TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Bonjour!

Ok that's the extent of my French! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> I will try to learn a few phrases in the next 5 weeks, but with a slight country accent I am going to sound foolish <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />....how will not being able to speak French effect our stay?? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

All the French nationals I have run into in SXM have spoken better English than me, so I think you will be fine

Honestly, I think you will be fine. St. Martiners are very gracious with Americans who don't speak much French.

Just remember to kiss the waiter on both cheeks after a good dinner! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

As long as you greet everyone you encounter you'll have no problems at all. In over forty years I've never had a problem speaking virtually no French at all. That said, a "Bonjour, mon amis" with a big smile will never hurt.

Most of the islanders speak several languages fluently and those you're most apt to encounter in the tourist arena will know what you're saying. Though I must admit, I'd love to hear French spoken with a country twang.

My brother, born and raised in his early life in Newfoundland, moved to the States as a kid and lived in NY until he joined the Navy where he spent his first year and a half in SC before going to Scotland for the balance of his Navy tour. When he finally came home we often weren't certain what language he was speaking and after a few brews, OMG!

Don't worry about your lack of French.....it will be no problem, mon. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Please don't shoot me but I think it's apropos to this post.

It's,"....have spoken better English than "I"...". It's the teacher in me. I can't help it. My former colleagues and I are always doing this.

Merci! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Wow, it's a travel forum and posters shouldn't really have to worry about being called out on their grammar now should they??. Besides, the use of "me" in that sentence is actually correct.

Not to drag this on, but I kind of made light of this by acknowledging that I was nit picking, HOWEVER using 'me" in that sentence is wrong. "I" is the correct subject. "Me" is the object in a sentence.
You wouldn't say, "All the French nationals I have run into in SXM have spoken better English than me do".
It's , "All the French nationals I have run into in SXM have spoken better English than I do".

I think you have just reinforced the point I was trying to make. I'm an engineer not a linguist

Artie, now you know why I frequently bite my tongue. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Wow! I feel like I
Wow! I feel like I'm back in grade school. The nuns always told us that if you are uncertain witch pronoun to use put the verb after it and if it sounds wrong it is and if it sounds right it is. So, if you put do after the me you get me do which sounds very wrong. Therefore I is correct.

Ah, "witch"????? Now that's nitpicking........ <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Yes, I is definitely correct. Now which witch is which? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Good one! I think we're all going stir crazy or "snow" crazy - no pun!

You can teach me about I and me all you like, me will never understand. Did I get that one right?

I noticed my mistake but it was too late. Desole.