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A review by niniane
The Bonjour Effect: The Secret Codes of French Conversation Revealed by Julie Barlow
4.0
This book explains French culture from the perspective of 2 journalists who lived there in 1999 and again in 2013.
The French really value conversational skill. Children are taught to converse and debate.
You must say bonjour and allow time for a reply. Otherwise it is rude. Even if you are getting on a bus with 100 passengers, you must say bonjour to the bus driver.
There is a culture of avoiding blame. People do not like to admit that they don’t know something.
It is good to strike up a conversation about art and culture, tge French language, food, regions of France, complain about what's wrong in France.
It is taboo to strike up a conversation by asking the other person's name, work, or family.
There was emphasis on assimilation and resistance to a census-like measurement of racial groups or mentioning race in discussions. This taboo made it harder to solve issues facing immigrants because it was difficult to discuss the issues.
France has traditionally been very focused on Paris, and the other States and regions can feel neglected.
The French really value conversational skill. Children are taught to converse and debate.
You must say bonjour and allow time for a reply. Otherwise it is rude. Even if you are getting on a bus with 100 passengers, you must say bonjour to the bus driver.
There is a culture of avoiding blame. People do not like to admit that they don’t know something.
It is good to strike up a conversation about art and culture, tge French language, food, regions of France, complain about what's wrong in France.
It is taboo to strike up a conversation by asking the other person's name, work, or family.
There was emphasis on assimilation and resistance to a census-like measurement of racial groups or mentioning race in discussions. This taboo made it harder to solve issues facing immigrants because it was difficult to discuss the issues.
France has traditionally been very focused on Paris, and the other States and regions can feel neglected.