John Mole studied French and German at Oxford and Business at the European Business School. He leads courses on international management and is the author of "Mind your Manners: Managing Business Cultures in Europe".
Here, he comments on the accounts of people with different experiences of working with the French - dispelling some myths and providing some expert advice.
The TV series is occasionally repeated on BBC Learning Zone, BBC TWO Full schedule
Culture shock is when our expectations and values and behaviours and beliefs do not match those of the people we're living and working with. So we feel surprised and alienated and sometimes angry.
Expert tips
Learn as much as you can of the language - it shows that you're making an effort and it will help you understand their English.
Remember culture shock lasts statistically only between 6 and 9 months.
Try and enjoy the difference, learn from it.
Keep a sense of humour - it will help you get a perspective on things.
Be different
Mark Williamson
Restaurateur
Being British, I think, maybe gives one a fresh view and allows one to be a lot less cautious. There is less of this inbred kind of respect for the regime.
There is an idea in Britain that somehow the French are closed to outside influences, that they want to go their own way. This is not in fact true as any short time in France will show you. They're very open to innovation and to importing foreign ways of doing things if they are more efficient than their own ways.
Being there
