SHOW SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITY
RESEARCH AND WRITTEN REPORT
France
Language
In France the official spoken language is French and is the first language of 88% of the population. There are a number of minority languages spoken in France but as minority languages are given no legal recognition in France, French is a necessary second or third language. Other languages spoken as minority languages and dialects include Catalan, Flemish, and Breton. These languages and other dialects are spoken in specific regions and many are products of Frances close borders with other European countries, especially close to the Italian border, a good proportion of the population also speak Italian. Due to France’s migrant population, Arabic is the third largest …show more content…
Be prepared to have flexible time lines because things will often start late, and take much longer than anticipated. Part of the reason for this includes the apparent necessity of social banter prior to discussing the topic at hand. Most businesses are also closed for long periods during the day and this can vary between businesses quite a lot. This is especially true for government offices, so give yourself plenty of time, and several days, if you need to deal with the government bureaus. When attending a social event, do not arrive at the indicated hour, usually a half-hour later is appropriate, or you could catch your host/hostess …show more content…
When entering a store, always greet people with a “bonjour”, make sure to thank them with a “merci”, and always say some variation of “au revoir” on the way out. As English is not a widely spoken language if you plan on visiting regional areas of France, having knowledge of the language is invaluable.
Dressing well will help you acclimate and look less like a tourist. Ripped jeans don’t work and shorts are frowned upon. You don’t have to dress fancily, but do dress well. That means a clean pair of jeans, a cardigan, comfortable but well-maintained walking shoes, a classic dress.
When eating at a restaurant order multiple courses. Make it a full meal, drink the wine and be adventurous. Also place your napkin in your lap immediately after being seated, keep your hands on the table. When eating bread, break it into small pieces instead of biting into the whole piece.
When invited to dinner or meeting a host family, it is proper to bring a gift for your host or hostess. A good and thoughtful gift. A mug with your university logo won’t cut it – make sure it’s classy and practical.
Do be prepared to pay for everything in Paris, even using the toilettes in the bar will cost you.
Business
RESEARCH AND WRITTEN REPORT
France
Language
In France the official spoken language is French and is the first language of 88% of the population. There are a number of minority languages spoken in France but as minority languages are given no legal recognition in France, French is a necessary second or third language. Other languages spoken as minority languages and dialects include Catalan, Flemish, and Breton. These languages and other dialects are spoken in specific regions and many are products of Frances close borders with other European countries, especially close to the Italian border, a good proportion of the population also speak Italian. Due to France’s migrant population, Arabic is the third largest …show more content…
Be prepared to have flexible time lines because things will often start late, and take much longer than anticipated. Part of the reason for this includes the apparent necessity of social banter prior to discussing the topic at hand. Most businesses are also closed for long periods during the day and this can vary between businesses quite a lot. This is especially true for government offices, so give yourself plenty of time, and several days, if you need to deal with the government bureaus. When attending a social event, do not arrive at the indicated hour, usually a half-hour later is appropriate, or you could catch your host/hostess …show more content…
When entering a store, always greet people with a “bonjour”, make sure to thank them with a “merci”, and always say some variation of “au revoir” on the way out. As English is not a widely spoken language if you plan on visiting regional areas of France, having knowledge of the language is invaluable.
Dressing well will help you acclimate and look less like a tourist. Ripped jeans don’t work and shorts are frowned upon. You don’t have to dress fancily, but do dress well. That means a clean pair of jeans, a cardigan, comfortable but well-maintained walking shoes, a classic dress.
When eating at a restaurant order multiple courses. Make it a full meal, drink the wine and be adventurous. Also place your napkin in your lap immediately after being seated, keep your hands on the table. When eating bread, break it into small pieces instead of biting into the whole piece.
When invited to dinner or meeting a host family, it is proper to bring a gift for your host or hostess. A good and thoughtful gift. A mug with your university logo won’t cut it – make sure it’s classy and practical.
Do be prepared to pay for everything in Paris, even using the toilettes in the bar will cost you.
Business