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Ways to talk to locals when travelling

I'm going on holiday to a French speaking country and pretty much just want to have the opportunity to practice my French as much as I possibly can in the short time I'm there (just a week). Besides things like making small talk with shop assistants and asking pointless questions about products, I can't think of any way of being able to actively practice my French whilst there :/

Would going to somewhere like a youth hostel be a good idea? Could I just stroll in and get chatting to random backpackers? That would be weird though.. Anybody have any ideas?
Reply 1
Avatar for Aack
Aack
Sexy French hotline?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_courage

Dutch courage or liquid courage refers to courage gained from intoxication by alcohol.


Go get 'em tiger.
Speak in French would be a start.
Reply 4
Avatar for yabbayabba
yabbayabba
OP
17
Original post by Vintage <3
Speak in French would be a start.


lol.

....

:rolleyes:
When I went to Spain, I found that asking for help/directions was really useful. You will find that sometimes they will respond in quite a colloquial way, so there will be words that you won't understand first time, but after that you get used to hearing them :smile: Make sure you know a few informal phrases as well as formal; try some colloquial expressions too :smile:
Reply 6
Avatar for superwolf
superwolf
18
You've probably already got accommodation sorted, but staying with a host family is a very good way of getting exposed to the language. I've only ever done it where the whole thing was arranged through a language school, but there are bound to be ways you can sort it out for yourself too.
Original post by yabbayabba
lol.

....

:rolleyes:


:P
Reply 8
Avatar for -raisa
-raisa
The problem with staying in a youth hostel is that you won't really get to talk to LOCALS – just more foreigners (tourists). Talking to random backpackers would probably happen in English...
You could always try taking some of them hostage and hope for Stockholm Syndrome to kick in...
Original post by jerseymackem
You could always try taking some of them hostage and hope for Stockholm Syndrome to kick in...


Hands down the best post I've ever seen on TSR. :biggrin:

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