Paris trains...
Having been advised it's wise to learn some key phrases in French just so you at least look like you're trying while in Paris, I walked up to the information desk at Gare Du Nord and stood quietly waiting for the attendant to look up from his news paper.
That didn't happen, so I cleared my throat politely. He looked up, shook his paper and went back to reading.
"Excuse moi," I began and went in to explain in broken French I was lost and which platform had the train to the station I needed.
He waved his hand vaguely without looking up.
I repeated the question, he shouted something in rapid French and waved again.
I explained I do not speak French, but know numbers, which platform please.
At this point he stood up, looked at me and spat "English!" folded his arms and turned his back.
I asked again, he just stood there with his back to me.
At this point I managed to live up to Australian stereotypes and asked him if he'd mind coming out of his little booth so I could stick his head even further up his arse than it already was, and got a tap on the shoulder.
A woman behind me who had heard the whole thing, said "please, let me", gently moved me aside and proceeded to rip the guy a new one in a blistering tirade I didn't need to any French to understand completely.
At this point he walked off into some little anteroom while she stood there banging on the glass going ballistic.
Another tap on the shoulder and a teenager who had also seen everything said in broken English "this man... I am so sorry, follow me and I will show you your train."
And he did.
Why would you work at an information desk in a place utterly guaranteed to be visited by people who will speak English, if you don't want to give information and have a hatred of anyone who speaks English?
( difficultchild, Fri 28 Mar 2014, 0:53, 3 replies)

You're Australian.
hth
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 28 Mar 2014, 7:32, closed)

See the same thing at Victoria Station in London
The man they put on the information desk is the one person least likely to help any lost, foreign tourist, even if they do speak English.

Wilful misunderstanding. Eg, if a person with poor English says "train à Dover?" then it's pretty clear what they mean and you don't need to sit there saying "what? I don't know what you want." He's a cunt.
( Ghoti Fingers, Fri 28 Mar 2014, 8:06, closed)

He wanted to be employed, not to work.
In my limited experience, the further south you go in France, the nicer the people get, but the Parisians - especially officials - operate on a default setting of cunt.
( Snappyuk gets BIGGER with free sample., Fri 28 Mar 2014, 8:23, closed)