> The main criticism I've heard is kind of the opposite - that they dislike foreigners not trying to speak French, and just starting communication in English.
That’s the case most often, and that’s what most of my friends who lived in Paris say. There’s a (not entirely justified) pervasive feeling that French people can’t speak English properly and they tend to be self-conscious about it.
> If both of these are true then I guess that puts foreigners in a tough place where they're damned if they try and damned if they don't?
It’s different people. Most of them are forgiving, if clumsy, and a few of them are pricks. Just like in any country. A fair few don’t care and you can live perfectly well near Paris for years speaking only a handful of French words.
That’s the case most often, and that’s what most of my friends who lived in Paris say. There’s a (not entirely justified) pervasive feeling that French people can’t speak English properly and they tend to be self-conscious about it.
> If both of these are true then I guess that puts foreigners in a tough place where they're damned if they try and damned if they don't?
It’s different people. Most of them are forgiving, if clumsy, and a few of them are pricks. Just like in any country. A fair few don’t care and you can live perfectly well near Paris for years speaking only a handful of French words.