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that is helpful! and it goes without saying that the vast majority of people in both cities were very nice about my barbarian tongue (maybe a slightly smaller majority in montreal)

I was living in Paris when I read a story in a local magazine about an American artist who had lived in Paris for 20 years, that mentioned her accent more than once. You’ll never speak well enough to not sound like a foreigner.

And go ahead and learn a few words and use them, don’t worry about embarrassing yourself, you’ll never see any of these people ever again.

Someone advised me a long time ago to say "Je vous empris" a lot, and I think it helps.

Quebec is in so many ways not most countries

thinking of this interview with Laura Stacey during the PWHL finals bsky.app/profile/rodg...

Yes, in my travels to Montreal over the years the vast majority hear one word of my absolutely pathetic High School French from like 40 years ago, chuckle, and switch to perfect English. Which in some ways is a shame because I want to practice, but I don't want to waste their time and patience.

Not sure if it still holds, but IME Montrealers can spot a BC French Immersion accent and will play along.

have experienced this in mexico and spain lol

In Paris, we (🇨🇦) were generally treated as favoured children because we did our damn best with our grade school French. Meanwhile, my Canadienne friend gets sass because her perfect Quebecoise French sounds provincial.

This has always been my strategy. Looking sheepish, and making whatever pathetic attempt you can goes a long way. Also, if your interlocutor doesn't speak much English, be willing to communicate through hand gestures rather than becoming frustrated. It can become a kind of fun bonding experience.

... And they all knew I was an American before I opened my mouth because I wore a down jacket at the time & no Parisians were wearing down jackets. /2

In German this also helped me get along meeting new people in Austra, also not renowned for being overly warm and welcoming in general my coworkers admit.

That’s a great hack. I have been berated in Quebec for having a French name and not speaking fluent French.

[Me, smiling, nodding] “ummmm ¿Dónde está la biblioteca?”