Parlez-vous Enfant?
The mom's group I've been a part of for almost a year has been dwindling steadily, so it was serendipitous that I stumbled upon a new group during one of the last meetings of my old group. I overheard the moms chatting in French, which immediately piqued my interest. A French-speaking moms group? Could it be? Parfait!
You see, I've been trying for years to become more (at all) fluent in French. And after the kids were born, the effort started feeling more like necessity than indulgence. It could be something I'd teach them in addition to the lessons in manners and not biting kids smaller than yourself.
I've made a handful of efforts over the years. When my mom visits I vow to converse with her only in French. She humors me (thanks mom), but after a few hours I just feel silly starting a new habit to replace an old one that's 35 years strong. So the effort once again lazily shies away.
But with strangers, it's more natural to start a habit because you're starting from scratch. Also, because there's more social discomfort with strangers, there's more of an impetus to practice and get better. I attended my first French-speaking moms meeting this week and plan on being a regular. Maybe this will finally provide the motivation I need.
To help things along, R burned our dusty Pimsleur French CDs to our computer so I could put the lessons on my Shuffle and listen to them at the park while pushing the swing (or doing something equally challenging). No more excuses, right?
Bonne chance a moi!
You see, I've been trying for years to become more (at all) fluent in French. And after the kids were born, the effort started feeling more like necessity than indulgence. It could be something I'd teach them in addition to the lessons in manners and not biting kids smaller than yourself.
I've made a handful of efforts over the years. When my mom visits I vow to converse with her only in French. She humors me (thanks mom), but after a few hours I just feel silly starting a new habit to replace an old one that's 35 years strong. So the effort once again lazily shies away.
But with strangers, it's more natural to start a habit because you're starting from scratch. Also, because there's more social discomfort with strangers, there's more of an impetus to practice and get better. I attended my first French-speaking moms meeting this week and plan on being a regular. Maybe this will finally provide the motivation I need.
To help things along, R burned our dusty Pimsleur French CDs to our computer so I could put the lessons on my Shuffle and listen to them at the park while pushing the swing (or doing something equally challenging). No more excuses, right?
Bonne chance a moi!
posted by Anne at 5:01 PM
4 Comments:
Ahh, sounds like a great find and a great way to increase your fluency.
Do your children speak French?
I recently bought Levels 1-3 of the Rosetta Stone software to refresh my French before heading to Paris in June. Perhaps I should make it a point to memorize a few key phrases in French. Ones like, "I realize that you may find my French speaking ability sub par but you're very attractive and I SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE," or "Do you have a husband? or a girlfriend? because I'm cool with that," or even, "What time does your husband come home?"
Ahhhh, yes, I will do *much* for the reputation of Americans while in France.
I think if you started an affair with a French woman in Paris you might actually IMPROVE the reputation of Americans. Not sure you can do much more to tarnish it. ;-)
I hope you can find time to blog while there!
No, the kids don't speak French yet, but that's one of my goals. I don't want to start too late.
Bonne chance a vous aussi!
This is true - Americans do not have a stellar reputation with the French. Or anyone, for that matter. Perhaps I'll offer my services to embassies in the name of foreign relations.
Would love to blog while overseas but I'm going to be on the move quite a bit. Paris for a few days, then on to the Burgundy region before heading to the Alps, hitting Austria and Germany and then about a week in Italy.
Can you even imagine how many husbands will want to beat me up?! (That's why I've got to keep moving.)
Sounds like an amazing adventure - fun!
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