168 Part II: French in Action

Denise: Oh non! C’est trop tard! oh nohN! seh troh tahr!

Oh no! That’s too late!

Words to Know

Making Plans with Friends

Regardless of the activity, inviting a friend to come along always makes things much more fun. This section makes it easier to invite a friend as well as to accept or decline your friend’s invitation.

Asking a friend to go out

When you ask a friend to go out, you use the tu (tew) (you [singular]) form. You may ask your friend what he is doing and whether he would like to go out and, if so, where. Here are a few questions that may come in handy when asking a friend out:

Qu’est-ce que tu fais (ce soir)? (kehs-kuh tew feh [suh swahr]?) (What are you doing [this evening]?)

Veux-tu sortir? (vuh-tew sohr-teer?) (Do you want to go out?)

Qu’est-ce que tu veux faire? (kehs-kuh tew vuh fehr?) (What do you want to do?)

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Chapter 10: Going Out on the Town 169

Où veux-tu aller? (ooh vuh-tew ah-ley?) (Where do you want to go?)

Veux-tu aller au cinéma/au théâtre? (vuh-tew ah-ley oh see-ney-mah/ oh tey-ah-truh?) (Do you want to go to the movies/to the theater?)

Qu’est-ce que tu veux voir? (kehs-kuh tew vuh vwahr?) (What do you want to see?)

Accepting and declining invitations

When you have nothing to do or when you are bored, you’d gladly accept your friend’s invitation . But when you’re tired or don’t feel like going out, you’ll want to decline an invitation and perhaps even reschedule. With these phrases, you can do both:

Je veux bien. (zhuh vuh byaN.) (I would like to.)

J’aimerais vraiment aller au cinéma/au théâtre. (zhehm-reh vreh-mahN ah-ley oh see-ney-mah/oh tey-ah-truh.) (I would really like to go to the movies/to the theatre.)

J’aimerais/je voudrais voir le nouveau film de. . . . (zhehm-reh/zhuh vooh-dreh vwahr luh nooh-voh feelm duh. . . .) (I would like to see the new film by. . . .)

Je n’ai pas envie de sortir (ce soir). (zhuh ney pah-zahN-vee duh sohr-teer [suh swahr].) (I don’t feel like going out [this evening].)

Peut-être demain/la semaine prochaine. (puh-teh-truh duh-maN/lah suh-mehn proh-shehn.) (Perhaps tomorrow/next week.)

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170 Part II: French in Action

Identify the activity represented by each of these images.

A._____________________

B._____________________

C._____________________

D._____________________

E._____________________

F._____________________

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Chapter 11

Taking Care of Business

and Telecommunicating

In This Chapter

Conducting business via the phone and Internet

Making an appointment

Going to the post office

Forming the past tense

Not all foreign travel is purely for pleasure’s sake. In this time of international trade and global marketing, businesspeople may travel

extensively or work with colleagues from all around the world. This chapter introduces you to the terms and phrases you would likely encounter while conducting business, working in an office, or communicating via phone, fax, or e-mail with a French-speaking colleague.

Getting Around — and

Along — at the Office

If you’re traveling to France or another French-speaking country for business — or just meeting with French colleagues via teleconferencing or online — be assured that everyone wants to make the encounter pleasant.

Following are some of the professionals and staff members you may encounter:

le président-directeur général (PDG) (luh prey-zee-dahN-dee-rehk-tuhr zhey-ney-rahl [pey dey zhey]) (the head of the company who functions as CEO, chairman, and managing director)

le gérant/la gérante (luh zhey-rahN/lah zhey-rahNt) (manager [of a restaurant, hotel, shop])

le directeur/la directrice (luh dee-rehk-tuhr/lah dee-rehk-trees) (manager [of a company, business])

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172 Part II: French in Action

le personnel (luh pehr-sohh-nehl) (staff, employees)

le/la propriétaire (luh/lah proh-pree-ey-tehr) (owner)

Although some French business practices may be different from your own, learning about and respecting these differences will not only impress your French-speaking counterparts but also bring you that much closer to achieving your goals. Here are a couple of things to know:

During the 1980s, French businesses experienced an entrepreneurial explosion. The media and public utilities were privatized, and some of the newer and larger businesses were reorganized by American management consultants. These reorganized businesses tend to be

more flexible and have a less centralized decision-making process than the older, family-owned businesses. Still, you may not find the same teamwork atmosphere that prevails in the United States and Canada. Expect le président-directeur général to make most decisions. Employees below the PDG follow a strict chain of command, with

the junior staff handing problems over to superiors.

You may also notice a rather elitist atmosphere in business. Being from the “right” families and going to the “right” schools often lead to positions in management.

Women hold more senior positions than they used to, especially in the fields of advertising, retail, and media. The south of France still has a more traditional mind-set, however, and you may encounter some prejudice there against women in senior positions.

Sexual harassment is more of an American concept. Don’t be surprised if French men seem to treat businesswomen more flirtatiously. When entertaining on business in Belgium, American businesswomen should make payment arrangements in advance or indicate that their company is paying. Belgian businessmen usually don’t allow a woman to pay under any other circumstances.

Taking notice of office supplies and equipment

No matter where you are, in your home office or abroad conducting business, your office includes things that are indispensible for working efficiently and accurately. Look around the office, and you’ll see some very familiar fournitures de bureau (foohr-nee-tewr duh bew-roh) (office supplies), matériel de bureau (mah-tey-ree-ehl duh bew-roh) (office equipment), and mobilier

de bureau (moh-bee-lyey duh bew-roh) (office furniture) that you can’t do without:

l’agrafeuse (f) (lah-grah-fuhz) (stapler)

les agrafes (ley-zah-grahf) (staples)

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Chapter 11: Taking Care of Business and Telecommunicating 173

le bureau (luh bew-roh) (desk)

les ciseaux (ley see-zoh) (scissors)

le classeur à tiroirs (luh klah-suhr ah tee-rwahr) (file cabinet)

la corbeille à papiers (lah kohr-behy ah pah-pyey) (wastepaper basket)

le crayon (luh krey-ohN) (pencil)

les élastiques (ley-zey-lah-steek) (rubber bands)

les enveloppes (ley-zahN-vlohhp) (envelopes)

les fichiers (ley fee-shyey) (files)

la gomme (lah gohm) (eraser)

l’horloge (f) (lohr-lohzh) (clock)

la lampe (lah lahmp) (lamp)

la photocopieuse (lah foh-toh-koh-pyuhz) (copy machine)

le ruban adhésif (luh rew-bahN ahd-ey-zeef) (tape)

le siège/la chaise de bureau (luh syehzh/lah shehz duh bew-roh) (office chair)

le stylo (luh stee-loh) (pen)

le tableau d’affichage (luh tah-bloh dah-fee-shahzh) (bulletin board)

le télécopieur (luh tey-ley-koh-pyuhr) (fax machine)

les trombones (ley trohN-bohhn) (paper clips)

Using the computer and Internet

In French, the World Wide Web is sometimes called la toile (lah twahl), which literally means the web. More often, French speaking people call it Le Web (luh web). Here is a list of vocabulary pertaining to the computer and the Internet that will surely come in handy:

le clavier (luh klah-vyey) (keyboard)

le curseur (luh kewr-suhr) (cursor)

le fichier (luh fee-shyey) (file)

l’icône (f) (lee-kohn) (icon)

l’imprimante (f) (laN-pree-mahNt) (printer)

le logiciel (luh loh-zhee-syehl) (software)

le matériel (luh mah-tey-ryehl) (hardware)

le moniteur (luh moh-nee-tuhr) (monitor)

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174 Part II: French in Action

le mot de passe (luh moh duh pahs) (password)

le navigateur (luh nah-vee-gah-tuhr) (web browser)

l’ordinateur (m) (lohr-dee-nah-tuhr) (computer)

la page d’accueil (lah pahzh dah-kuhy) (home page)

le portable (luh pohr-tah-bluh) (laptop)

le pseudo (luh psuh-doh) (user name)

le réseau (luh rey-zoh) (network)

le salon de chat (luh sah-lohN duh chaht) (chat room)

la souris (lah sooh-ree) (mouse)

surfer le Web (sewr-fey luh wehb) (to surf the Web)

le système d’exploitation (luh see-stehm dehks-plwah-tah-syohN) (operating system)

télécharger (tey-ley-shahr-zhey) (to download)

Many French websites are bilingual, French and English. In addition, in Europe, each Internet address ends with letters identifying the country that hosts that address. In France, these two letters are .fr. For example, if you want to connect to the French Yahoo! site, you type www.yahoo.fr. Be forewarned! This site is entirely in French!

Sending an e-mail and a fax

With the Internet, the world has gotten smaller. Now you can stay in touch with your family and friends via le courrier électronique/le mél (luh kooh-ryey ey-lehk-troh-neek/luh meyl) (e-mail). Sending an e-mail is not only very easy but also very fast. Although specific instructions vary, in general, to send une pièce jointe (ewn pyehs zhwaNt) (an attachment), you do the following before clicking on Envoyer (ahN-vwah-yey) (Send): click on the icon Insertion (aN-sehr-syohN) (Insert), click on Pièce jointe (pyehs zhwaNt) (Attachment), choose the file, fichier (fee-shyey). Finally, click on the button Joindre (zhwaN-druh) (Attach).

You can also easily send une télécopie/un fax (ewn tey-ley-koh-pee/uhN fahks) (a fax) to someone in France. If you’re dialing from the United States, enter the international access code (011) followed by the French country code (33) followed by the number. Then press Send.

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Chapter 11: Taking Care of Business and Telecommunicating 175

Talkin’ the Talk

Jean-Michel is showing his grandfather, André, how to send an e-mail.

André: Quelle est la fonction d’un système d’exploitation? kehl eh lah fohN-ksyohN duhN see-stehm dehks-plwah-tah-syohN?

What is the function of an operating system?

Jean-Michel: C’est de gérer les ressources de l’ordinateur comme le matériel, le logiciel, les fichiers.

seh duh zhey-rey ley ruh-soohrs duh lohr-dee-nah- tuhr kohhm luh mah-tey-ryehl, luh loh-zhee-syehl, ley fee-shyey.

It’s to manage the computer resources like the hardware, the software, the files.

André: Que dois-je faire pour envoyer un courrier

électronique?

kuh dwah-zhuh fehr poohr ahN-vwah-yey uhN koohryey ey-lehk-troh-neek?

What must I do to send an e-mail?

Jean-Michel: D’abord, il faut avoir accès à ta messagerie et mettre ton pseudo et ton mot de passe.

dah-bohr, eel foh-tah-vwahr ah-kseh ah tah meh- sah-zhree ey meh-truh tohN psuh-doh ey tohN moh duh pahs.

First, you have to access your e-mail account and put in your user name and password.

André: Voilà, c’est fait. Et ensuite? vwah-lah, seh feh. ey ahN-sweet?

Okay, it’s done. And then?

Jean-Michel: Ensuite, choisis l’adresse électronique du destinataire,

écris ton message et clique sur envoyer pour poster ton message.

ahN-sweet, shwah-zee lah-drehs ey-lehk-troh-neek dew deh-stee-nah-tehr, ey-kree tohN meh-sahzh ey kleek sewr ahN-vwah-yey poohr pohs-tey tohN meh-sahzh.

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176 Part II: French in Action

Then choose the e-mail address of the addressee, write your message, and click on send to post your message.

André: C’est facile. Merci, Jean-Michel.

seh fah-seel. mehr-see, zhahN-mee-shehl.

That’s easy. Thank you, Jean-Michel.

Words to Know

Sending mail the old-fashioned way

Although the Internet is a very fast way to keep in touch with family and friends as well as an effective way to conduct business, sometimes you want to make a little extra effort to send a postcard or a package through the regular postal mail. Just think of how excited you felt when le facteur (luh fahk-tuhr) (the letter carrier) brought you a card or a package from someone special. With the vocabulary and advice we share in this section, going to la poste (lah pohst) (the post office) will be a breeze.

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Chapter 11: Taking Care of Business and Telecommunicating 177

Here is some general postal vocabulary, as well as some of the services provided by the post office in France:

l’expéditeur/l’expéditrice (lehks-pey-dee-tuhr/lehks-pey-dee-trees) (sender)

le/la destinataire (luh/lah deh-stee-nah-tehr)(addressee)

l’enveloppe (f) (lahN-vlohhp) (envelope)

le timbre (luh taN-bruh) (stamp)

le code postal (luh kohhd poh-stahl) (zip code)

la lettre recommandée (lah leh-truh ruh-kohh-mahN-dey) (registered letter)

la lettre exprès (lah leh-truh ehks-prehs) (express letter)

l’envoi spécial (m) (lahN-vwah spey-syahl) (special delivery)

le courrier (luh kooh-ryey) (mail)

le paquet/le colis (luh pah-keh/luh koh-lee) (package)

la boîte postale (lah bwaht poh-stahl) (post office box)

l’affranchissement (m) (lah-frahN-shees-mahN) (postage)

la balance (lah bah-lahNs) (scale)

peser (puh-zey) (to weigh)

In March of 2010, the post office in France became a publicly owned company. The post office is one of the largest employers in France. When you visit France, you cannot help but notice the bright yellow signs that indicate the post office as well as the bright yellow boîtes aux lettres (bwaht oh leh-truh) (mailboxes). Although the main post office in Paris is open 24 hours, typical postal hours are usually between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and between 8 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturday. Some post offices (especially in smaller towns) do close for a two-hour lunch break, usually between 12 noon and 2 p.m. The post office provides many services besides just mailing letters. You may purchase money orders, stamps, and phone cards, use a pay phone, send a fax, open a bank account, take out a loan, or invest money!

Making Appointments and

Minding Business Hours

It is considered polite in European francophone countries to schedule appointments several weeks in advance. Be forewarned, however, that some may not confirm an appointment until the last minute.

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178 Part II: French in Action

Generally speaking, businesses are open from 8:00 (or 9:00) a.m. to noon, and from 2:00 to 5:00 (or 6:00) p.m. Monday through Friday. Many businesses open Mondays at 2:00 p.m. and are open Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon or 1:00 p.m. Even though businesses may be open on Saturdays, don’t try to schedule appointments then. Saturday is usually reserved for sales meetings and conferences. It may also be difficult to schedule appointments in Belgium on Bourse (boohrs) days, which are Mondays in Antwerp and Wednesdays in Brussels, because this is when businesspeople meet professional colleagues for lunch.

Europeans often take a longer lunch break than their North American counterparts. Le déjeuner (luh dey-zhuh-ney) (lunch) lasts anywhere from one-and-a-half to two hours, and business lunches are also more common than business dinners. Lengthy and lavish lunches are usually reserved for a first meeting or for celebrating the closing of a deal. However, don’t be the first to initiate business conversation at a meal. Let your host decide whether to discuss business right away or to wait until the after-meal coffee has been served.

Don’t plan on doing business during the two weeks before and after Christmas or Easter. Also avoid the months of July and August when stores, theaters, restaurants, and businesses often close for an annual vacation. (August is the vacation month for 80 percent of France.)

Talkin’ the Talk

Dan Thompson, an American consultant, calls to set up an appointment with Monsieur Seiffert, the CEO of a chain of French supermarchés (sew-pehr-mahr-shey) (supermarkets). Monsieur Seiffert’s secretary, la secrétaire (lah suh-krey-tehr), answers.

La secrétaire: Compagnie France Supermarché, bonjour. kohN-pah-nyee frahNs sew-pehr-mahr-shey, bohN-zhoohr.

Hello, France Supermarket Company.

Dan: Bonjour. Dan Thompson à l’appareil. Passez-moi M.

Seiffert, s’il vous plaît.

bohN-zhoohr. Dan Thompson ah lah-pah-rehy. pah-sey mwah muh-syuh see-fehr, seel vooh pleh.

Hello. This is Dan Thompson calling. Please transfer me to Mr. Seiffert.

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Chapter 11: Taking Care of Business and Telecommunicating 179

La secrétaire: Un instant. Ne raccrochez pas. Il est dans son bureau. Je vous le passe.

uhN-naN-stahN. nuh rah-kroh-shey pah. eel eh dahN sohN bew-roh. zhuh vooh luh pahs.

One moment. Don’t hang up. He’s in his office. I’ll transfer you to him.

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