We present findings of research related to the explicit instruction of French politeness conventions, specifically the speech acts of greeting (leave-taking), requesting help, thanking, and responding to invitations. This study examines the results of survey data collected from university students and faculty members concerning the benefits of explicit instruction in French politeness expectations and practices. Students with plans to travel to France or French-speaking countries were offered the option of taking a course in practical French which included lessons on politeness conventions of French speakers. As the course was voluntary, not all students who traveled received the explicit instruction in politeness expectations and may not have been acquainted with the accepted practices. Additionally, some of the students who traveled had taken academic courses in the French language, while others had not. This study compares survey data from three groups: students enrolled in formal language classes; students enrolled in a practical language class; and students with neither form of politeness training. The overarching question for the study is whether explicit instruction of politeness norms made a difference for these travelers. Our report includes anecdotal evidence.