Speak French fluently

Off to study at Ecole Accord for a week! I’ve been deliberately NOT doing any studying so that I can kind of be a blank slate. Hoping for the best! Here I am having a champagne cocktail at Hotel Costes on my last visit in June. Soon I’ll have another!

Now on September 23, yes in just a few weeks!, I leave for Paris for a week to study at an immersion school. Sometimes when I am around my French friends, I get so frustrated. It is such a difficult language! But, I have to remind myself that my goal is not to be fluent…that cannot happen if you start study as an adult, not with French…but just to be able to communicate. So…I prepare for the trip.

Hello! I’m out here still working on my French. I am leaving for Paris today as a matter of fact for just a few days.
rubabecious asked me for some advice for a quick trip so here’s my thoughts. When it comes to dining, I always recommend getting away from the main tourist areas. Any little bistro on a square will be good, cheaper and much more authetic. The tourist shopping areas such as Les Halles are best avoided. Did you go to the flea market with your family? If not, you MUST go! Go to Les Puces Saint-Ouen. You can take the metro there. When you arrive, there are a lot of stalls selling knock-offs before you get to the flea market. They can be very aggressive. Ignore them. Here is a link for Les Puces:
http://www.parispuces.com/en/historique/Default.htm
If you have also not already done so, go to Pere LaChese. Everyone goes to see Jim Morrison’s grave which is actually not very impressive compared to the many other beautiful ones. Just wander the avenues and be amazed. There are vendors selling maps outside the entrances and it is worth it to buy one. Oscar Wilde’s grave is worth seeing. It is covered with lipstick kisses which is a tradition of gay men. Hope this helps!

On another note, I have signed up for a week at an immersion language school in Paris this September. The school is Accord http://www.languagestudy.com/paris.htm
I think the price is very reasonable. I am not doing a home stay as I am staying in a friends apartment. Everyone tells me that doing an immersion really really advances your language skills so hooray! I’m excited!

I’ve been terrible about listening to the French Podcast BUT I have subscribed to a magazine “Bien Dire” (well said) which is written very simply for those learning French. http://www.biendire.com/ It comes with an audio CD of each article. I have found it very helpful to muddle through an article and then listen to it.

Finally, I had a Parisian gentleman contact me through my membership in Alliance Francaise http://www.afusa.org/ and ask if I could entertain his daughter during the day for a week while he attended a university conference. I did so last week. Claire is 16 as is my own daughter (who studies French). What a sweetheart she is! We had a nice time. I just took her about with me. Her english improved tremendously. Here is a photo of the three of us (Claire, my daughter Becky and me).

So, off to Paris today but just for three nights!

A bien tot!

Tess

I’m doing a different spin on “43 things.” I’m going to focus on doing 43 separate things that lead me towards my goal…to speak French fluently. Sorry to be a rules breaker! (well, not really!)

I was able to expidite my passport and should have it at the end of next week. I am leaving on 3/22 (arriving 3/23) and staying until 3/26! Hooray! I’m really eager to look at this property. I have a good vibe about it. As to my 42nd thing…I listened to ONE podcast (they are over 30 minutes long!). I won’t count it done until I’ve listened to two. So wish me bon voyage! Attached you’ll see me with some new “friends” I made last trip to Paris. Ha! Actually, they were the cutest bunch of guys getting ready to ship out somewhere. They were thrilled that Becky & I wanted to have our picture taken with them.

Notice how some of them are really posing. I particularly like the young man on my right. Too cute.

ps: I’m going to Miami Beach for a few days leaving tomorrow so I WILL finish that 2nd podcast and start on a 3rd! (doing two more will be my 41st thing)

OK. I did listen to the French Podcast…just one but OK I’ll count it as my first thing. So, number 42 will be to listen to TWO podcasts. I’m trying to reschedule my flights because I sent my passport to an expiting service and should have it by next Friday. Now I can’t book a flight and use my miles for an upgrade. I have a bejillion miles sooooo….dang I do not want to fly coach! I’m just going to keep calling every day to see if they’ve released any upgrades.

Preparing for my trip last night on which I was supposed to depart tomorrow and realized MY PASSPORT HAS EXPIRED!!!!! Even with expedited service, no way can I get it for two weeks. I had to cancel my train and airline tickets, hotel and plans with friends. I’m going to make myself listen to one entire French podcast today while running around. sigh

I am leaving for Paris on Thursday just until Monday to look at some property SO along will come my trusty Vid iPod and about six episodes of the French Podcast and the French Poetry Podcast plus, of course, my phrase book. I don’t want to waste the few days I’ll have immersed in the language and plan to hit the streets and absorb it as much as possible. Here I am with my daughter last October.