French Phrases help

[Penny]

I am taking a short French class two 1 1/2 hour sessions.
French for Travelers.

I'm sure the teacher will have a lesson plan. However can anyone think of simple (out of the ordinary) phrases that would be good to know? Or anything that may have changed in the last couple of years?

The only example I can think of is purchasing museum passes. When I went in 1997 and 2000 you bought 1, 3, ?. Now they are in 2 day increments.

Two things in particular I want to know is how to ask for is a small amount of cheese and a half kilo (such as apples). LOL for brie I just make a triangle of my index fingers and thumbs.

And responses, how does a cashier/clerk say 4,51 (for what you owe)? Here it they would say your total is four fifty-one or four dollars and fifty-one cents.

I found this class through FunEd at a reasonable price. The two junior colleges closest to me do not offer French.

Thanks

[Shoesy]

Hi Penny ! So nice to see you again!
Does the fact that you're taking French lessons mean that you have a trip to Paris planned? ;D

[Anne]

Oct 20, 2010 11:59:23 GMT -5 Penny said:

Two things in particular I want to know is how to ask for is a small amount of cheese and a half kilo (such as apples). LOL for brie I just make a triangle of my index fingers and thumbs.

And responses, how does a cashier/clerk say 4,51 (for what you owe)? Here it they would say your total is four fifty-one or four dollars and fifty-one cents.

For the cheese you just say "un petit morceau de fromage" or else "un petit peu de fromage" if it is some soft cheese that cannot be cut.

For half a kilo you can ask either "une livre de ..." or "cinq cent grammes de...".

For the money that you owe, there are many ways to ask it but often the cashier will say "ça fait (or fera) quatre euros cinquante et un centimes" . The "euros" and "centimes" words are sometimes omitted, sometimes even the beginning of the phrase is omitted too.

[mossie]

Anne, in Paris they just generally rattle off the numbers, and I stand there like a loon wondering what 4 * 20 comes to.

[georgeleitch]

Normally you can calculate roughly what the bill will come to. I usually just smile nicely, say "merci Madame" and profer a 20 euro note.Works most of the time especially when you can have a sneaky peek at the wee window on the cash register.
Any way, I have a strong Scottish accent so they all know that there is no way I am French and they make allowances.

[sunshine817]

In the markets, they'll give you a small paper receipt with the amount printed on it -- I believe it's the law for registered vendors (this doesn't apply to the sweet old lady sitting out by the fountain selling her homemade jam!)

[Penny]

Well, I'm totally bummed.

After verifying the class would not be canceled due to weather (heavy rain was forecast for Sat.), driving down to, around and around downtown Kansas City to find location. Then to find parking the @##@ instructor did not show up.

Three other women and myself were there on time and could find no one who knew anything about the class. We waited 1/2 hour and left.

LOL I knew the most French however my vocabulary is limited and my pronunciation is terrible.

I sent a email yesterday to the coordinator and her response was "we verified with the instructor earlier in the week and the class was not canceled. Have left her a phone message". I have heard nothing further.

[mez]

Oct 26, 2010 12:07:05 GMT -5 Penny said:

Well, I'm totally bummed.

After verifying the class would not be canceled due to weather (heavy rain was forecast for Sat.), driving down to, around and around downtown Kansas City to find location. Then to find parking the @##@ instructor did not show up.

Three other women and myself were there on time and could find no one who knew anything about the class. We waited 1/2 hour and left.

LOL I knew the most French however my vocabulary is limited and my pronunciation is terrible.

I sent a email yesterday to the coordinator and her response was "we verified with the instructor earlier in the week and the class was not canceled. Have left her a phone message". I have heard nothing further.

That's terrible!

Did you pay your money up front? I hoep they give you a refund quick-smart if you have.

[Penny]

I heard back from the coordinator Wednesday afternoon by phone no less.

Get this-the instructor thought today was the first day. Sounds like something I would do.

any way, we (all the students) get a $10 credit off another class from the school. Works for me since that almost covers the cost of the ebay seller class.

One good thing did come of the trip last week. I found out I could get a Kansas City Library card. I had been told that you had to reside in the KC school district otherwise had to use the local. So now I have another source for books and movies.