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So I've been dating this French girl for a while now, and tomorrow night I'm going over at her house for dinner. I'm meeting her family for the first time,and they all just moved here from France less than a year ago, so of course they all speak French at home. She says they know a lot of English, but are not completely fluent. I barely speak ANY French. I just learned how to introduce myself to try and impress my girlfriend. I don't want to go in and force them to speak English for me, I think that's rude..and having my girlfriend translate for me is a little weird, and I don't think that's fair to her. Help...what do I do?
So I've been dating this French girl for a while now, and tomorrow night I'm going over at her house for dinner. I'm meeting her family for the first time,and they all just moved here from France less than a year ago, so of course they all speak French at home. She says they know a lot of English, but are not completely fluent. I barely speak ANY French. I just learned how to introduce myself to try and impress my girlfriend. I don't want to go in and force them to speak English for me, I think that's rude..and having my girlfriend translate for me is a little weird, and I don't think that's fair to her. Help...what do I do?
Seriously..look at that question. You are going over there tomorrow night. THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO IN SUCH A SHORT TIME! What, do you think you are going to become fluent in French overnite? Just go, be polite, and be understanding when they do their best to speak english to you even if its not the greatest english. They are making an effort so be gracious. That is all you can do.
Seriously..look at that question. You are going over there tomorrow night. THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO IN SUCH A SHORT TIME! What, do you think you are going to become fluent in French overnite? Just go, be polite, and be understanding when they do their best to speak english to you even if its not the greatest english. They are making an effort so be gracious. That is all you can do.
Never said I wanted to learn the language over night.
When i was much younger, i was friends with a French family and but was too intimidated, at the time, to learn to speak their language. We'd have meals together and I would just enjoy the experience of listening to them.
Since you're the boyfriend, just be attentive to your girlfriend, use your best manners, and bring her mother a bouquet of fresh flowers. That's a must.
Oh, and when you dine, keep both hands on top of the table and not in your lap. The French interpret hidden hands as having a hidden agenda or bad intentions. Don't forget.
Never said I wanted to learn the language over night.
Ok..fair enough. But you asked what you should do. What could you possibly do now, at this point? I guess that is the point i was trying to make. It's too late to do ANYTHING. You dont know french, and they speak so-so english.
And nothing will change by tomorrow. So, just go, enjoy yourself, be polite, and maybe both of you can learn a few new words in each other's language. You can use it as a learning experience. They can tell you how to say 'pot-roast' in French, and you can tell them how 'mashed potatoes' is said in english.
Win.
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