languages.

The level and depth of conversation definitely depends on who you are seated with and their personalities. Sometimes people are very shy and it is hard to get the conversation going, other times it clicks easily. I recommend coming with a few fun topics in mind to discuss so you don’t end up having the same discussion about where you are from and what you are doing in France over and over again.

Franglish (www.franglish.eu)

At Franglish, you basically speed date, but for French-English conversation. If you are a native English speaker looking to improve your French, you show up and are seated at a table across from a francophone. You speak in each language for seven minutes together before moving to another table with a new French speaker and repeating the process for two hours. Because this isn’t a lesson, it’s best to have at least a little experience speaking, so this isn’t a great option for complete beginners.

In Paris, Franglish events are held at various bars around the city. It costs 12€ per session (8€ if you have a student ID) and you get a drink included with that. When I went, there were around 15 English speakers and 15 French speakers. Because it’s at a bar, it has a casual, younger adult feel and there were always new people. I once was seated across from a French guy whose English was perfect, and when I asked why he needed to be here, he admitted he only came to these events to meet women!

Franglish holds events in cities across France and all over the world, so you don’t have to be in Paris to partake. The events are often full, so sign up ahead of time on the website.

IF YOU’RE ON A BUDGET

Mairie de Paris— Cours Municipaux d’Adultes

If you’re a Paris resident (not on a tourist or student visa), you can take classes provided by the city. It’s a little tough to register because the website and emails are all in French, but the prices are very low. The three week summer intensive session I registered for cost just 202€ for three weeks, 4.5 hours a day.

I was initially wait-listed, but was lucky enough to secure a spot for a summer session. The class was not small, 22 people, but that is not that different from many other larger language schools in the city. The students were an interesting mix of people ranging in age from early 20s to senior citizens, and coming from all corners of the globe. Some are retired, some are here for work, some (like me) came for love and some are refugees.

My teacher Claudine was excellent, and I really like how many of the lessons are Paris-centric. You learn a lot about the history of Paris through it’s famous residents, cherished locations and literature. The course is grammar heavy, and I don’t feel like I got as much speaking time in as with the smaller programs, but for the price the quality is very good.

There are also semester-long courses in the spring and fall.

Catholic University of Paris— French Language Courses

The Catholic University of Paris offers spring and fall semester-long courses and short term classes in January and the summer at reasonable prices. A four week, 15 hour a week summer programs costs 660€, four weeks of 21 hours a week is 924€. There is also a 98€ per year registration fee.

This is a good bit more affordable than comparable programs, and the coursework is rigorous. I took a summer month-long intensive and would say it was worth the money. The campus is lovely, though my classroom was a little small for the 15 or so students in my class.

Photo courtesy of Institut de Francais

IF MONEY IS NO OBJECT

This final school isn’t in Paris, but I’ve had a slight obsession with it ever since I discovered it, so I wanted to share anyway!

Institut de Francais (www.institutdefrancais.com)

The Basics: 4 weeks, 8.5 hours a day, located in Villefranche on the French Riviera

In my dream scenario, I go off to this adults-only French-language boarding school in the south of France and return to Paris fluent, with a tan and Blake Lively as my new best friend (yup, she went there). The Institut de Francais caters to students 21-75 years old, has an excellent reputation and focuses on speaking and understanding. Absolute beginners to advanced students welcome.

The 4-week course fee varies by time of year and includes 160 hours of coursework, breakfast, lunch and tea on class days, evening outings with teachers and an excursion. This intensive experience doesn’t come cheap, but I justify it to myself by saying I’d be saving money by learning so much so quickly. And if it’s good enough for Blake, the Princess of Monaco and numerous ambassadors, it’s good enough for me.

For a month long program, the tuition is around 3200€ to 3900€ depending on the time of year you go (warmer months are more expensive). The school offers many housing options, or you can find something yourself in town as well.

Find full course schedule and fees here. 

FINAL TIPS FOR PICKING A PROGRAM

• If possible, choose a school somewhat close to where you live. You’re going to be there a lot, and not having a long commute makes the experience much easier.
   
• Group classes are great for learning the basics, but only move as fast as the slowest student, and you’ll be practicing with other students who are non-native French speakers. Because of this, I recommend a balanced diet of classes and forcing yourself to speak with actual French people either in private classes, with friends or through language exchanges.
   
• Be sure to do your research wherever you choose to go. I looked at some other larger schools and some schools with quite low prices, but found out that they don’t pay their teachers well, had poor reviews or didn’t have a great program. Not worth spending your money on a school where you don’t learn much!

Finally, it’s normal to get frustrated, and even have some language-induced breakdowns at times (speaking from experience). If you want to read more about my experience learning french and living in Paris hardly speaking French, click here.

Have you studied in French in Paris? What school did you choose and what was your experience like? Leave a comment and let me know!

Hearing a lot of French is key to improving your vocabulary and pronunciation, and podcasts are a great (and often free) way to improve your language skills. If you don’t have the opportunity to hear French much in your daily life, podcasts can be a great alternative.

I’ve been getting a lot of questions from readers recently about which podcasts I use to improve my French. So I’m putting my recommendations all together here, along with a couple from readers. I’ve included links for each one, but you can also just search the names in your favorite podcast app.

For Beginners

CoffeeBreak French: For complete beginners. Much of this podcast is in English as the host sets up the lessons, so total newbies won’t get lost. I find that once you move on past the A1/2 level it becomes too easy, but great to start with.

FrenchPod 101: Another good choice for beginners, and also set up in English so you have context before hearing the French conversations. It covers common situations such as speaking with a co-worker, or leaving a phone message. Most of the episodes are only a few minutes long, so these bite-sized lessons are easy to make time for.

News in Slow French: These popular lessons come in Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced series. The Beginner episodes are set up in English, and are straightforward lessons, not covering current events. But the Intermediate and Advanced series come out weekly and are entirely in French. The lessons also go over grammar and expressions. On the website you can find vocabulary and expressions for each episode which is really helpful. If you love the lessons, you can purchase even more. (This podcast was also recommended by reader rgapa1.)

French Verb Drills: I’ll be honest, I hate French verbs. But they are oh so important to learning. If you want to add an audio element to your verb training, this is a good option. There are about ten free episodes available, then you’ll need to buy a bundle.

FOR INTERMEDIATES

One Thing in a French Day: Described as “a small slice of a Frenchwoman’s day — in France and in French.” The host, Laetitia, picks one specific topic such as using the SNCF trains, vacationing in Bretagne or visiting a museum, then takes you through the experience. Great for improving your activity-specific vocabulary and learning to navigate France! For 5€ a month, you can get the transcripts as well.

Duolingo French Podcast: Each episode features native French speakers from around the world telling a story from their life, along with English narration to help along the way. The format follows Duolingo’s popular Spanish language podcast and there are transcripts and study materials available on the podcast website as well!

Podcast Francais Authentique: This podcast feels like the host Johan is just casually talking to you from his house, and his stated mission is to help you properly express yourself. Each episode also has a link to a transcript, so you can follow along with text — super helpful for learning! Many have videos as well.

Journal en francais facile: The French love to listen to news on the radio, but for newbies, it can be hard to understand because of the speed and quickly changing topics. Enter “Journal en francais facile” — or News in simple French. This daily podcast is produced by RFI (a French public broadcaster and sister station of my employer France 24) and is an easier version of its news bulletins. In the beginning I would listen to an English daily news update before listening to this French one so I had a better understanding of the stories being discussed and could fill in the blanks with the vocabulary. The transcripts are also online on each episode page.

FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS + PRACTICE

To improve your chances of making your practice a habit, try to find similar French equivalents to the podcasts you already love. That’s key to keeping you engaged and returning to the episodes. While the Franco-podcast world isn’t quite as diverse as the Anglo one yet, you can still find French options on topics as wide ranging as movies to tech to black culture to travel to NBA basketball.

I am partial to news, politics and podcasts with a storytelling vibe, so my choices are heavy on the current events side. But I’ve included two favorites recommended by readers below as well!

La Poudre: One of the most popular podcasts in France, La Poudre comes to us from journalist and feminist voice Lauren Bastide. She interviews female movers and shakers in the world of French media, art, politics and more. A great way to also learn about cool Parisiennes.

Change ma vie: Translates to “change my life” and that’s exactly what it’s about. French people love self-help and self-improvement, and each episode covers topics such as optimism, making decisions and overcoming fear of failure. Reader _justjosephine recommended this podcast to me. She says she likes it because the host speaks very clearly and that while it isn’t a lesson podcast, it has helped her improve her French!

Transfert by Slate.fr: Another reader pick! Reader jamiehaskell sent me this podcast, which she recommends for advanced learners. Transfert takes you inside the intimate lives of others by telling the anonymous stories of people in love, on vacation, struggling with a change in life and more.

Now it’s your turn! What are your favorite French podcasts? Please leave a comment and share with all of us.

Commonly heard: “It’s the best way to learn!” or “You’re so lucky to have a live-in tutor!”or “Tell him to only speak to you in French.”

If only it was that simple.

I moved to Paris about a year and a half ago and immediately threw myself into intensive French lessons. I adjusted to speaking French in public. Then I managed to get a job at a French company (though my output is in English). I do my best to speak French with my husband’s family and friends.

But the one place I rarely speak French is in my own home with my husband. We do watch local news and our shared vocabulary is peppered with French words, but our daily conversation is a private island of English in a sea of French.

At one point we tried to spend one hour a day speaking only French together. Then we tried one day a week. Neither effort lasted very long or worked out very well. Now I’m going to stop beating myself up, and stop feeling guilty that our Parisian apartment is an English oasis for me.

I have bonded with several expat spouses over the predicament of making “the switch.” There is a lot of pressure and guilt involved with living in another country and not speaking the language perfectly, especially when your partner has a whole life in that language. While the necessity of learning and speaking is pretty straightforward when it comes to public life, emotions complicate this in romantic relationships.

Here’s why I’m done feeling bad about speaking English with my husband in private (for now):

It is bizarre to switch after “meeting” someone in one language

Our history is in English, our jokes are in English (or Franglish) and we got married in English. Because I spoke zero French when we met and we spent the first five years of our relationship living in the United States, by default English became our lingua franca.

While I have loved discovering who my husband is in French, and feel like I understand him more by living in his country, it still feels strange to speak anything but English when we are alone.

Speaking French is work for me

After a day of utilizing French to run errands, feed myself and get my job done, I simply don’t want to work to speak to my husband. I just want to enjoy our time together. I make the effort everywhere else, so for now I’m giving myself a pass inside the walls of my home.

I don’t feel like myself in French

At this point in my learning process, the French language is utilitarian for me. I can go get a flu shot in French, but I still can’t manage to translate my personality much. Pretty hard to connect when you feel only a couple steps above a robot in the charisma department.

I hate making mistakes in front of him

He’s not my live-in French tutor, he’s my husband. I don’t like using the wrong verb forms in front of him or having him correct my pronunciation. Of course I ask when there is a word I don’t understand on TV, but I don’t want to be his student.

It’s hard for me to see anything romantique about my B-level French, and I admit self-consciousness is the biggest thing holding me back. But the embarrassment factor is not something I’ve been able to overcome at home.

We are setting a precedent

If we have children and decide to stay in France, it would make sense to speak English at home with them when we are all together. They will have every opportunity to speak French in Paris, but learning and maintaining English will be a bigger challenge.

Are you in a multi-lingual relationship? Which language do you speak at home and how did you decide? And if you made “the switch” please leave a comment and share your tips with me!

FORMER NAMES

• Lutèce

Before present-day Paris existed, it was a Roman city called Lutetia. The French version of the word is Lutèce (pronounced: loo-tess). Julius Caesar name-checked Lutecia in his memoir, and you can still find ruins of the ancient Roman city in Paris — including the Arènes de Lutèce amphitheater in the 5th arrondissement. Nowadays you’ll see Lutèce used in the names of cafes, shops as well as the first language school I attended after moving to Paris, Lutèce Langue.

The origin of Lutetia is uncertain, but the most common belief is that the word derives from Celtic roots meaning “place near a swamp.” Now you may not think of a swamp when you imagine Paris, but the name of the neighborhood “Le Marais” also translates to “marsh” or “swamp” in French. This is because it is close to the Seine and used to flood whenever the river got too high.

• Parisii

This is the word the name Paris is derived from. The Parisii were a Celtic (Gaulish) tribe who lived in the area. Around the year 400 the city was named “Parisios,” which became “Paris” in 887.

NICKNAMES

• Paname

A slang word for Paris that has recently re-emerged as popular. Paname (pronounced: puh-nam) is a play on the country of Panama and its famous hats, which were popular with Parisians in the early 1900s. There is a 1975 song called “Amoureux de Paname” by the singer Renaud which is a bit of a love song to Paris, despite calling it full of garbage and smelly. Today you can sip a beer at Paname Brewing Company or buy a sweatshirt with the word emblazoned on it.

• The City of Light — La Ville Lumière

Originally this moniker came not from the illumination of the city, but from Paris being the birthplace of the Age of Enlightenment. Paris played a leading role in Europe’s sharing of education and ideas, being the home of countless writers, inventors and philosophers. 

But the nickname has now taken on a more literal interpretation. Paris was one of the first cities in Europe to install gas street lighting, and today 20,000 light bulbs illuminate the Eiffel Tower every night.

• The City of Love

Ooh la la! Paris’s reputation for romance birthed this nickname. The beauty of the city and its native language has made it a top spot in the world for engagements and honeymoons. All year round you can spot brides and grooms taking photos in front of Paris’s most beautiful landmarks.

• Une capitale de la mode

Paris is known as a “Fashion Capital” of the world, sharing the title with New York, London and Milan. The home of iconic design houses including Dior, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent, French fashion has a huge impact on how the rest of the world dresses.

MORE PARIS-RELATED SLANG

• Parigot

A slang term for a Parisian person, the word Parigot (pronunciation: pear-ee-go) is particularly used by French people who don’t live in Paris to insinuate someone is a bit of a snob. Like in many countries, people who live in the biggest city of France are considered a bit pretentious. The opposite would be to call someone provincial, which means someone is a country bumpkin.

• la dame de fer

The Eiffel Tower shares her nickname, The Iron Lady, with former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. But to the French, La Dame de Fer is a reference to the wrought iron lattice that makes up the Eiffel Tower.

Have you heard any other common nicknames for Paris or its famous sights? Leave a comment and share!

I discovered Hallyday during his 2014 U.S. tour when I saw him perform at the House of Blues in New Orleans with my husband. This was first time I had ever heard of the massive French star but, unbeknownst to me, I was already very familiar with many of his biggest hits.

When Hallyday’s band started playing what sounded exactly like CCR’s “Fortunate Son,” I turned to my husband and asked, “is he singing about the Vietnam War?” He looked at me confused. I explained to him this song is one of the most famous protest songs in American history — but my husband had no idea. To the French in the room, it was Hallyday’s “Fils de Personne.”

The lyrics are similar, but with the direct war references removed to be more about the character not being born into privilege. The title translates to “Nobody’s Son.”

Later in the set came French versions of Jimmy Hendrix’s “Hey Joe“ and The Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun.” These songs were all huge hits for Hallyday, across the ocean from where they originated.

Hallyday may be the king of these kinds of covers, but he’s far from the only big star of yore to do this. After moving to France, I constantly heard classic 1960s and 1970s English-language songs that had been co-opted by French singers. I’m sure the original songwriters were aware and compensated, but the French public was none the wiser.

In rare cases, the French versions became more famous than the English ones. Good chance if I ask you to name a famous French song, the 1969 classic “Les Champs–Élysées“ would be one of the first to spring to mind. Guess what? It ain’t a French song. One year earlier, the song “Waterloo Road” with the exact same tune, and a similar lyrical theme was released:

If you’ve ever wondered what a French knockoff of The Beach Boys would sound like — well wonder no more. In 1975, Barbara Ann moved to France (presumably a beach town) and changed her name to Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma Marylène.

How about a bad French Bob Dylan impersonator? Oh, he exists and was quite popular. Hugues Aufray has the affectation, the harmonica and didn’t even try to hide that he was mimicking Dylan. He just sang Dylan’s songs in French. I guess imitation is the highest form of flattery…but why French people didn’t just listen to the real deal is confusing to me.

One evening at my apartment I was playing the classic Tom T. Hall country song “That’s How I Got to Memphis“ (most famously covered by Johnny Cash). My husband perks up — “I know this song” — and shows me this ridiculous French human Eddy Mitchell singing “Sur la route de Memphis.” As bad as the singing is, the hair is somehow worse.

You of course know Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walking.” But have you heard “Ces bottes sont faites pour marcher”? The singer, Eileen, is American. She learned French in school and had a number of hits taking American songs and adapting them into French. That’s one way to do it.

It wasn’t only American artists getting this treatment. The Rolling Stones, hailing from just across the English Channel, were not immune either. Behold… “Ruby Tuesday“ is translated to “wild girl” and becomes “Fille Sauvage“:

“Paint It Black” was also covered by a French singer named Marie Laforêt who transformed it into “Marie douceur, Marie colère” (can’t have enough Maries in there).

Elton John’s “Your Song” was turned into “C’est ta chanson,” which isn’t a terrible version, but suffers a bit from the overly-emotive singing style that plagued many French performers of that era.

And if the English version wasn’t bad enough, the novelty song “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini” went back to its roots to become “Itsy bitsy petit bikini.” I guess it’s only fair considering a Frenchman invented the bikini that the French be subjected to this tune as well.

The list goes on and on. I wouldn’t be surprised if half the popular songs in the 1960s and 1970s were just covers of English tunes. If you’re into these French versions of English-language classics, you can find a playlist of many more here.

There is ONE example I can find of a huge classic song in English that you probably didn’t know was French first. Frank Sinata’s “My Way” was in fact first Claude François’s “Comme d’habitude.” However, one of Claude’s biggest hits was a French version of The Four Seasons “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” called “Cette Année Là.” So he was a copy-cat too.

You could maaaaybe argue that “Beyond the Sea,” which was first “La Mer” in French, is a classic, but I don’t think it is as well-known.

This practice doesn’t happen much anymore, and I’m guessing the reason is:

1. The internet means you can’t as easily pass these off as your own tunes.
2. Younger French people are much more comfortable with English lyrics than their parents were. There have been crossover artists that were extremely popular in France such as Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, but fewer English-language singers made the cut thirty years ago.

Have you discovered any French songs like this that you love (or love to hate)? Leave it in the comments for us to discover!

Even if your French is good, a native speaker almost certainly knows you aren’t French as soon as you open your mouth from your accent. How they decide to answer probably has less to do with them judging you (which I used to think) and more to do with trying to make the conversation work. Here are a few motivations:

They are trying to be helpful

This is especially true if you are in a shop of some kind. Almost all the employees in clothing stores do this to me. Since English is the language of tourism in France, many if not most shop employees speak English. It is their job to make your shopping experience good, so they switch to English out of courtesy to you.

The same concept applies to people on the street you may speak to in French. If they think you are a foreigner, they will switch to English if they can in an effort to be helpful.

They think it is easier

If you speak French to someone and they speak English well, they may just assume it is easier to speak English together. This especially applies if they can tell your French isn’t great and they know their English is better. It is not out of rudeness, just out of ease of understanding, which is the whole point of a conversation.

They want to practice their English

Just as you may be trying to improve your French by using it in public, French people may notice your accent and hear an opportunity to practice their English. I’ve had this happen a few times (I know because they told me).

English is becoming more and more important for work, travel and daily life in Europe and they may not have a million opportunities to converse with a native speaker. Voilà, they speak English with you!

They don’t want to hear your bad French

Yes, the French love their language and don’t enjoy hearing it butchered. There are also some people who are just mean, like everywhere else in the world. So there will inevitably be times you run into people who just don’t have the patience or desire to hear you speak French with your accent.

This isn’t that common though. In the nine months I’ve lived here, only once has someone said “just speak English” to me. Shake it off.

So what should I do?

This is why living in Paris makes it harder to practice your French in public. The more French people speak English, the more common this will be.

My strategy is to just continue to speak in French, even if they still respond in English. This works fine and no one gets upset. Sometimes they will switch back if they see that your French is fine and you prefer it.

If it is someone you consider a friend or speak to on a regular basis (from your bakery or cheese shop, etc.), you can tell them you prefer to speak in French for whatever reason. As frustrating as it can be, French people aren’t trying to be rude and the better your French becomes the less it will happen!

Has this happened to you? What is your strategy for dealing with it? Leave a comment and share your experience!

It’s true that “ooh la la” is interjected into daily conversations and on TV regularly in France. But not in the way you may think!

“Ooh la la” isn’t used by French people to express desire or sexiness the way Americans say it. In general, it is interjected when they are shocked or impressed.

For example: “I went to the store and, ooh la la, the line was an hour long!” Or when an amazing soccer goal is made, you’ll hear “ooh la la!” in place of how Americans would say “wow” or “whoa!”

Striped shirts are an everyday item of clothing here. Everyone from senior citizens to babies wear the classic marinière. Stripes became the uniform of the French Navy in the 1850s, but were popularized to the masses when stars like Brigitte Bardot began wearing them as leisurewear. Want to own the most authentic version? Buy the Saint James classic Breton.

Berets are less common, but seem to be more popular than usual this fashion season thanks to Dior and its leather version. Berets are worn by locals and tourists alike here in Paris, so no one immediately assumes you are a tourist if you’re wearing one.

I’m not French, but I own both of these items and wear them unironically around Paris. Not at the same time, though I have seen actual French people doing just that, probably unaware they are a walking cliché.

First off, they don’t know who Pepé Le Pew is. I’ve shown many French guys a video of Pepé Le Pew and tried to explain this American cliché of a Frenchman. Unsurprisingly, they don’t see the humor in being portrayed as a smelly skunk with a bad French accent going around groping all day.

As far as the Casanova rumors– Frenchmen may have a slightly more romantic streak than their American counterparts, and tend to get serious about relationships faster too. But despite Paris’s well deserved reputation for being a romantic city, everyone isn’t making out on the street all day.

Considering France produces some of the world’s finest perfumes, cosmetics and soaps it seems a bit counter-intuitive that they would stink. I mean, the Paris metro in summer is not the freshest smelling place, but it is no worse than the subway in NYC.

Perhaps this rumor continues to live because European Union regulations don’t allow the some of the same chemicals in their products we find in America. But this cliché (also perpetuated by Pepé Le Pew) is not true. I can personally confirm that French hygiene, in general, is great.

English is the most spoken second language in France, as it is in most of Europe. But you will find a generational and geographical divide, so the answer very much depends where you are in France.

The tourism industry in France operates largely in English, therefore you will find more speakers in cities such as Paris and Bordeaux than in the countryside. Younger people are also more likely to speak English than their parents.

France is no where near the 80-90% English speaking rates found in Scandinavian countries, but the World Economic Forum says France has a “moderate” English proficiency level compared with the rest of the globe.

Yes snails are eaten, but snails are in no way the chicken of France. I would guess more snails are eaten by tourists in Paris than by French people.

Snails (escargot) are most commonly on the menu in the Burgundy region of France, where the best originate. You can find snails in the grocery store, as well as on some brasserie menus, but I’ve never personally seen a French person order snails unless they are in the company of a tourist. Of course there are French people who enjoy a plate of snails, but it isn’t an everyday dish.

As for frogs– I’ve never eaten frogs legs in France, and I don’t know any French people who profess to love eating frog. As with many French foods, frogs are more common in a specific region (Dombes) than anywhere else. France has even outlawed commercial frog hunting since the 1980s, so that frog leg you’re eating in Paris most likely came from Indonesia. Despite the nickname, France is not the land of frogs.

Smoking rates in France have actually plummeted almost 60% since the 1960s, and today fewer than one-in-three Frenchies smokes regularly. This is quite a bit higher than U.S. rates (around 15%), but it is about average for the European Union.

While you can’t smoke inside restaurants or bars anymore in France, you will find French people lighting up on cafe terraces, in the street or at a park bench. So perhaps the public aspect of smoking in France is why this cliche persists.

The French are more private than Americans and don’t generally strike up conversations with strangers. It is a different culture, and some tourists take the lack of overt friendliness as a sign of rudeness, though most French people don’t mean it that way.

Also, remember Paris isn’t Disneyland– people are living their real lives and don’t always have time or patience for the constant stream of tourists. I had this same feeling living in NYC periodically — sometimes you are having a rough day and just can’t give directions to Times Square one more time.

As far as waiters, French servers don’t work for tips, so it is true they may not all be as overly friendly and attentive as you’re used to in the States. However, waiters at high-end restaurants take their jobs very seriously and you will find the service to be world class.

Have you run into any French cliches that you found to be true or false? Leave a comment and share!

*P.S. Thanks to my friend Gabriella for suggesting this post topic <3

Since moving to Paris, I’ve encountered a lot of new names. And of course, names that are common in one country can get easily lost in translation (or pronunciation) in another. In France, “Where’s Waldo?” is “Où est Charlie?” Luckily I’m too old for school-age taunting, but that surely would have replaced my schoolyard Charlie the Tuna-themed taunts had I been raised in France instead of America.

These names only sound “different” to me because I have an English-speaking ear. Most, if not all, sound perfectly lovely to a French person. Yes, my (future) children will also be French, but it is preferable that people in my home country could pronounce their names too. So no, I will not be bestowing these “prénoms” on them either.

Boy Names

Fewer fundamentally French boy names seem to have made the jump to English-speaking kids than girl names. Perhaps because Theophile or Guillaume (French version of William) do not lend themselves well to American pronunciations, or because so many popular boy names are deeply rooted in religion (see: Jean-Baptiste and Corentin). My husband’s name is also an American name, but I’ve wondered how our international courtship may have been different if he had been an Octave or Gustave instead.

A few of the boys’ names you’re not likely to encounter on the playground in the U.S. include:

• Hippolyte: A name rooted in Greek mythology and also the name of a saint. Pronounced “ee-po-leet,” in French, but let’s get real your child would be called Hippo for his entire life.
• Lancelot: Kid better have a high tolerance for “round table” themed jokes.
• Titouan: A variation of the name Antoine popular in the Brittany region.
• Gaspard: So French, and just a little too close to Gaston from Beauty and the Beast.
• Clovis: Name of the first king of France who also gave France its name, but sounds aromatic or equine to English ears.

Girl Names

It is harder to find a perplexing French girl name. Just as with everything else, their names are simply more chic in general than us Anglo-Saxons. One of the most popular female baby names right now is Manon, which I’ve never heard in the States, but is still adorable and stylish. Same with the popular Jeanne (French Joan), the Provence-native Lilou and Brittany-region moniker Maëlys (though this name would be a spelling nightmare in America).

However, there are a few girls’ names that may not work well for English-speaking kids including:

• Capucine: Might as well name your kid Frappuccino to American ears.
• Axelle: Middle name has got to be Rose, obviously.
• Océane: Quite common in France, but this nautical name hasn’t caught on in the States.
• Faustine: Meaning lucky or fortunate, but a little harsh sounding when pronounced with an American accent.
• Apolline: This is a popular and chic baby name with Parisian moms right now. It reminds me of Purple Rain and Appolonia, but that isn’t necessarily a negative!

Interested in more French names? You can check out the most popular baby names in France from 2015 and earlier here.

Any eclectic French names you absolutely love? Leave a comment and share!

Soon after moving here, I realized you don’t actually have to speak French very well to have a full life in Paris. If you live with a partner who speaks your language, work in your language and have friends who speak your language, you can get by relatively easily day to day with just “restaurant French.” Now this may sound implausible, but I promise there are a truckload of people doing this in Paris.

The first language program I enrolled in after moving to Paris required you to be a city resident. The majority of students in my class had lived in France for over a year–some as long as six years–and their French was still beginner. They stay for the lifestyle, culture and beauty of the city and have carved out a nice little life for themselves 95% in English, Spanish, Arabic or whatever native tongue they arrived speaking.

Now I’m not advocating remaining French illiterate, especially if you plan to live here long term, and I am working hard to improve my own French. However, I found it interesting how possible it is to speak little French during a normal day in Paris.

That’s not to say life will always be peaches and cream living in a francophone country with your kindergarten French. But if you have little interest in seriously studying French, here are some things you’ll need to get used to and some early decisions that can make your life much easier.

1. Speak English

In Paris you may speak your native tongue at home, at work and with your friends, but if you don’t speak French, you definitely need to speak English. The chances that the shopkeeper on the corner speaks Portuguese, Japanese or Russian are slim to none. However most will be able to muddle through the transaction with you in at least basic, and sometimes very good, English. This is because English is the standard language of tourism in Europe. So when Germans, Swedes, Ukrainians, and other foreign nationals visit France, they generally speak English with the locals as well.

If English isn’t your native language, brush up before boarding the plane. And remember even if you are a native speaker to talk slowly and clearly (but not condescendingly).

2. Accept that everything won’t be perfect

If you can’t explain yourself in detail, that means you’re sometimes going to end up with a result that isn’t exactly to your liking. “Order what you want, eat what you get” is your new motto. Get used to it, and don’t be too picky. You may discover something new you never would have tried otherwise, or you may hate what you end up with, but this is the price you pay for not speaking the language.

And speaking of price, budget in that you’re not going to always be able to bargain hunt. Your life and mental state will be better if you have a little bit of monetary padding so you don’t feel guilty buying that toilet plunger that is a little overpriced to save yourself a major headache.

3. Choose your neighborhood wisely

The first time I lived in Paris, my apartment was over in the 15th arrondissment. A beautiful and clean neighborhood with a view of the Eiffel Tower….and very boring for a young foreigner. Because it is not traditionally a touristy area, the surrounding shops were not used to dealing with English speakers and my bad French was sometimes met with blank stares or annoyance.

My crappy French was obviously not their problem, but if you intend to keep your French crappy, may I suggest a more tourist-hospitable neighborhood such as the Marais, Montmarte or Saint Germain where shopkeepers are used to dealing with a more international clientele.

4. You gotta say “Bonjour”

A little bit of “bonjour” goes a long way in Paris. Just launching into English with a French person is a surefire way to get bad service. It drives French people crazy when someone stops them on the street and immediately speaks English at them. Imagine how jarring it would be if someone came up to you and started asking for directions in Chinese expecting you to respond smoothly.

Enter a store and give a big hearty “bonjour!” before proceeding with your request in English. Or if you’re on the street and have a question, first say “pardon, parlez-vous anglais?” when you stop someone. Speak slowly and show a little deference. You are in their country and asking them a favor after all. French people aren’t all rude, but they also aren’t all bit players in your Paris fantasy here to make your stay wonderful.

5. Rent-a-French

There are “relocation agencies” here that you can pay to help you settle into Paris. They can guide you through the process of navigating the immigration system, finding an apartment, translate government forms for you, go with you to the bank to open an account and other difficult to impossible tasks for non-French speakers.

I haven’t used any myself since my husband is my personal relocation guide, but Entree Paris, Savoir Faire Paris, and Feel Parisien are a few you can check out if you need assistance. Or you can always find yourself a French lover to help, as long as they also speak your native language of course

Do you have any other tips for living abroad without speaking the local language? Leave your tips in the comments below!