It can be difficult to deal with the difference in #formality between #English and #French. With students, I therefore suggest we use first names in English, and first name + “vous” in French, which seems to me the closest approximation in formality.
Any thoughts by native speakers of either language? (University context.)
@mxp
Tough one! I’m from Québec, so not familiar with the European way of doing things.
On having profs use ‘first name + vous’ when talking to students: I’ve seen that often, esp. from European profs (and senior colleagues).
As for how students should address profs, I’ve seen more often the fully formal (Mme X, vous) or fully informal (Isabelle, tu… for profs we know well or are more informal), rather than the mix of ‘first name + vous.’
Between students in Qc: ‘vous’ is rare…
@mxp
… When I was a 20-something doing a music, then a translation degree, students would address me as ‘tu, Dominique’.
I felt really, really old at 40 when I went back to University to do a Masters and (typically younger) students would address me as ‘Madame, vous’… Ouch!
Tout un coup de vieux!
@Clearerworld Thanks for your thoughts, very interesting!
At least it doesn’t seem to be completely wrong what I’m doing :-)
I should have also mentioned that I’m obviously influenced by the T–V distinction in German, so my understanding of both English and French may be off…
Michael Piotrowski
Dominique Joseph