French, Dutch, Timbuktu’s... immaterial. No excuse whatsoever for being ignored and if that’s the case and they are not incredibly busy, I am out of there regardless. Fair point about learning some french, perhaps it might help, but say you have through illness or actually not being able to speak, then what? If someone comes up and says to you. Bonjour Madame, comment allez vous? It’s a great start. If you smile they see you and for 20 minutes ignore you, they don’t deserve your patronage or your money.