Being polite is absolutely essential. Before you go to France, be sure you know how to say "please" and "thank you" at the very least.
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More: Essential French | French vocabulary
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Having read the article on the French Driving Licence, I have to say that the translation is not quite right – the French version is very clumsy to read in places (I am a French native speaker and have been living in the UK for 34 years and languages is my ‘thing’).
Very disappointing!
Chère Laura,
I am a French speaking native, born & raised in France and I think the version you posted is very good about the French drivers license……..
I have a masters degree in French and English.
Thank you for your site and everything you teach in the French language……..
You do an excellent job it is very commendable……..
Adieu,
Jacqueline
alpha7
I’d be interested in reading a version without clumsiness for comparative learning. I’m just learning French and it is most helpful when I hear the same things said in different ways.
As an example:
I’m just learning French. I learn the most when I hear the same things said using a variety sentences and words. I’d love to read a version written by a native speaker so I can learn from the differences.
That said, I’ll get (and so too, others I suspect) the most knowledge if the differences are explained.
alpha7
Désolé. Je voulais dire … une variété de phrases …
Alpha7′s comment smacks of smugness and contempt with no attempt to offer an alternative.
I’d like to vote Alpha7 off the island.
I see my neighbour. I call out cheerily to him with a question as we walk towards each other. When we meet we shake hands and exchange ca va. I then expect him to answer the question, but he doesn’t. I had spoken to him before we had shaken hands, so he had not “heard” me. I repeat the question and he answers it very happily. He is not being rude, he is teaching me politeness. I am a slow learner.