That is very weird, I've spent a few months in France almost every year for the last 8 years and never had one bad experience. My wife speaks beginner French and not had any issues either. I know enough to order, please, thank you, nicely ask if they speak english, etc…

Was this one situation or multiple? What was the context?

During my first trip to Paris, I was at a patisserie in an admittedly tourist-y part of town and the gentleman behind the counter yelled at me and insist I speak English when ordering. So in Paris stopped attempting to speak to them in French. However, people in Beaune and Chamonix humored me.

For the reaction to be so strong I wonder if there was more than just broken French. Always easy to go with the super nice tourist/mean for no reason autoctone.

Anyway, sorry you had this experience.

> No. In France they openly showed their disgust at my French and refused even to speak to me.

No. It’s most probably in your head and is inconsistent with everything I have seen or heard. Or you were unintentionally rude, maybe. There are pricks everywhere so I don’t doubt that someone was like that, but I seriously doubt that the people in general were.