Numero Sept - leçons de François

There is no point in me dreaming about spending time in France visiting new areas and learning about the country’s history and culture if I don’t speak the language. I might know my Marseilles from my Miramas and my Cantonas from my Ginolas but it’s not going to help when I need to ask for directions or to start a conversation.

I started a beginners course back in September, every Tuesday night. I’m on lesson 24 and slowly understanding the basics ( my French teacher is very patient). I find it easier to understand the French language by reading and writing than speaking, but I think that’s just a lack of confidence. No lesson tonight or next week as it’s Easter holiday, but as my exam is in four weeks, I should be revising instead of blogging…oh well I will revise demain. I welcome any ideas which could help me with my revision.

No seriously, I going to work very hard at mastering the French language or at least string a sentence together. These evening classes are my fourth attempt to learn. First attempt was at school, I hated it and learnt nothing. Second was when Monsieur X tried to teach me and that would turn into an argument ‘its la not le!!’ he would moan and the third attempt was last summer, when I worked in an office on my own, it’s a lot easier talking to a book than murdering the French language in front of a French person.

So I hope my fourth attempt is more successful and with extra help from pod casts, films, listening to Virgin Radio France via my iPhone on my walk to work and my BBC language books (http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/ ), they are all petit steps to start off with and I hope at least by the end of the year I can write a blog page in French, without the aid of online translator.