University Style/ France
Dec 7th, 2015, 10:42 AM
#21
jfgarner, glad to read you are enjoying your experience and that you have discovered that your own clothes are fine. You have probably learned more French than you realize, but of course it is difficult to feel that way when you are surrounded by native speakers. Keep at it, even after you leave!
And thank you for coming back to report about your experience. It's very interesting.
And thank you for coming back to report about your experience. It's very interesting.
Dec 7th, 2015, 11:50 AM
#22
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I meet lots of people here in Italy who have degrees in English and can't speak the language. I also know teachers of English who can't hold the most basic conversation in the language.
A lot of American colleges offer study-abroad programs that don't include much opportunity to interact with students in the host country. When my daughter decided to spend her junior year in China, she applied directly to a Chinese teachers college rather than go through the study abroad programs offered by her American university. That way she lived in a dorm with Chinese students and had a Chinese roommate (who, she suspected, had been selected for her political reliability). It's not always easy to get university credit for the experience, though.
A lot of American colleges offer study-abroad programs that don't include much opportunity to interact with students in the host country. When my daughter decided to spend her junior year in China, she applied directly to a Chinese teachers college rather than go through the study abroad programs offered by her American university. That way she lived in a dorm with Chinese students and had a Chinese roommate (who, she suspected, had been selected for her political reliability). It's not always easy to get university credit for the experience, though.
Dec 7th, 2015, 12:09 PM
#23
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Yes bvlenci - often the case here as I said with college students who know well how to read and write but can't speak - well can speak a little but can't understand things said to fast and with too much slurring of sounds and things like "Oway" in place of "Oui".
And though I do not condone St-Cirq's downright rudeness and insensitivity I do agree with her that such study abroad language classes are generally good time fluff trips where English is spoken amongst English-speaking participants largely and French is again academically presented perhaps without the accent of speaking it like the French do. You really need an immersion program with just French speakers around - as I said I studied French for three years in college and could not understand hardly anything at all once in Quebec or France - it was only when I was babysitting my young French son for two months each summer did I really learn to speak French - from my young son (and his family says I still speak French like a 6-year-old!) - only be living in the culture with French spoken all around could I begin to understand others and be understood.
again myh French born and raised son now tutors French students at a prestigious university and says few of them are fluent in speaking any meaningful kind of French - but then St Cirq has also ridiculed my son's French in various past posts so maybe he does not even speak French as good as she!
And though I do not condone St-Cirq's downright rudeness and insensitivity I do agree with her that such study abroad language classes are generally good time fluff trips where English is spoken amongst English-speaking participants largely and French is again academically presented perhaps without the accent of speaking it like the French do. You really need an immersion program with just French speakers around - as I said I studied French for three years in college and could not understand hardly anything at all once in Quebec or France - it was only when I was babysitting my young French son for two months each summer did I really learn to speak French - from my young son (and his family says I still speak French like a 6-year-old!) - only be living in the culture with French spoken all around could I begin to understand others and be understood.
again myh French born and raised son now tutors French students at a prestigious university and says few of them are fluent in speaking any meaningful kind of French - but then St Cirq has also ridiculed my son's French in various past posts so maybe he does not even speak French as good as she!
Dec 7th, 2015, 12:24 PM
#24
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Tulips, yea I am not going to search for articles the next time I visit a country ha! I'm sure your daughter loves Paris
It is gorgeous.
StCirq, I think there is a misunderstanding. When I said I cannot hardly understand french, I meant listening to french speakers. I can read, write, and speak french. I have been studying french for over five years back in the US. Also, I worked and paid for my own way to France.
Thank you all for making me feel more confident haha! I actually did expect to be speaking and listening much better. Maybe Leely2 is right and I just don't realize how much I've learned.
It is gorgeous. StCirq, I think there is a misunderstanding. When I said I cannot hardly understand french, I meant listening to french speakers. I can read, write, and speak french. I have been studying french for over five years back in the US. Also, I worked and paid for my own way to France.
Thank you all for making me feel more confident haha! I actually did expect to be speaking and listening much better. Maybe Leely2 is right and I just don't realize how much I've learned.
Dec 7th, 2015, 12:32 PM
#25
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How to meet French students while studying in France
Basically you do the same things you would do at your American university -- play chess or volleyball, join a club or religious group, volunteer, swim, etc.
Don't worry too much about going to class. All you will learn is grammar, and these credits will probably be pass-fail anyway.
My son came back extremely fluent in a certain kind of French because he joined three sports clubs and rode with French students to and from events, then hung out with them at bars when they got back to the university. His French is idiomatic, even slangy, street French, not so grammatical, perhaps, and his pronunciation fits the region. And yes, he says, "Ouai" rather than "Oui," like everyone else.
Basically you do the same things you would do at your American university -- play chess or volleyball, join a club or religious group, volunteer, swim, etc.
Don't worry too much about going to class. All you will learn is grammar, and these credits will probably be pass-fail anyway.
My son came back extremely fluent in a certain kind of French because he joined three sports clubs and rode with French students to and from events, then hung out with them at bars when they got back to the university. His French is idiomatic, even slangy, street French, not so grammatical, perhaps, and his pronunciation fits the region. And yes, he says, "Ouai" rather than "Oui," like everyone else.
Dec 7th, 2015, 01:12 PM
#26
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Hi Ackislander. Yes those are great ways to meet people. Thank you for the advice! I will be leaving France soon, but I will have to do more activities when I return. We really didn't have much time outside of school! That is awesome that you're son came back speaking really well! If you don't mind me asking, how long did he stay in france?
Dec 7th, 2015, 01:13 PM
#27
When my daughter lived in France she said nights out with French speaking friends gave her a headache from trying to follow along and participate, but she managed and she loved living in Paris. Thanks for sharing your experience. I bet you are doing much better than you are giving yourself credit for.
Dec 7th, 2015, 01:21 PM
#29
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"Ouai" rather than "Oui," like everyone else.>
not to befuddle things but everyone does not say Ouai for Oui all the time - mainly when listening to someone talk and agreeing with them IMe - they say Ouai but if someone asks you a question I think it should be Oui. Truthfully I do not understand it all and you probably knew this but just to make sure folks in France do say Oui a lot and Ouai a lot too but in different circumstances I think - I'll have to ask my French son about that. Oui?
not to befuddle things but everyone does not say Ouai for Oui all the time - mainly when listening to someone talk and agreeing with them IMe - they say Ouai but if someone asks you a question I think it should be Oui. Truthfully I do not understand it all and you probably knew this but just to make sure folks in France do say Oui a lot and Ouai a lot too but in different circumstances I think - I'll have to ask my French son about that. Oui?
Dec 7th, 2015, 01:36 PM
#30
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yestravel I'm sure she did get a lot out of those nights with french friends! I have been to several french parties back home and it is impossible to follow their conversations! And you're welcome, I'm glad to share the experiences! Thank you for the comment
Concerning ouai and oui, what I have been taught back home is that oui is more formal and ouai is informal. It's translated as yes (oui) yeah (ouai). I haven't asked a french professor about this though.
Concerning ouai and oui, what I have been taught back home is that oui is more formal and ouai is informal. It's translated as yes (oui) yeah (ouai). I haven't asked a french professor about this though.
Dec 8th, 2015, 05:30 AM
#32
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Concerning ouai and oui, what I have been taught back home is that oui is more formal and ouai is informal. It's translated as yes (oui) yeah (ouai). I haven't asked a french professor about this though.>
Exactly what my French son said this - proper settings you say Oui and Oui in any setting but Ouai is informal but yes it is just like "yes" and "yeh" or "yup" - certain circumstances dictate Oui just like in our society for yes and yeah or yup - jgarner has learned a lot of French.
Exactly what my French son said this - proper settings you say Oui and Oui in any setting but Ouai is informal but yes it is just like "yes" and "yeh" or "yup" - certain circumstances dictate Oui just like in our society for yes and yeah or yup - jgarner has learned a lot of French.
Dec 15th, 2015, 11:21 AM
#33
Now I spent a year at university in Grenoble in the early '70's. Been back numerous times to France. Didn't see this thread before, but:
1. Looks like the students are still wearing what they wore in the early '70's! Both in France and the U.S. (Non-students back in the early '70's dressed a bit differently. It was the year of the tight fitting double knits, ugh!)
2. I learned how to think in French and bypass the translating part. A huge accomplishment.
3. I had French slang down pat. And yes, "oui" is yes, and "ouai" is yeah. The Asterix comic series helped. A lot. Had the accent down as well.
4. Going up to Paris periodically, as I had friends who lived there, I found that going to Paris student parties, I would get headaches. Not from the wine, but from having to concentrate too hard to understand the fast paced French. In Grenoble, the language pace was much slower and the accents more aligned to what I learned at Uni in California.
1. Looks like the students are still wearing what they wore in the early '70's! Both in France and the U.S. (Non-students back in the early '70's dressed a bit differently. It was the year of the tight fitting double knits, ugh!)
2. I learned how to think in French and bypass the translating part. A huge accomplishment.
3. I had French slang down pat. And yes, "oui" is yes, and "ouai" is yeah. The Asterix comic series helped. A lot. Had the accent down as well.
4. Going up to Paris periodically, as I had friends who lived there, I found that going to Paris student parties, I would get headaches. Not from the wine, but from having to concentrate too hard to understand the fast paced French. In Grenoble, the language pace was much slower and the accents more aligned to what I learned at Uni in California.
