Anamill, don't bother. I mean by all means learn French, but they can tell you're an American by your accent, and they'll snub you and be nasty to you anyway. Hell, Parisians don't even like other Frenchmen. Don't expect them to like you!

In contrast, my experience in Italy was that if you half try to speak a few halting words in Italian, they (outside Rome) are very appreciative and friendly.

If I could go back to Europe, I would skip France altogether.

Alex