Do better than Emily in Paris (a French person's take)
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- čas přidán 26. 10. 2020
- Please don’t be as rude as Emily in Paris. Here’s how you can do better than Emily on your next trip to France.
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Emily in Paris is a popular Netflix show. Personally, I don’t think it’s very good. But more importantly, I feel that Emily’s behavior in Paris flies in the face of everything Comme une Française stands for. She is rude, and she doesn’t make any effort to learn about French culture.
I don’t want you to be perceived that way when you visit France. So, let's see how YOU could do better than Emily in Paris. You don’t need to speak perfect French to have a pleasant experience, but you do need to know the basics of polite French conversation.
Take care and stay safe.
😘 from Grenoble, France.
Géraldine
Using "Emily" as a cultural guide would be like using Homer Simpson as a parenting guide!
Natassia M Stelmaszek perfect analogy !
😂😂😂😂😂😂👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏🥂
I will give the writers the benefit of doubt and say the writing was deliberate to portray Emily that way. More like a critic of American culture and its lack of will to learn other people's cultures. For their sake I hope that's the case. If not, it would mean it was written by someone who has no Google or Bing.
and only a moron will criticize the show like its a documentary. Its a comedy geared towards the queer market and those that appreciate CAMPY shows
...or how to operate a nuclear power plant.
Emily would be considered rude in America too .
Lol
Agreed!
Hahaha love this
Agreed!!! 1,000%
Probably everywhere 😂😂😂
When Émilie did not respond with 'bonjour' to the boulangère I though: 'how rude. Not just in France.'
We don't have a lot of bakeries here so I will use cafes as an example, if a barista says "hello" you say "hello" back. I live in the USA
Aah so I wasn't the only one thinking that
That scene genuinely made me so uncomortable! How could you not say "hello" or not even respond to it!? And exactly how you say it not just in France I live in UK but I am from Poland and only really rude people act this way.
I got some bonjours in Quebec City late at night, so I responded bonswer.
Yes. And that is why they showed the boulangere giving her a dirty look. It was about an American making faux pas in France. Americans picked up on the premise of the show. Why can’t you?
"that's not very funny, but well, that's the joke" - that made me laugh more than the actual joke :D
LOL Me too actually!
Was coming here to say the same thing!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Moi, aussi.
Yeah, she desteoyed her in the most elegant way possible. :))
I remember when I went into a coffee shop in Paris (more than 10 years ago!) And my french is not he best but I asked politely for un pain aux raisin and my raisin pronunciation was more on the raison side. The barista very politely corrected my pronunciation and it made me laugh because he made me repeat like in class!! The people queueing behind me were not very amused hahaha but he seemed pleased that I was trying and I appreciate that he was super polite to me and gave me a mini lesson.
Wow, you are a real life Emily !
I did the same thing this week :((
I think that the words which are the same in both language are the hardest to pronounce.
@@da96103 no because Emily never tries to correct herself and learn anything even when all the French people make the effort to help her! She always comes across as rude and lazy.
@@SueRosalie That's true. Emily gives me the Anne Hathaway vibe in Devil Wears Prada.
“Yes, Emily should have learned some French before she came to Paris...*for work*” lol
she should’ve also studied the culture too and french manners too. some actions that wouldn’t be offensive or rude in the states could be considered rude in other countries.
@@nxx4872 yep, like touching items that you give to others with your left hand, or how you use your chopsticks.
The premise was that she was asked last minute to fill in for her boss who did speak French. The plot of the entire series is about a young American girl who is good at her job working in an unfamiliar culture. It is the ENTIRE premise of the series. The fact that the French are up in arms over this sweet show proves their own arrogance about their culture which Americans perceive as rude. Therefore: French stereotypes are apparently true. No French reviewer acknowledged that Emily learns the language and culture as the series progresses. America is on the other end of the world. Our country is large and we don’t have the opportunity to hop on a train and be in another country in 30 minutes. This makes learning another language difficult and a mute point.
@@aoede6766 most Americans shun learning any native American languages despite not being able to throw a rock without hitting a (former) native American tribal land. Nor the current secondary (or primary) language of the region, like for instance Spanish for the former Spanish colonies. This is just a mental imperialism disease you guys inherited from England, it isn't a distance thing (Edit: and in no way is limited to the English speaking world, which is why I specified imperialism.)
Bad shit happens when people get too used to that everyone else have to accommodate them as default.
@@Call-me-Al There is no reason to learn Native American languages. And many Americans in the South are learning Spanish. If French expect people to speak French in their country then we damned well can expect people to speak English when they go to America, England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand. Why? Because the English speaking countries won the wars. If Louis XIV and his empire were still ruling today we’d all be speaking the beautiful French language. Take your cancel culture victim mentality somewhere else. Native American? Are you kidding me?!
It is not only that she fails to say "Bonjour" back when being greeted explicitly, she makes neither an acknowledging eye contact nor does she at least smile at the baker lady. So even if you were not considered to say hello when entering a small shop, I think it is impolite everywhere not to say a greeting back at least with appropriate body language if not in so many words.
Not at all, it is standard in most parts of Asia, but I still consider it to come across as rude. Not acknowledging people's existence is inherently rude, culture or not
@@kireidoll really !? That's strange because whenever I get Asian customers, I tend to feel like they need more eyecontact ! 🤔
I grew up being ignored so I thought for so long it’s actually awkward or weird to interact with people you don’t know
I agree that it seems rude, but I'm an American, and in my French classes growing up I was taught that Americans smile and laugh much more than French people and we would be seen as weird in France for being so "smiley." I don't know whether or not that's actually true.
@@kireidoll yeah I’m from Taiwan and it’s true. It’s a little rude, now that I think about it.
My father and his wife went to France about 20 years ago. He had heard about how rude the French were and he was worried. He knew Merci, Bonjour, & Pardon: His pronunciation was very American. He came back in love with France and the French. He said they were polite and patient with all his struggles communicating. He tried a little and they gave so much more in back. Ten years later, I had the same experience.
I think it's the same everywhere: we know that learning a language can be hard (and that French is a difficult language) but showing that you try and you care is really heartwarming so of course we'll want to help you! The contrary though...
I’ve encountered both rude and nice French people so there’s some truth to it hahaha but I love Paris ❤️❤️❤️
@@ozkurrrmizrahi yeah but I mean that doesn't depend on them being French, unfortunately, rude people are everywhere XD
I had a different experience in Belgium 25 years ago.
Yes, the thing is that there is something called La politesse, it just good manners. If you treat them accordingly they will treat good as well. They are never direct. Bon Jour, excuse moi, svp is mandatory 🙂 I wish everywhere was like this
I visited Paris in 2017. Before going, I learned how to say in French, “Excuse me. Good morning (or evening). I’m sorry, but I don’t speak French. Do you speak English?” The result is that everyone treated me kindly, and even when they didn’t speak English, they still did what they could to help me. Almost everyone taught me how to say things in French, and I learned a lot in just two weeks. I noticed that French people tend not to tolerate rude behavior, and they just stare at the person or ignore him/her until the person behaves well. I loved this!
staring at people/ignoring people when they misbehave... I wish I could tell you how much of my classroom management is based on that.
@@shannonhudgins doing this has a much more powerful effect than yelling at people, doesn’t it?
@@mimesthaisilva8321 very much so. My own kids were in my class (I"m a band director) and when I would get very quiet and just stand there they would start shushing everyone around them. I remember hearing my son say "guys, she's getting mad, this is gonna get scary if you don't hush."
My daughter told me I'm way more scary quiet than loud.
@@shannonhudgins Lol! My mother used this kind of stare too, and it meant, “Wait until we arrive at home”.
Thank you, it's good to be reminded.
She basically did an equivalent of entering a bakery and just saying 'Doughnut'. I find it hard to believe that that is polite in the U.S.. Or any culture.
Actually, in some countries, it's pretty normal just to say directly what you want without all the pleasantries.
@@shaungordon9737 For example?
@@vilena5308 India XD
@@shaungordon9737 i think its common in both the US and here in Brazil, people will go in fast paced places and just ask "can i have a doughnut?"
@@vilena5308 China too. Japan to some extend.
If she thinks French people are being rude I'd love to see "Emily in Glasgow" where she rocks up acting like that :D . Who doesn't say hello and thank you and then goes on about other people being rude?
As a German student currently living in Glasgow, I died of laughter at your comment XD The scene with the plumber would have been beyond hilarious
There would be too much swearing for TV 😂
It’s true they would just say f off
American people does that. Jaja
"It's better to know a few words of politeness and be respectful of the culture than speaking perfect (language), while still ignoring all the cultural differences."
En pointe!!!👍
A simple and necessary yet often overlooked rule for EVERY traveller going ANYWHERE.
I thought the show was an Americans' dream of how a Paris life would be for an American. First get looked down. then the American educate the French. Whenever I visit France and try to speak in French, I could tell they are looking at me like an infant trying to speak, but not in a malicious way. I could tell that they find it funny but adorable. They let me try as much as I could. Also thank you so much for emphasizing on saying "Bonjour" whenever we go to an establishment. It went magical. As a Japanese, I had always been shy and not accustomed to say anything at stores etc. I hadn't known it would be thought as rude. I could tell when I say "Bonjour Madam" they instantly feel more friendly
Here in the US, I would find it rude if someone came into a bakery and just said, “Chocolate cake,” when ordering. When something like that happens here with a non-English speaking tourist, it is bothersome, but I figure that the person is so focused on just trying to say what he/she wants correctly that all else is forgotten. It absolutely sounds rude, though. I definitely agree that saying hello upon entering a business is not as common here (wish it were!) and that you absolutely must greet shopkeepers when you enter a business in France. That’s the first piece of advice I give anyone I know who is traveling to France for the first time. Love these videos! Thank you so much for all of your helpful content! My French is super rusty.
Removing the tourist element, I don't say hello when I enter stores in the US, but I do when addressing anyone for the first time 🤷🏼♀️
@@sophiehatter525 yes that's what you would do most of the time in France too, but in this very scene Emily is alone in the shop and the Baker already told her "Bonjour" so the basic politeness would indeed be to say it back, but you can say bonjour while entering in a store when you're alone, when there are already other customers it depends on the size of the shop or if the clerc is already talking with another customer. If you don't know, it's safe to just that it when you actually have an interaction with the staff (but when in doubt, it's always better to be too polite than not enough).
I think the correct analogy would be if they said chocolate cake please? Would you be offended more than if they said, hello, chocolate cake please,
@@sophiehatter525 I say hello when I make eye contact with a store keeper.
As an American, I agree. But, there’s a bit more to it. It definitely depends on where in the US you live (as a cultural native), but in general, Americans typically avoid bothering other people and do not want to be bothered themselves in public - even in relatively small shops. Pushy, commissioned sales staff have essentially created, or at least accentuated, this cold attitude/behavior. So, it’s not uncommon for customers to avoid eye contact and also to generally avoid disturbing the shopkeeper from whatever they were doing previously. Of course, when eye contact is made and/or the shopkeeper/employee greets them, it would be terribly bad form for the customer not to respond with _at least_ a ‘hello’.
What I do 110% agree with is that the single best piece of advice one can give to prospective travelers to France is to follow these basic rules - even if they can be quite different from the culture from which the visitors originate (e.g., American culture), and thus potentially uncomfortable or counterintuitive.They hold true for most countries, but are especially important in France. Many, quite surprising doors have been opened to me during my travels, simply by being polite and respectful.
"oui, merci, ça sera tout" was something I never actually learned in French class, but I heard the lady in front of me say it when I was visiting France and I'm so excited that I learned something so essential from observation! Merci pour la bonne vidéo
My husband (québécois) and I (an American who immigrated to Québec and is fully fluent in French) only made it through three episodes of that show. It was incredibly frustrating how she kept trying to change the culture of the people around her in her new country, and how she also never seemed to try to seriously learn French (just relying on translation tech and everyone around her speaking English). I get that was supposed to be the joke, but she never seemed to learn how wrong that is. In fac, she was often rewarded for it. It is incredibly rude, self-absorbed behaviour, and the exact opposite of what an immigrant should do. You chose to go there, you learn their culture and their language (share your culure, when appropriate, but don't override their culture with it) -- don't expect them to change for you.
Hey! I’m from Québec and my boyfriend lives with me here and he’s from Australia but he doesn’t know much French but he’s trying to learn. Do you have any advice for learning to understanding how we speak here in Québec, cause I know it can be quite tricky for a foreigner. :)
Well, some aspects of a country's culture always could do with some changes! And, an outsider would bring a new perspective.
@@musik102 There is absolutely nothing the French need to learn from Americans. Maybe from Germans or Swedes.
@@blackalien6873 Really? Now, remind me, who invented CZcams?
@@musik102 the problem is when the outsider who doesn’t even try or put in any effort to learn about someone’s culture feels entitled to changing and criticizing it. There is always upsides and downsides to every culture, but that does not give others the right to change it. If it does, it changes from the people within the community. An example could be the gender inequalities between men and women, which was so ingrained in culture to the point it became law. That only changed when the people within those communities with the same culture strive for change because they know the history, the ideals, the beliefs, and the wisdom of their culture. Emily doesn’t know the language, doesn’t even bother to learn it, insists that the American way of doing things is better, when in fact, it’s just different. One culture is not superior to the other. It’s just different
I'm french and bilingual, and sometime i come across english tourists who are trying really hard to form a correct sentence in french to ask me something, I know how hard it is to speak French so I often answer in a mix of french and English to help them for complicated words :)
europeans realizing what is like to be stereotyped by americans, while latinos asians and africans are laughing in the background being already used to it lol
So accurate 😂
When worlds collide
True
Criticizing and making fun of parisians is our national sport, so you can be sure they're not discovering the feeling with this show 😅
The French are realizing their stereotypes of Americans doesn’t feel right when the shoe is on the other foot. Americans know this is a show that stereotypes. We also know it’s a comedy. The French have no humor. Noted.
In my sole visit to Paris, I found Parisians to be very friendly and helpful. My French was rusty at best, but I tried. Like anywhere, good manners take you a long way.
I do hope to see more of France some day. 😀
Lovely lesson thank you
Ils sont pas méchants
I would be happy to travel with you, Rik; in our experiences, we are twins.
My experience as well.
Did you? Maybe it's my face, but many weren't polite about my lack of French, even if I tried to smile a little, of course greeted, tried French and everything. Not on any trip to France. Most gave me the feeling, I was bothering them and an idiot. So basically the negative cliché. Coming from a country whose inhabitants are said to be direct to the point of being rude myself, you would think, I could tell. :/ Still, I want to visit France again, once we can do so. It can get only better.
As the for the negative cliché (is that the correct spelling?): I do see where an American might get that idea from. Not only from having been a German in France, but from having been to the US before and meeting the stereotypical American: We Germans certainly don't gush over everything and would prefer being waited on but not bothered while dining, for example (To American restaurant owners: yes, there is a difference, as there is between being waited on and getting ignored, and we do recognize that's more on your policies' than on the staff's side). 🙂
There’s a whole book titled, «The Bonjour Effect,« that has lots of tips. Thank you for educating us, Geraldine! J’aime bien votre vidéos
I read that book before I went, and I had a lovely time! I actually managed to have conversations with people.
@@nanettemorton4054 I want to read Geraldine’s recommendation now too
"j'aime bien vos vidéos" ou "votre vidéo" ;-)
@ I appreciate that.
Linguistic differences aside, the rules of politeness when greeting people is very similar to Spanish speakers. I'm Central American and in LA, I make the effort to say 'buenas días', 'buenas tardes', and 'buenas noches' when greeting people or when entering a store. It's just polite and oftentimes, you strike up a conversation. It's just part of the culture. So it's wonderful to see that French culture is very similar. As well as the masculine/feminine rules in the language.
Edit: My mistake was typing 'buenas días'. That's incorrect. It should be 'buenos días'.
I'm Brazilian and it's the same here. It's impolite not say "bom dia" or other forms of greetings when you enter places and totally rude not answer when someone greets you.
Buenos dias
Yes you’re absolutely right Arnold! Spread the word because I prefer when someone from LA greets me with a beso (as we do in France) rather than the ‘normal’ response of ‘you’re not from LA so I wont greet you properly’!!!!!
@@joiceraiana c’est vrai.
@@mwrees slight error on my part. Thank you for pointing it out.
As a tourist, I didn't have the best experience in Paris the couple of times I visited. Bordeaux however, was an absolute godsend.
That aside, I'm Asian and I definitely get the whole politeness thing (hell, we even say 'good morning auntie' to cleaners/stall owners/etc. we randomly pass by who are NOT our aunties, lol). But I suppose the biggest difference I've noticed is that whilst we have all these unspoken rule for politeness, we don't have the expectation for visitors to know them. So when they don't do or say the socially correct thing, we don't hold it against them. When I was stopped by a French family who were trying to, in less than stellar English, ask for direction, my first instinct isn't to immediately correct them. I simply try my best to direct them to their destination. The fact that they're lost in an unfamiliar environment must already be distressing enough, there's no need to make them feel worse. I understand there's a different expectation for expats, but often it's hard to tell who's an expat and who's a tourist. So we let the expats here absorb the culture over time and let the people around them (their coworkers, their friends, etc.) guide them to it instead of strangers in the shop or the street. And I suppose that in itself, that expectation, is perhaps the biggest cultural difference between Paris and many other cities.
Also - I can confirm that not all Europeans say hello or good morning, etc. when they're visiting other countries. In fact the ones who seem to always say hello,etc. are the Australians, Americans, British and of course, the Canadians. Not a call-out - just an observation that perhaps, people are simply more likely to remember their manners when they're in an environment that shares their language.
@@OpiumBride Well, I am a Chinese tourist, before I went to Paris couple of years ago, I did my homework and learned that you must say "bonjour"or"bonsoir" when starting a conversation. Overall I had a really good experience there, I don't know why are those words so magical, but people seemed to tolerate my very bad french, and happy to communicate with me the best they can.
Dude this is so weird, I’m brazilian and in Brazil we also call random people (mostly staff) “tia” or “tio” which means aunt/uncle LOL
@@leticiafarina9165 onde você mora? Nunca vi ninguém chamar um estranho de tia ou tio...
Cultural gap , to be polite in France is to show respect not to overly ( fakely) friendly .
@@NataliaPessoaXOXOMAKE aqui no rio quando alguma criança chega pra pedir alguma coisa, geralmente fala "tio" ou "tia"
ex: tio, passa a bola! / tia, me compra um lanche?
A simple "bonjour" can do magic, I'm not sure if you've seen this meme made of a sign in front of the cafe: prix du café en terrasse: "un café" 7€, "un café, s'il vous plaît" 4,25€, "bonjour, un café, s'il vous plaît" 1,40€ 😀😀😀 well, at least you tried and it's worth it 😉
Edit: wow, thanks for so many 👍, guys! 💜
I hate that meme by the way, I live in Paris every time I see this meme I do not enter the shop. I always say “bonjour un café s il vous plait” but this meme is rude to me. I am a shopkeeper myself and am polite with customers whatever their level of politeness, at the end of the day their money makes me live. How rude is it to state that THEY should be polite, (even if they indeed should) much better to have a sign that says “bonjour, vous êtes les bienvenus” than a sign asking them to say bonjour first ... Parisian non sens to me ...
@@washizukanorico You're absolutely right, we all should be polite everyday and everytime, not just because somebody tells us to be so. But of course, not all of us are. I had a similar situation in a shop recently as I was waiting behind the guy who was asking the staff for something from the counter and he didn't even say "good morning" or "please", just the name of the thing he wanted. I felt offended even though he wasn't talking to me but to the lady behind the counter. I keep on telling myself that it was too early in the morning for him and he was not fully awake yet but of course it's just a bitter joke. Please, let's be nice to each other, guys, it costs you nothing. Wishing you a nice day 👍
Nearly the same shop sign circulated as a meme in Turkey too, it was about tea though XD
@@washizukanorico I disagree. There's so many adult people walking around that still haven't yet learned how to be polite to other fellow humans. A bit of reeducation does them good imo.
@@rickymartin4457 appart from the very fact that this “re-education” is being not polite in the first place ... you don t fight fire with fire, that makes you as bad as they are
I often just start by apologizing for my lack of French and then try and speak it to the best of my abilities, or just say it in English if I have a back-out. So far every French person has been nice, helpful and patient!
Dear Géraldine,
I moved to Paris 7 years ago. The boulangerie scene.... That was me in tears when the boulanger corrected my un, une, in fact she also repeated bonjour to me several times and to me (7 years ago) that was so passive-aggressive, and I had never experienced it before (and I had lived in 2 more foreign countries).
I see there's a ton of reaction to this mediocre Netflix series which should not even be worthy of any discussion.. But in all fairness, all clichés aside,... There are moments in the series with which an expat like me relates to.
As another expat in Paris, I can agree that there are many very relatable moments in the series for EXPATS. I don't see how the French or Parisians would be able to relate to Emily's experience. She does however, need to learn some basic manners!
Actually, you were very lucky to have such a kind person teaching you how to avoid massive social gaffes in France. Most French would not care.
I think Emily was rude and childish in the series, and saying bonjour is the norm, so I think everyone should do it, but indeed there are times that french people tend to be unecessarily rude, in their defense Ive had similar experiences in other places in Europe, lile in the Netherlands. But in both countries, I do find that its a small minority that is really rude.
That’s pretty relatable Mariza . Love 💕
Every single time someone corrected my French in Paris I thought the person was being helpful. They were always patient with my attempts at correcting my pronunciation and helped me through it. If I had had to pay for that kind of tutoring, I wouldn’t have had money to travel to Paris. What I mean is that it’s all in our minds to gladly receive help or think we’re being treated badly. And their behavior is not passive aggressive. They’re very actively guiding you.
As you said Emily should learn some french before working in France, I would like to see french people learn other language before working in another country lol
Here in Hong Kong, french people still expecting local speak french 😂 zero effort given.
lol
Here in Hungary many French expect Hungarians to speak their language as well. So, I guess there's some hypocrisy here😁
French are well known for this. They usually speak terrible English (if they do at all)
we hav chinese pl working in my country and none of them speak any laguage other than manderine PS: they work as OB/GYN and most of us local ppl are fluent in french and english i always thought it was weird
well that's the plot .. her boss who speaks french was supposed to go but couldn't so emily was a last minute fill in. I'm not saying the show is great but they have an excuse here
I have to say, that even the "gentleman" who robbed me in Lyon was very polite about my poor French and assisted me with a few tips. A bad experience, or a good one? Who can say?
Wait what? 😂😂 omg
That's hilarious 😆
@@aimeeelizabethj I didn't think so at the time, but c'est bon. Now I laugh about it. We were at Place Carnot, walking to Bellecour.
What an interesting experience
@@michaelrice500 what happened?
As somebody named Emily who lived in Paris, I'm afraid to watch this Netflix show hahaha ;D (my biggest problem was trying to have people respond in French when I spoke French :( I had a wonderful host lady though who helped a ton- and your videos!)
My husband & I watched a review of the first episode of the show on the streetfrench.org CZcams channel. The couple lives in Paris. We don’t have Netflix anymore. At least from what little we saw of the first episode there was very little French being spoken.
My friend who lives in Paris says "sure, it has a few stereotypes... but it's a tv show, not a documentary... just Chill" I've never lived in france (just visited) and the show made me want to go back reaaaaally bad ;-)
The people who criticize the show as horrible are morons! The Tittle Alone is a Clue, ITS A Comedy and a SATiRe! morons do not know what Satire means!!!! Emily is beautiful. People would still want to have sex with her. Unless you are gay. the show is about Sex and Social Media.
@@eduardochavacano I find it very hard to find the show funny when they are so many racists comments and jokes in it. Making the only asian character say it doesn't help. One, because she is clearly not even Chinese and is blatantly insulting China, and two, because the writers of the show are all white.
The sleeping with an underage boy and talking to the mother about it is very far from funny either. I'm not really sure what comedy you're referring to, but clearly my sense of humor is very different from yours. It's a very dull show that makes no sense at all and with no character development either as a redeeming feature.
“Culture Shock: France” is the book which saved me as I was posted to Paris on short notice. I landed not speaking a word but now am comfortable in almost any situation. Because I didn’t learn French at university I lack a lot of written skills so spelling is a problem for me. Other than that I aggressively started into French classes soon after my arrival to get me going. It took me about 3 months to get a foothold and 6 months to become comfortable.
I noticed that too. When she simply said "un pain au chocolat" I just thought " uh oh, not good. Not good at all". Thanks to the French I've been more polite in any language I speak
About 30 years ago I’ve lived in Paris for a year to learn French. Almost nobody could speak English back then so my French improved very quickly. 😏 In the beginning I had a daily bakery struggle like Emily because she pretended not to understand me unless I said it perfectly and corrected me all the time. So that was very frustrating. But when I could finally have conversations in French I confronted her about that. Her response was ‘but now you speak French correctly thanks to me’ and we became friends. I have to say that I did say bonjour and merci all the time..Now I can have conversations in French AND understand the French way of thinking. I can understand that the French don’t like the show that much but I thought it was funny and some situations do happen in real life.
I have been practicing my French with your ten day every day crash course and I have learned a lot from it
Before visiting any country, ‘hello’, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ are the first words that I practice and be sure to memorize. Not only are they culturally important, but they also aid in general communication, as these words confirm that the other party is ready to discuss whatever matter is at hand, clarify that a question is being asked (rather than a statement) and signify the end of the key information.
As an illustrative example, in Deaf culture, it’s important to confirm that the other party is (actually) looking at you before you ask a question or express your thoughts. Then, when the end of the current conversation is signified, it permits the other party to engage in other conversations. Computer networks also operate in this manner, for similar reasons.
Five years ago I visited Paris after I had just three months of French tutoring. I am an older lady and learning even a few words of a new language is difficult for me. I went into a little shop to buy souvenirs for my family and I made a heroic attempt to communicate in French. My words were halting, probably incorrect, and my pronunciation would definitely be called “Texas accent” LOL. But I honestly tried and as I left the shop, the shopkeeper stopped me and gave me two little key rings as a gift! I was stunned and effusive in my “Merci beau coups”. Later when I related that story to my tutor she was amazed and said she’d never heard of such a thing happening in Paris!
The French and the Americans most definitely have different styles when it come to exchanging pleasantries. This was informative.
French are very abrasive and closed minded
@@jnewmark41 i can't stand those pricks, they are still debating abortion right ;)
@@jnewmark41 What makes you say that?
@@jnewmark41 Then do us all a favour and stay at home if you cannot tolerate cultural differences.
@@jnewmark41 No doubt the French would find your mentality likewise.
I like that you give language instruction, too. Merci! 💓
could you do more of these videos, if you enjoy them? where you analyse mistakes or misunderstandings of french portrayal in the media !! it’s so interesting and helpful - thank you so much for your videos 💗
The advice about greeting shopkeepers was one of the best tips that I got. I struggle with understanding unexpected questions, but most people were so willing to help me when I made the attempt.
Yesterday, I made the decision to return to my French from high school and college, having lived in Germany and learned German in the meantime. CZcams suggested your channel, and in just this video, I was hooked! I just bought your first course, and I'm very excited!
I am so pleased to have found your channel. Thank you for making such a helpful video. I'm looking forward to learning more from you 😊
The writing is banal and the whole concept based on stereotypes of both cultures. I cannot imagine any firm would send someone to another country without paying for some kind of crash course in language and culture, especially if they want to do business in that country. Dix Pour Cent is far better.
dix pour cent🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Maybe that was the whole point--highlighting the contrast in cultural stereotypes, in which case 'correcting' every faux pas committed by Emily defeats the writer's purpose for this project. But that's just a guess on my part. I find Americans rude in general, wherever one may encounter them.
Especially marketing where it's vital that you know your customer and thus, the culture, at least some understanding of language, etc
@@writerforlifeify americans are rude? guess you never went to uk
@@johnsmith-ko4ky Nope, never been to UK. Obnoxious, are they?
I think it’s interesting how French people will help you fix your pronunciation. In America (well, depending on where you live I guess) we’re used to hearing English spoken by non-native speakers, so we typically wouldn’t correct anyone’s English. I’ll have to remind myself if I’m corrected when in France, it’s not personal, just helpful. Thanks for this vid, would love to see more lessons using Emily examples!
I was, many years ago, told by a shop assistant in Seattle that I spoke English very well and that there'd been a "gentleman in from Finland last week and he spoke English very well too". Coming from the Commonwealth, I was a little surprised.
I think there is more "correct way" of saying something in English than saying something in French. But maybe French Canadians beg to differ.
@@2nolhta you’re right, it typically is more about saying something with the right grammar as opposed to pronunciation. I find myself correcting native English speaker’s (and my own) pronunciation more often than not, LOL.
Thank you for explaining so well. Sometimes cultural understanding is more important than academic understanding .
Just discovered your channel and I absolutely love it. Motivates me to improve my french speaking skills. 🌷
You have such great energy. That energy is infectious and captivating.
Merci beaucoup🙏
I'm Russian, but I guess it is not polite do not say any greeting words in any culture. It's more about polite at all not just cultural differences))
Great video Geraldine, love your newer background look!
Your lessons are so helpful to me!! Thank you for how you give context to situations and to speaking French.
When she walked into that shop and didn't say "bonjour! Je voudrais..." As someone who has been to France a bunch of times, that felt really unauthentic to how you'd speak with a shopowner or someone inside a small business. It's really sad and too bad that so many French cultural missteps are committed in this show. Guess it's all about the $$$.
The character Emily was rude even by American standards. We usually will reply hello when greeted and should say please when asking for something. Or was that just the way I was raised?!
Love your channel! I'm learning french for my grandmother. French is her first language, so I want to be able to talk with her in her native tongue. Merci beaucoup pour cette information ! ❤
No, we don’t say hello to store workers when we walk in.
@@aoede6766 of course you say hello when you get ready to talk to someone.
This is a priceless lesson. It's gold. To learn from the mistakes from an actual series is like fixing mistakes in real time. We, as students of French are shown the poor example so that we can then put ourselves in a similar position to make a better decision in conversation. Excellent! I'm an abstract learner so this is extremely helpful for me indeed!
I love how you used something current as your example of how to speak everyday french!
Thank you for your encouragement with regard to the value of making mistakes and learning from them. To quote a friend who resides in France, "Il y a de l'or dans l'erreur."
French people here !
Je comprends que certains anglophones soient frustrés qu'on leur réponde en anglais quand ils nous parlent en français. Je pense que ça vient de deux choses :
1. Tout le monde, y compris nos professeurs d'anglais, nous dit qu'on parle vraiment mal anglais, donc les français aiment bien montrer que ce n'est pas le cas.
2. Répondre dans la langue de notre interlocuteur si on la connait est vu comme très polie dans pleins de milieux sociaux, ça montre qu'on se soucie de lui/d'elle.
Tips : continue to speak en french, eventually we get it and answer back in French x)
At first I was taken aback. I thought they didn't understand my pronunciation, or were impatient, or were just being rude. Then I decided to look at it differently: I would continue in French and thank (or even compliment) them for their English. I figured they either just wanted to practice their English or were just being polite. And in changing how I saw it, I gained a few French friends along the way. That was 11 years ago when I first arrived. I'm still friends with "my" first boulangère! We even correct each other now! mdr
Et pour être honnête, je le fais moi-même quand je vois quelqu'un qui a du mal à parler anglais ... si je connais sa langue (espagnol, français, ou italien). C'est normal. 😊
c'est fou!!! Quand j'ai vécu dans le sud, je n'ai jamais eu personne qui passe à l'anglais pour moi (je ne voulais pas qu'ils le fassent), certains étudiants américains très américanisés se sont fait dire de « rentrer à la maison ». Dans d’autres situations, si un accent non français était détecté, on nous donnerait les mauvaises directions (même par les chauffeurs de bus) ... Vous parlez juste de Paris? Ou la France a-t-elle changé?
@@biancawilliams2995 Je pense c'est à la fois régional mais ca dépend aussi de l époque et de sur qui vous tombez. Ajd plus de français parlent anglais peut-etre sont-ils plus ouverts? Ce cas m'a l'air un peu extrême c'est assez regrettable. Personnellement si je vois que quelqu'un a du mal en français, je lui parlerait en anglais instinctivement, peut-être même si elle parle un bon français mais que l'anglais est sa langue native simplement parce que ça ne me dérange pas de parler en anglais, et je trouve ça plus polie de répondre dans la langue native si possible
vous avez effectivement un anglais de merde, en général. mais les anglos adorent l'accent alors ils vous pardonnent immédiatement ;) et puis d'habitude c'est très bien quand même, on comprend bien. au québec, si on parle français c'est mieux vu de continuer en français, parce qu'historiquement les anglophones n'apprennaient pas la langue et on se retrouvait obligé à parler anglais même en grande majorité québécoise. c'est un peu vu comme une oppression. certains sont assez défensifs.... xD
I worked in small boutiques for many years (north east USA) and it was a common behavior for women to ignore me when I said "hello" when they entered my shop. If they were alone, sometimes they would say Hello. But if they were a couple or a group, nearly always was ignored. Men however were always polite and said Hello. Idk why. Eye contact was also hard to come by.
Merci for this channel. It makes me miss my French grandmother and speaking French in school. I studied a few languages and cultures over the years and French was always closest to my soul. 💜
The way you communicate is so thoughtful and comprehensive, it is sincerely a pleasure to listen to your explanations and follow your thought process. Thank you.
I'm learning French (or at least basic french and french culture) more of an interest than a necessity so content like this is highly appreciated. Merci!
@MrTherealpad Bonjour! merci beaucoup. You are very kind. I appreciate your advice and hope to see you soon too. a plus!
It's just common courtesy in any country to say "hello" when entering a store before making a request, much less not answering when anyone says hello to you. Please and thank you is universal.
Thank you for this lesson! I love to know the subtlety of languages. Especially when I’m not confident I would still like to know that I’m not being rude.
I would love to hear you real-time commentary over the full episode where what they speak is subtitled and your audio is louder and also subtitled. ( I am an advocate for ASL and closed captioning) Your details and examples made it very memorable to learn.
I really love the fact that French take the time to help us with their language. Older learner like me really need alot of help!
I lived in France for 6 years, most of the time no locals appreciate any try, I had countless of bad experiences for not having a proper pronunciation, it was quite a challenge.
Bonjour Geraldine. Ça fait longtemps que j'ai pas regardé tes vidéos, car tes conseils me semblent aujourd'hui des évidences. Mais c'est surtout grâce à toi !!! Tes petits cours ont été une véritable mine d'or à mon arrivée en France, plein des conseils que je n'avais pas trouvés ailleurs et qui m'ont aidé à avancer et à m'intégrer à une vitesse incroyable. Donc j'en profite, 7 ans plus tard, pour te dire un grand MERCI !!!
I love this. Will use this video as an induction for my classes. Merci bien pour cette vidéo et les explications
Oui. I always said "bonjour" when entering the bakery near my flat in Poitiers. But for me, it was fun and polite and a basic cultural custom that I enjoyed. Living en France was a great learning experience pour moi. ❤️
Géraldine! Thank you for your explanation on this. I think it would be really interesting if you spoke on each the things that are incorrect or culturally wrong in France in this show. Like a series since pretty much episode has a lot of cringy moments lol.
I understand the joke is that she is fish out of water, but some parts were strange and try-hard and this is speaking as an American. For example, the part she tries to return her steak because it is “raw”.
She would need multi-episodes to cover that! I just can't believe how they could have made this - it almost seems a parody of the most ethnocentric US takes on France from the 50's and 60's.
As a simple explanation the French tend to prefer their steak a lot less well done than Americans or British. (in general but there are exceptions; some English and Americans like their steak "bleu" but in general most don't in my experience) I went to France and my hosts were really excited about serving me steak as they thought I would love this as a Brit. I thought "great". When it came it was what I would describe as virtually raw, and unfortunately I don't like vinegar either and they had put a dressing on it. I literally heaved looking at it. I tried to eat some; it literally wouldn't go down. I still said how nice it was and that I was really sorry I couldn't manage any more as I had eaten on the plane! The other thing in the steak incident is that the French are also very proud of their cuisine, ( and also their wine); and food and drink in France pretty much amount to an art form. So to criticize a chef (even if you are the customer) is not necessarily ok. Isn't it up to us to adapt to someone else's culture rather than expect them to be like us? The first thing to do is to give the dish a try ( in my case I did that) You may find that you like it and if you don't still be polite even in a restaurant and just go for something which will probably suit your tastes better the next time such as a fish dish or a vegetarian dish. I would be insulted if someone came to the UK, ate a traditional roast beef dinner cooked to (British) perfection by a British chef and sent it back because it was "overcooked" That is the equivalent of what Emily did.
I like this style of teaching! Thanks!
Love your content. Thank you for sharing this beautiful language with the world. Merci from San Francisco. 💕
When I was growing up in the 1960s there was a phrase coined from a book; "the ugly American." This show exemplifies the concept. Emily doesn't arrive in France with any knowledge of the culture or the language. It is embarrassing to me that Emily is so unconscious of her rudeness. The scene where she says "The customer is always right" and sends back her food untested was so embarrassing and wrong headed. She was unteachable. I find the show very squirm-worthy.
When I go to the boulangerie, I say "Bonjour, une tradition s'il vous plait" " Merci, au revoir" or "Merci, bonne journée". I'm 62, I rarely feel the need to say "Bonjour Monsieur" or Bonjour Madame" a simple "Bonjour" is enough.. When I enter a shop or a waiting room with several people I will say "Bonjour Messieurs Dames" or the very casual " ' M'ssieurs Dames" ( I'm French).
You're expected to say "bonjour" whenever you address somebody, not only shopkeepers. If you rent an appartment, say "bonjour" to your neighbours if you see them on the landing.
This was super helpful! Merci beaucoup!
I'm glad you're here to instruct us correctly! Thank you👍👍👍
As someone who works in retail I can tell this boulangère is very nice to Emily. I would have stood my grounds and repeat "bonjour" until she cried, same with "ça sera tout". XD I love her eye-rolling, that's typical French too.
I feel like yeah, French people don't really care about your level in the language, if you are polite and butcher words, it's fine, we'll help, especially if we speak your language, we'll meet you in the middle, BUT, if you are rude yet with perfect prununciation, we'll be rude back. Tourist or not.
My record is saying "bonjour" 8 times until someone said it back, the guy said "Nan mais je regarde (No, I'm just looking)" to which I said "Oui et moi je dis juste bonjour (Yes, well I'm just saying bonjour)"
Also tip for people who want to be left alone in a store : Say Bonjour, I know many sellers that will NOT leave you alone if you did not as a way of "retaliation". You may be met with a "Comment puis-je vous aider (how may I help you)?"; simply reply "Je regarde, c'est gentil, merci (I'm just looking, you are very kind, thank you)". And if you end up needing help, just say "Excusez-moi" and ask your question. Chances are you'll get a big smile and a very helpful retailer. It's as simple as that =)
I wish I had tried this kind of approach when I was in hospitality and service industry jobs! There are some major differences in cultures that visit the area I worked in and so many people I worked with would quit before being rude back to rude customers. My sarcasm probably went over their head because of the language barrier but it helped carry me through. Like. Just try to learn a few words, thats all anybody really wants, right!?
8 times? that's so damn funny
@@CitrineDream On a different tone everytime, just o make sure he was ignoring me. :'D
@@CassieAStone I made a point to always stay extra polite so they could not accuse me of being rude but realise THEY were. As they say, kill them with kindness. :D
@@Titemaud that's your idea of being polite?
When in Paris I’ve always been very well treated, you just need to have good manners, saying Bonjour, je vous en prie, merci, pardon, je suis désolé, etc... it’s a must. Understanding that you are in the most touristic place in the world and trying not to bother the locals with questions that can be answered by google it’s also a good ideia.
Omg! I just stumbled upon your videos and found them easier to learn French from you. You made it so easy and simple 😉 Merci beaucoup 🙏🏻 Btw, hello, please and thank you are the basic manners all over the world.
Love your camera presence. Subscribed!
I didn't expect much coming from those who brought us the "New York" of Sex and the City lol. I read some reviews of Emily in French, and they think
My only bad experience with french was in Metz, my plus size self entered a large scale lingerie store and when I asksd help to find my size the sales lady gave me one low look and started telling me "we don't have anything for you, you are too large" in a loud voice and proceeded telling all her other colleagues, in front of costumers at the cashier's line, "it's not possible, there's nothing here!". I was so ashamed and humiliated. I gave the pieces I had doubt about back to the cashier and left. I'VE NEVER BEEN TREATED LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE. I've visited 5+ countries, never, ever, anything like this. I was polite in my bare french, the sizes I had chosen I'm sure one would have fitted me. After that, I'm not shopping for clothes in France. German and Dutch are far more helpful and polite. And they have better respect for larger ppl.
I’m so sorry you had this experience. In all the times I’ve visited Paris, I’ve never encountered rude people. Perhaps I’m just lucky. One thing to keep in mind is that French people tend to be frank (no pun) when talking with people. What we in the U.S. would consider crossing the line, French people may be more forthcoming. I don’t mean to excuse those who offended you, but perhaps, just perhaps, no offense was intended.
@@KevinPeffley I live in the Netherlands, I'm well versed in frank-ness. There's nothing which can justify that woman's attitude.
Ok so your ONE TIME experience in ONE shop defines your idea of France. That's great. There are rude people everywhere.
@@jinshenka As a plus size costumer (size48-50EU), this was just the final straw. Clothing shopping in France isn't an option. Still love the fragrances, though.
The French are genuinely really fatphobic, it’s a terrible shame
I need more video like this, I love how interactive it is and I learned a lot about the culture as well!
Bonjour Geraldine! I love your YT channel ...I visited Paris in 2017 with two friends. I loved it! My friend hates it...but I noticed because I made an effort to speak French at cafes, bistros and museums I was treated much better than my friend who thought the French were rude to her....now I know for sure a little French goes a long way! ...greetings from Los Angeles!
I cringed every time she said "Savoir", with the rigid R sound. It hurt my ears to hear it.
I get so triggered when she says “merde” with that same R sound.
That's such a common mistake among French learners though, they try so hard to master that r that they actually force it too much so I'm OK with that, at least they're trying. The scene that really made me cringe the most is either the preservatives one or the one when the mother asked about her son's sexual performances 😬.
I took French in school for 5 years and I still don't understand how the r is pronounced...
@@naritruwireve1381 try purring. i'm not joking. you kinda have to rrrr with the back of the throat like a cat. the you do that and pronounce the vowel with it. it's typically the hardest thing for english speaker and it's ok not to really know
@@naritruwireve1381 🤣🤣🤣🍷
Emily in Paris m'a fait rire. Of course it's full of stereotypes, it's an American show. It's fun and entertaining and not to be taken over seriously. So all the criticism or picking at it, in the end, shouldn't be taken too seriously. Mais bravo pour un approche different pour enseigner le francais. And your English is outstanding.
Merci, Geraldine! Sensa, comme d’hab! Je montre souvent vos leçons à mes élèves.
I loved this. Do you have more? These are excellent learning experiences
From my experience bakers correcting me each time I said "UNE pain au chocolat" and "UN baguette" is accurate XD. Happened to me several times.
I will never forget one of the first lessons I learnt in Paris, when I asked for un Baguette - the boulangere certainly made it clear that it was pronounced UNE baguette Madame, UNE Baguette!
Thanks for the points. Although I had the impression that Emily's cultural blunders were intentionally written, considering a large part of the tension in the show is the cultural conflict between her and her french colleagues/peers.
Really educative video! I’m not really into French, but it’s always nice to learn something new that helps to avoid or soften the culture shocks 😊
I live in Sweden and there is also rude to not say “Hej” when entering a shop.
Unrelated to the theme of the video, I can see that you have Mexican stuff, so nice! 😁
The advice in this video is spot on. Once I realized (after far too many trips to Paris) that this kind of small talk is vital, even if you have precious little French, as I did, my experiences in Paris changed immeasurably.
A useful way to use French is learning the phrase "Sorry, I don't speak French" in a decent French pronunciation. I did that once for a different language (czech) and - it was very funny and people were very friendly, too.
Unlike the French, Czech people never expect anyone visiting their country to speak their language. If someone tries to learn their language a little, they are then understandably very happy.
Hey, I'm Italian, we got pineapple pizza, accept your version of Midwest Paris and suffer with us😅
Loool 😂😂😔
'Pineapple pizza'? Are you Italian or 'Italian' 6 generations removed in the US'?
I live in Italy (Napoli, the original home of the pizza) and we definitely do NOT have pineapple pizza! 😖
😂😂
F Bordewijk I think you missed the joke...
Great video. First time for me in this channel. She tries to teach us French at the same time that comments on the series, awesome!
Bonjour ! Je suis tellement heureuse d'avoir trouvé par hasard votre chaîne CZcams ! Je suis américaine et j'ai bientôt fini ma maîtrise de français. Je viens de m'abonner et j'ai tellement envie de partager vos vidéos avec mes étudiants de français. Merci beaucoup !!
Mais Geraldine The point of Emily is to show the contrast. I'm an American et j'adore Emily. Literally every time she messes up I fill in her answer, Je dis merci. Emily later is seen taking pictures with the boulanger. When I was last in Paris I taught my wife to say pain au chocolat and she went over to the local boulanger for one. She messed up and was corrected, just like in the show. Oui c'est awkward but it's the contrast that makes it fun to watch. As an American I see the difference otherwise i might have missed it if she was completely proper. Mais je comprends que vous essayer de nous enseigner la bonne msniere. Merci.
Good analysis.
The thing is so weird that she is suposedly an expert in social media, so the first thing to do is to learn a bit of the country you are going to live in, I really don't understand how this people managed to do the serie so bad. jajaja although they put the effort just in clothes.
I love that, even when everyone seems to hate this show, you're positive about the opportunity to learn :) New subscriber here
Merci! This is the best reaction to Emily show. I learned something! 😊
I had heard many good things about this show and was surprised; I couldn't even get through the entire first episode.
Me neither. Unbearable,
It gets better after the first episode. If not for my wife, I would not have watched past the first either, but I did and I’m glad. If nothing else, seeing parts of the city makes me want to return again, as soon as COVID impacts are significantly less (whenever that may be).
@@btowles1970 glad it worked out for you.
I've always found that a couple of greetings at the beginning of an interaction and a couple of thank-yous/goodbyes at the end meant that shopkeepers would forgive almost anything else during the exchange. The French/Parisian intolerance of bad French attempts is a stereotype I've never even witnessed. P.S. How is it possible that Emily's fashion gets w̲o̲r̲s̲e̲ as she begins to wear more and more Chanel!?
it happens. a few years ago, in paris, we wanted to order some tea. even after saying bonjour and je voudrais and svp, a young woman working behind the counter, absolutely refused to understand our way of saying 'thé'. after several attempts, we gave up and left that charming cafe because she was the opposite of charming, simply a stereotypical rude french, who seemed very pleased with herself for not serving american tourists.
Great! This lesson is very very good! Many thanks for sharing. 🥰👩💻
Bonjour Géraldine! I loved watching this video and discovering more about French culture and pronunciation. I would love to see more scenes from "Emily in Paris" commented by you. I think it would be very helpful for many people that are currently studying French. Merci beaucoup!