The past two weeks the Barefoot Blogger has spent a lot of time with new French friends. I live in France and I can barely put together a sentence in French . It is getting embarrassing.
Currently, I have Rosetta Stone and another online language program on my computer. I work on them occasionally. A couple of weeks ago I signed up for a beginner’s class through a Uzès expats group. Friday was the first day of class. When I arrived for the lesson, it had been postponed. So, you see, some of it isn’t my fault.
Perhaps if I write down all my excuses for not learning French I’ll shame myself into trying harder.
Here’s the countdown:
#10
It’s the weekend
#9
I’ll do it tomorrow.
#8
I’m too old
#7
I have a headache
#6
I don’t get it
#5
I need a drink
#4
I get along fine
#3
I watch French movies
#2
Where’d the day go?
#1 Excuse
“Don’t even try it!” says Joel, the owner of Le Bistrot in Uzes.
I sampled a few French phrases on him and he says “No! Stop!”
Apparently I’m abusing the language. He says I can quote him.
Joel at Le Bistrot in Uzes
Le Bistrot in Uzes
Categories: Around France, Blog, Learning French
I thought after a year you had to get a French driver’s license and the test is in French.
Have not had any problems with using US drivers license for getting car insurance, I.d, etc. No expats that I know have French licenses. But then…
When I get there…and it will happen!…, and you return from your winter in the States, .let’s do an immersion course for a week. I’ve found one in Brittany that looks like a great location, one in Toulouse that seems moderately priced, and they are all over Provence!
Do you promise you’ll get here?
Promise…I’m changing realtors and lowering the price
Get on over here, please!
I feel your pain! When I came to France last summer it was to use the French I had been faithfully working on through my (expensive) Pinsleur learning program. I thought if I just went to France for a couple of weeks and make a point of speaking French, it would all come together and something would magically click.
I tried and got a lot of quizzical looks, blank stares, or an English response asking me to speak English PLEASE!
I did better with hand gestures and the odd French word. Then I got an “Ahhh, oui Madame!” Pleased they’d figured out the little game of charades.
If I ever found the magic lamp my first request to the genie would be to conquer the French language. (Fame and money seem less elusive at this point! )
Keep learning my friend and one day it will all come together. If not, somehow I know you’ll survive on personality alone!
Kathy, you made my day! That’s exactly the problem. I do better when I don’t even try! Wish you’d come back some time to practice again. I loved seeing you!
Dear Deborah,
You are an intelligent, lovely woman…. add to that the courage and fortitude it took to pull up stakes from a country you know, and move to another you admire….let’s just say that you are remarkable!
Please…. don’t let negative, thoughtless comments of one unhelpful person keep you down….making mistakes using a new language is sadly, or humorously, inevitable, and every single person who is learning something new will trip up and not be able to be an expert immediately or maybe even ever…but you don’t need to be perfect! …don’t give up! One little step at a time will get you to where you want to be. You are no quitter I can tell, and we haven’t even met. I hope you find inspiration from the comments of your readers….we get so much of it from you.
Many thanks for all of your super interesting, beautifully photographed, thoughtfully composed, cheery, fun, and uplifting blogs!
Oh my, Beth. You are so encouraging. I know that I’m better than I was last year at understanding the language. Maybe next year I can speak. Like everything else in life, it seems, getting where you want to go is done one step at a time. Thank you for reminding me of that. I’m so happy that you enjoy the blog. It’s done a lot to entertain myself and to help me remember all the wonderful things that are happening to me. If it inspires others to examine themselves, admit they have a dream they want to pursue, and take that first step towards it … I’m thrilled. We all need cheerleaders.
Hello Deborah persistes! persistes! persistes! Joêl est a prendre au douzième degré . Et il a du bon vin.
Thanks for your confidence. Tell Joel you believe I can learn French. He will remember me, I promise! Good wine? Good to know!
I will come right over and be your tutor!!
It’s a deal!
Deborah all these 10 excuses should be put aside and you should continue the quest to become fluent in French. Well maybe not fluent but at least partially conversant with the language because it helps your brain cells recover from all the wine 🍷 you consume!!😊💕
Me? Consume wine? Qui moi? Je ne bois pas trop!