When I was a university student, I was fluent in French. Never bilingual, but sufficiently fluent to take some undergrad university courses meant for francophone students. For example, I took a literature class taught in French, read all the assigned novels in French, wrote the essays and took the exams solely in French.
Then I went to law school and the legal profession took over my life. D'oh!
No time anymore for French (or scarcely anything else). Needless to say, my French deteriorated over the next 45 years due to insufficient use. Oh, I could still get by in a conversation if I had to, but opportunities were few. If I'd had any ambition to be appointed to the Bench, I would have kept up my French because bilingualism helps to climb the ladder of the Canadian judiciary. But my only ambition was focused on taking early retirement from lawyering if I could swing it, LOL.
I had vague plans to do something about my second language skills once I retired. French is another area I wanted to reconnect with "just for the fun of it."
And now I've started to do just that. So I'll be posting about my Adventures in French over the next while.
Spoiler Alert! It's been a real mixed bag so far!
31 comments:
When my wife and I planned our trip to Quebec a few years ago, we resolved to learn at least survival French to meet the locals halfway. Sadly, everyone we met spoke better English than we did. I'm sticking with German.
Dear Debra,
Unfortunately, I only had one year of school French (but that was enough to manage a conversation four years later in Paris with a homeless person, a Tunisian, a policeman, and a nun. Well, "conversation" is perhaps a too strong a word 😉🤪)
A few years ago, I tried a refresher course at an adult education center. Well... A little later, I also took a Spanish course. But I don't like the way languages are taught here in Austria. It's not practical enough for me—I need travel French (or Spanish), not perfect grammar. And my vocabulary memory is not as good as it used to be... I'm curious to hear how your French adventures are going!
Regarding the Nanaimo Bars: I've seen recipes where the coconuts were replaced with other nuts or almonds... I don't "need" them though, because I like to save the sweets-calories ... for example, for a good beer 😉
All the best from Austria 🤗
Traude
Same here. I had a real strict French-teacher - and even chose him! - so my French was pretty good.
But over the years.... I tried Louis de Funés and... failed, I had to switch to German (post even on the way, LOL).
When I was 14 I bought Le Petit Prince from my pocket money and have the book still.
My first love was Thomas from Rouen. I spent two weeks with his family... Thank you for the memory.
I can manage in a store, and order in a restaurant in French, all of the ability I need.
OMG same!
I started at the Alliance Française as a hobby and it turned into a minor when I started college. It’s pretty rusty now, but once in awhile I’m able to use it and I’m surprised how much I remember.
And those are certainly my other languages as well! Great minds think, am I right? LOL
XOXO
Oh well done! I shall look forward to it.
Good on you. Never stop learning.
PS If you need a tutor I am fluent in Sarcasm. And I speak Bitch as well.
...and I struggle to be fluent in English!
I think this is an excellent idea. You'll probably be waking up parts of your brain that have been comfortably snoozing for many years.
My ex-MIL used to spout off French phrases all the time. I'd taken Spanish in middle school and then wished I'd taken French instead. Now Spanish is all over the US and I can't remember diddly. LOL
Good luck with that, Debra. I am sure it will come back.
Taking early retirement over climbing the judicial ladder sounds like the ultimate win, Debra! Reconnecting with French 'just for the fun of it' is such a rewarding project. Bring on the spoilers and the mixed bag—looking forward to reading all about your adventures.
Well, I'm fluent in Cursive and Curses if you need any help.
I look forward to the posts! Won't be able to read, understand or pronounce but that's ok. Spanish is my second language and it's as rusty as an old hinge-pin!
Why goodness me, we speak the same languages, including song lyrics and sarcasm! I also loved French, in high school it was my very best subject. I took two years and although I can't speak it very well, I am surprised that if I watch a movie in French, I can understand a good deal of it. (As long as they don't speak too fast!)
My mother tongue is English and I am fluent in French. Your meme at the end with the "sarcasm", etc., made me laugh, Debra. LOL! Thanks for sharing.
My two years of high school Latin has done NOTHING for me.
Le français, langue des diplomates.
Le français que nous parlons au Québec diffère du français parle en France.
Autrefois enseigné dans de nombreuses écoles des pays anglophones, n’est plus populaire aujourd’hui.
Monsieur Dupuis 🇨🇦
I can just (and I mean just) get by in French. Reading it is the easiest for me. But forget me speaking it. I just cant get the hang of sounding it out correctly. Have fun.
@ Anonymous (Monsieur Dupuis) -- Yes, as will be seen in a future post, one of the issues I have with Alliance Francaise is its total emphasis on France French to the complete exclusion of Quebec French.
You need French to climb the judiciary ladder in Canada, but not to run Air Canada. Or to be General Governor.
@ Guillaume -- Yes, it's not technically illegal to be a unilingual Anglophone OR Francophone Supreme Court justice, Governor-General, CEO of a Crown Corporation, or even Prime Minister of Canada. But in practice, it makes it very difficult to perform effectively in such positions of national reach and importance.
I am bilingual. That gives me a unique perspective through two languages
@ roentare -- Bilingualism or multilingualism really does enrich lives!
Oui!
(That's about all I know.)
I read "posting about ny adventures in French" and just for a second I misunderstood and thought you would be writing in French and me thinking "but I can't read French!" and then it clicked. I began French in high school and hated it as much as I hated the teacher. Didn't continue with it the next year.
All the best in your quest to revive your French skills. The ability to communicate in another language is a precious gift. Bonne journée. David
...I just thank the maker for Google Translate...
I admire your foundation in the language! You need to give yourself a lot more credit; you'll be surprised how much comes back when you immerse yourself back in the language!
That's exciting! I'll love hearing about that. I feel we should all have a good language education i school, especially the way the world is now. I think it will come back like riding a bike. Maybe that's a bad analogy. Riding a bike did not come back gracefully to me!
I'm definitely looking forward to hearing of your adventures in French, Debra. French and I have had a painful and unhappy relationship. When I tried to speak French in France, people would say, "I can speak English." 😂 So I'm slowly working on Hawaiian. Good luck! 🍀
When I was 3 I lived in Paris. My nanny taught my little sister and I French. It came in handy when we both ran away in the dead of winter one night looking for the nearby park. The local police asked us where we lived. Heck if I knew the address. My parents came to the station and found us there singing songs in French that we learned from our nanny, with the police captain. To bad I hardly remember any of the language now but sometimes I remember just a bit and will befuddle my husband.
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