After graduating college (back in the '80s) I took several classes at the local French Institute called Alliance Francaise, in Washington, D.C. I was preparing for my European vacation and since I love the sound of the French language so much, I couldn't wait to visit Paris. After 6 months or so of studying the French language, I thought I knew enough conversational French to handle myself in day to day situations, e.g. at hotels, restaurants, airports, general greetings, etc. What I found is that once I tried to go beyond "Bonjour" my attempts to communicate in French were met with outright scorn and derision. The French speaker would either immediately change the conversation to English or rudely correct my French. I quickly gave up on French and even when I visit Montreal I don't even attempt to speak it, except for "Bonjour" or "Bon Apetit". Conversely when I visit Mexico or Brazil and try to speak my limited Spanish and Portuguese, with heavy English accent, I am usually met with a smile and/or a polite correction. Or they just don't care how I speak it as long as they can generally understand. I have been told by a visiting co-worker from Paris, that the Brits are equally stuck up about speaking proper English by visitors from other European countries. I guess in the U.S. we are not so precise about speaking proper English since we have so many dialects. After having lived in Texas for more than 15 years, I am told that I sound like Rex Tillerson. Imagine Rex Tillerson speaking French!! Yikes.