The particulars: I'm going to Paris at the end of August. I took one quarter of French in college, and it was the worst grade I got in the whole seven years. (Unless you count Incomplete as a bad grade, 'cause I had a ton of those.) I've been discussing with people who have been there whether or not I should give myself a crash course in the native tongue or just wing it on Anglais.

More than a few people have told me "Don't bother" or "You'll still be judged on your pronunciation"—people I trust, in many cases. When I get that response I always ask if they'll appreciate effort if you give it. To that question, the answers get more varied and less assured. The other crucial point is that I'm visiting a friend there, an American who's been living there for more than a year. When I told her that the only French I know is "Je ne sais pas," (I don't know.) she replied: "C'est parfait! Just keep saying that." We're not leaving the city, where I've been told that people are more likely to speak English.

Really I'm leaning toward the crash course, but this is still fodder for a good Slog debate.