When I was about 12 years old and starting 7th grade, I signed up to begin to study a foreign language -- Beginning French. Or so I thought.
Due to a registration error, the school also signed me up for Beginning Latin class. So for my first semester, I was studying foreign language for the first time and was studying two at the same time. Not surprisingly, I found that I couldn't maintain both.
Latin won out and I've never regretted that choice. To be honest, I can't remember the name of my 7th grade French teacher, but I definitely remember the Latin teacher, Mrs. Wall (quelle formidable!). And that's a story for another time.
However, I do remember the French textbook that we used in class had a series of "dialogues" meant to help students learn conversational French. I still remember the first one -- as do others, as some blog entries attest.
"Voila Monsieur Thibault. Il est ingenieur. Mr. Thibault j'abeit Place d'Italie a Paris..."
Well, imagine my surprise to actually find Place d'Italie in Paris! Rather comforting, in fact.
Since Latin is the basis for the Romance Languages, there is quite a bit that I'm able to figure out on my own in French. I know this will be true for Spain and Italy, whose languages also are based in Latin.
While I'm not perfect in the language, I am trying to give it a go. I greet all with a happy "Bonjour!" and often follow it with "Parlez-vous anglais?" After all, it seems courteous and fair to give the other person fair warning that I may not be able to speak their language before launching into a question in English that they may not understand. I have found Parisians to be unfailingly polite and helpful with this approach, which in turn encourages me to keep trying.
What is most frustrating is that I have the desire to speak, but lack the knowledge. And there is really only one way to change that. And so I continue to try -- and I'm glad I do.
And then there's this "helpful video":
Related articles
- French Lesson: Shopping in a French Market (bonjourparis.com)
- What do you mean... they speak English here? (apistudyabroad.com)
- The third month's the charm! (blogs.iesabroad.org)
- Duke in Paris (studyabroad.com)
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i love latin - took 5 yrs of it! what a fun essay!
.-= jessiev´s last blog ..Travel Blog Exchange Conference \'09 - a Recap =-.
All of my friends and I (even those who didn't continue with French) remember this fragment of the dialogue we had to learn for our 4.5 week Exploratory French class in 6th grade. No matter how much French I studied, I still remember it in an Appalling Sixth Grade French accent rather than proper French pronunciation.- Say vondra dee la dance.- Ooh sah?- Ah Scarlett, too voo ee allay?- Bee en surr. Oo abbeet too?- Dooze avenue day la Raypooblake.