ICEBREAKERS
BRILLIANT!
1. For centuries, the French language has been cherished not just by the French, but also by the millions of scholars who help make it one of the most commonly studied languages on earth. Polly Platt, author of French or Foe and Savoir Flair, made an excellent suggestion for an icebreaker. If you cannot speak French, apologize for that flaw—in French:
Excusez-moi, je ne parle pas français.Excuse me, I do not speak French.
Your apology and your attempt at a phrase or two of French shows respect for the culture and demonstrates your awareness of the importance of the language.
How much do the French revere their language? The Académie française (the French Academy), which monitors and protects la langue français (the French ...
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