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Have you ever heard anyone say that French people are rude?
Did they have any concrete examples to back this statement up, or were they just perpetuating a negative
stereotype? Write down an example of something a "rude French person" might do.
Now think of an example of a negative stereotype you may have heard about an American. Was there any
truth to this stereotype?
Read this article, "The Rude French Myth," then answer the questions that follow.
The Rude French Myth
From Laura K. Lawless,
Your Guide to French Language.
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Are the French really rude, or just misconstrued?
I can't think of a more common stereotype about the French than the one about how rude they are. Even people
who have never set foot in France take it upon themselves to warn potential visitors about the "rude French."
The fact
is that there are polite people and there are rude people in every country, city, and street on Earth. No matter where you
go, no matter who you talk to, if you are rude, they will be rude back. That's just a given, and France is no exception. However,
there is no universal definition of rudeness. Something which is rude in your culture may not be rude in another, and vice
versa. This is the key to understanding the two issues behind the "rude French" myth.
Politeness and respect
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do" are words
to live by.
When you're in France, that means you should make an effort to speak some French. No one expects you to be
fluent, but knowing a few key phrases goes a long way. If nothing else, know how to say bonjour and merci, and
as many polite terms as possible. Don't go to France expecting to be able to speak English to everyone. Don't tap someone on the
shoulder and say "Hey, where's the Louvre?" You wouldn't want a tourist to tap you on the shoulder and start jabbering away
in Spanish or Japanese, right? In any case, English may be the international language, but it is far from being the only language,
and the French in particular expect visitors to know this. In the cities, you will be able to get by with English, but you
should use whatever French you can first, even if it's just Bonjour Monsieur, parlez-vous anglais ?
Related
to this is the "ugly American" syndrome - you know, the tourist who goes around yelling at everyone in English, denouncing
everyone and everything French, and eating at only McDonald's. Showing respect for another culture means enjoying what it
has to offer, rather than searching for signs of one's own home. The French are very proud of their language, culture, and
country. If you are respectful of the French and their heritage, they will respond in kind.
French personality
The other aspect of the "rude French" myth is
based on a misunderstanding of the French personality. People from many cultures smile upon meeting new people, and Americans
in particular smile a lot, in order to be friendly. The French, however, don't smile unless they mean it, and they don't smile
when talking to a perfect stranger. Therefore, when an American smiles at a French person whose face remains impassive, the
former tends to feel that the latter is unfriendly. "How hard would it be to smile back?" the American might wonder. "How
rude!" What you need to understand is that it's not meant to be rude; it's simply the way of the French.
The Rude French?
In summary, if you make
an effort to be polite by speaking a bit of French, asking rather than demanding that people speak English, and showing respect
for French culture, and if you avoid taking it personally when your smile isn't returned, you'll have a hard time finding
the "rude French." In fact, you'll be pleasantly surprised to discover how very friendly and helpful the natives are.
From French.about.com
Answer these comprehension questions:
How did the article reinforce or change your idea of cultural stereotypes?
What was your opinion of the American stereotypes introduced here?
How does knowing about these negative stereotypes help us be more accepting of other cultures?
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