Some teachers may use a bit of humiliation in an effort to motivate their students to do better. Teachers in French tend to be a little bit harder on their students than what we are used to in America. While sometimes this means French people can seem a bit existentialist, we also see this reflected in the way that they value living simply! 7. With such an emphasis on philosophy, it’s no wonder that the culture tends to be very introspective. Kids read the works of philosophers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Simone de Beauvoir. Speaking of philosophy, this subject is integrated into the curriculum at a young age. This is because the French education system places a heavy emphasis on teaching their students a wide range of topics including liberal arts.įrom a young age, students learn the basics like reading, writing and arithmetic, but also theater, music, art appreciation and philosophy. If you’ve met a French person before, maybe you noticed they were remarkably cultured and knowledgeable. If not, you can also always ask! French Education Really, in any situation when you’re not sure about what’s culturally correct, you can probably pick it up from watching the natives. If they lean in for bisous, it’s best to greet them in the same way. If they use tu, you can probably use it too. When interacting with natives, let them take the lead and follow in what they do. It’s as though you’re saying, “Thank you, I know! Aren’t I gorgeous? I’m amazing!”įrench culture places a big emphasis on modesty and humility, so rather than replying to a compliment with “merci,” try something along the lines of, “v ous êtes trop gentille” (you’re too kind). In France, thanking someone after they pay you a compliment is viewed as extremely haughty. It’s also expected that you say goodbye when you leave a conversation. No matter how urgent the situation, make sure the first thing you say to a French person is “bonjour” or another greeting. If you approach someone and immediately ask a question, you will likely come across as rude. Everyone says hello and goodbyeįrench is different from English in the way that you are always expected to give a greeting before proceeding with a question or statement. If you are ever in doubt, use vous and the person will let you know if it’s okay to use tu instead. You will only ever use tu if you know the person really well. To show your respect, refer to the other person using vous (formal you). (Download) What You Should Know About French Culture French Conversationsįormality, hierarchy and authority matter in French conversations.

This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that youĬlick here to get a copy. What You Should Know About French Culture.

This post will give you a better idea of what French culture is like and how you can respect it! Whether you’re traveling to France, inviting a French person into your home or going on a date with a French hottie, it can be intimidating not to know what to expect. 39 French Cultural Facts with Language Tips for Learners and Travelers

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