How long did it take you to learn french ?
#16
Re: How long did it take you to learn french ?
I remember when I visited my sister in Paris years ago and she had a couple of friends round one evening. I nodded and smiled my way through the conversations, and after they had all gone home, asked her "Why did everyone say Adam Ant as they left?"
Now I know why she fell about laughing...
Now I know why she fell about laughing...
#17
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: In a pretty little village near Thiviers off the N21
Posts: 426
Re: How long did it take you to learn french ?
So far has taken me six months to be able to say slow down I speak very little French, how to get directions and tell any strumpet they have a beautiful smile (important stuff only at first lol)
That said I do hear myself saying Oui with a very strong Catalan accent.
At this rate I may be able to converse in around 27 years.
That said I do hear myself saying Oui with a very strong Catalan accent.
At this rate I may be able to converse in around 27 years.
#18
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Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Normandy, France and occassionally Nova Scotia!
Posts: 3,373
Re: How long did it take you to learn french ?
I remember when I visited my sister in Paris years ago and she had a couple of friends round one evening. I nodded and smiled my way through the conversations, and after they had all gone home, asked her "Why did everyone say Adam Ant as they left?"
Now I know why she fell about laughing...
Now I know why she fell about laughing...
A bit like me getting upset when I went into the shops and found everyone was wishing me a good journey back to UK I thought they thought I had come over on the ferry as a day visitor - took me a week or so until I realised they wishing me a good day
#19
Re: How long did it take you to learn french ?
Ha ha. I was the same Val. Even though I used my best French I thought 'well they can tell I'm only visiting because they've wished me a good journey back, they all do it'!
#20
Re: How long did it take you to learn french ?
I remember when I visited my sister in Paris years ago and she had a couple of friends round one evening. I nodded and smiled my way through the conversations, and after they had all gone home, asked her "Why did everyone say Adam Ant as they left?"
Now I know why she fell about laughing...
Now I know why she fell about laughing...
My girlfriend's friends are largely immigrants from places like Italy, China, Brazil, who all speak impeccable English, French and their native languages. They switch between all three during conversations which makes me feel all the worse. English alone is hard enough.
My GF came back from watching a British movie at the cinema yesterday, and during the conversation came out with "isn't it just!". I hadn't seen the film, but knew she must have taken it from there. It's quite a strange remark if you try and analyse it, but now I'll be hearing it crept into daily conversations.
#21
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,551
Re: How long did it take you to learn french ?
Hehe! That's a good one.
My girlfriend's friends are largely immigrants from places like Italy, China, Brazil, who all speak impeccable English, French and their native languages. They switch between all three during conversations which makes me feel all the worse. English alone is hard enough.
My GF came back from watching a British movie at the cinema yesterday, and during the conversation came out with "isn't it just!". I hadn't seen the film, but knew she must have taken it from there. It's quite a strange remark if you try and analyse it, but now I'll be hearing it crept into daily conversations.
My girlfriend's friends are largely immigrants from places like Italy, China, Brazil, who all speak impeccable English, French and their native languages. They switch between all three during conversations which makes me feel all the worse. English alone is hard enough.
My GF came back from watching a British movie at the cinema yesterday, and during the conversation came out with "isn't it just!". I hadn't seen the film, but knew she must have taken it from there. It's quite a strange remark if you try and analyse it, but now I'll be hearing it crept into daily conversations.
#22
Re: How long did it take you to learn french ?
Absolutely, that's another of my pet hates. You make the effort to speak French, but when they pick up on the accent they think they're being helpful and reply in English. I let them carry on speaking in English and reply back in French, at least that way we both benefit from the learning experience.
#23
Re: How long did it take you to learn french ?
Absolutely, that's another of my pet hates. You make the effort to speak French, but when they pick up on the accent they think they're being helpful and reply in English. I let them carry on speaking in English and reply back in French, at least that way we both benefit from the learning experience.
#24
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,987
Re: How long did it take you to learn french ?
Absolutely, that's another of my pet hates. You make the effort to speak French, but when they pick up on the accent they think they're being helpful and reply in English. I let them carry on speaking in English and reply back in French, at least that way we both benefit from the learning experience.
#25
Re: How long did it take you to learn french ?
When I first arrived in France (a long, long time ago), I would say things like "le ciel pleure" - it's raining or "Ou est le seche chevaux" - where is the hairdryer!!
Of course people found it very charming at the beginning. Now I even help the French with their French
But, when I speak with the French admin (impots etc), they seem to dislike the fact that i understand everything and can express my needs and argue back. It's as if they test me and try to make me trip up!!
Of course people found it very charming at the beginning. Now I even help the French with their French
But, when I speak with the French admin (impots etc), they seem to dislike the fact that i understand everything and can express my needs and argue back. It's as if they test me and try to make me trip up!!
#26
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 39
Re: How long did it take you to learn french ?
When I first arrived in France (a long, long time ago), I would say things like "le ciel pleure" - it's raining or "Ou est le seche chevaux" - where is the hairdryer!!
Of course people found it very charming at the beginning. Now I even help the French with their French
But, when I speak with the French admin (impots etc), they seem to dislike the fact that i understand everything and can express my needs and argue back. It's as if they test me and try to make me trip up!!
Of course people found it very charming at the beginning. Now I even help the French with their French
But, when I speak with the French admin (impots etc), they seem to dislike the fact that i understand everything and can express my needs and argue back. It's as if they test me and try to make me trip up!!
Very funny it was too! Who said the French don't have much of a sense of humour?
Elaine S
Last edited by elaines; Sep 29th 2008 at 2:16 pm.
#27
Re: How long did it take you to learn french ?
I am making efforts Brenda honest. Have a lady booked to come round once a week startng in two weeks, and that is for genuine French language lessons before stanage or ka manage to worm an insinuation in there lol.
I was in the impots office in Ceret today and an openly gay bloke was called Madam over the tannoy. The sudden sharp turn of head and Larry Grayson style flick said it all before he got a "Oh. Pardon" over the same tannoy. The surpressed laughter now became open and loud, but thankfully I don't have to go back to that impots office now.
I was in the impots office in Ceret today and an openly gay bloke was called Madam over the tannoy. The sudden sharp turn of head and Larry Grayson style flick said it all before he got a "Oh. Pardon" over the same tannoy. The surpressed laughter now became open and loud, but thankfully I don't have to go back to that impots office now.
#28
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,094
Re: How long did it take you to learn french ?
I am making efforts Brenda honest. Have a lady booked to come round once a week startng in two weeks, and that is for genuine French language lessons before stanage or ka manage to worm an insinuation in there lol.
I was in the impots office in Ceret today and an openly gay bloke was called Madam over the tannoy. The sudden sharp turn of head and Larry Grayson style flick said it all before he got a "Oh. Pardon" over the same tannoy. The surpressed laughter now became open and loud, but thankfully I don't have to go back to that impots office now.
I was in the impots office in Ceret today and an openly gay bloke was called Madam over the tannoy. The sudden sharp turn of head and Larry Grayson style flick said it all before he got a "Oh. Pardon" over the same tannoy. The surpressed laughter now became open and loud, but thankfully I don't have to go back to that impots office now.
Now C.B. would he do a thing like thatto you,i think notand deep down i think you do
I would not dare one yellow card at moment,one more and out.This is not the U.S.A. (Three strikes and your out)
#29
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,551
Re: How long did it take you to learn french ?
I am making efforts Brenda honest. Have a lady booked to come round once a week startng in two weeks, and that is for genuine French language lessons before stanage or ka manage to worm an insinuation in there lol.
I was in the impots office in Ceret today and an openly gay bloke was called Madam over the tannoy. The sudden sharp turn of head and Larry Grayson style flick said it all before he got a "Oh. Pardon" over the same tannoy. The surpressed laughter now became open and loud, but thankfully I don't have to go back to that impots office now.
I was in the impots office in Ceret today and an openly gay bloke was called Madam over the tannoy. The sudden sharp turn of head and Larry Grayson style flick said it all before he got a "Oh. Pardon" over the same tannoy. The surpressed laughter now became open and loud, but thankfully I don't have to go back to that impots office now.
#30
Re: How long did it take you to learn french ?
A yellow card stanage, naughty naughty lol.
I am so naive Ka, I only found out this week what all those women sitting on plastic chairs on the road between Jonquera and Figueres were doing.
I am so naive Ka, I only found out this week what all those women sitting on plastic chairs on the road between Jonquera and Figueres were doing.