compilerbitch (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
compilerbitch) wrote2005-10-21 12:01 pm
compilerbitch) wrote2005-10-21 12:01 pm
Comment dit-on «bungee jumping» en français?
I had my first French lesson at the language centre last night.
For some reason, I got put into the Intermediate II group, which seems to be the most hardcore taught course that they currently run. To my considerable shock (and I wasn't alone), the teaching was entirely in French, with no English used at all. I amazed myself by actually managing to keep up, but by the end of two hours I was a nervous wreck. Being picked on first to describe my conversation partner in French scared the living bejeesus out of me, it having been the first time anyone had made me do that since 1983. Yep, 22 years ago. I have been working at de-rustifying myself for the last month or two, with some moderate success. 2 months ago, I was hazy on the difference between avoir and être, so to already be (just about) coping at this level is rather more than I'd have expected.
To be honest, the material covered in the lesson was pretty basic, but the fact that it was covered entirely in French meant that I had to go into concentration super-overdrive. If you're a Dragonball Z fan, imagine Goku powering up into Super-Saiyan mode. I don't think I went blonde (although I probably came across that way, albeit in deed rather than actuality), and I'm farly sure my eyes weren't glowing, but that was me.
I am officially the Worst In Class. And it gives me a buzz like bungee jumping. Or, at least, like the buzz that I'd imagine I'd probably, in theory, get if I did attempt bungee jumping in an ideal world. A more likely reality would be being terrified out of my mind, shaking in a corner for several days. Thinking about it, I think that would have been a more sensible response to the French class too, but one does what one must.
For some reason, I got put into the Intermediate II group, which seems to be the most hardcore taught course that they currently run. To my considerable shock (and I wasn't alone), the teaching was entirely in French, with no English used at all. I amazed myself by actually managing to keep up, but by the end of two hours I was a nervous wreck. Being picked on first to describe my conversation partner in French scared the living bejeesus out of me, it having been the first time anyone had made me do that since 1983. Yep, 22 years ago. I have been working at de-rustifying myself for the last month or two, with some moderate success. 2 months ago, I was hazy on the difference between avoir and être, so to already be (just about) coping at this level is rather more than I'd have expected.
To be honest, the material covered in the lesson was pretty basic, but the fact that it was covered entirely in French meant that I had to go into concentration super-overdrive. If you're a Dragonball Z fan, imagine Goku powering up into Super-Saiyan mode. I don't think I went blonde (although I probably came across that way, albeit in deed rather than actuality), and I'm farly sure my eyes weren't glowing, but that was me.
I am officially the Worst In Class. And it gives me a buzz like bungee jumping. Or, at least, like the buzz that I'd imagine I'd probably, in theory, get if I did attempt bungee jumping in an ideal world. A more likely reality would be being terrified out of my mind, shaking in a corner for several days. Thinking about it, I think that would have been a more sensible response to the French class too, but one does what one must.
no subject
C'est vrai que tu as déjà écrit les deux tiers de ta thèse? Ton truc ne ment pas? Je ne m'en reviens pas!
no subject
Courage? Moi? Vraiment, c'est peur de postdoc a ENS! Mais je vais travailler a NASA Ames au lieu de Paris... Alors, je dois etre insane!
J'ai déjà écrits trois tiers, mais j'ai dois faire beaucoup de écriture toujours. Il y a six mois... pas de probleme. Je sais... je ésperers!
(Corrigez mon francais s'il te plait?)
Corrections...
mon amie [amie: fs, rather than amis: mp. And even though amie is f, the possessive pronoun becomes mon so you don't have two vowel sounds together, something which French generally hates.]
être [needs cirumflex as the original form was estre]
folle [mad = fou / folle]
écrit [past participle of écrire]
trois tiers = tout! [un tiers means one third, not one chapter.]
je dois faire [present tense, not past]
d'écriture [French still hates two vowel sounds together, so de elides to d'.]
encore [toujours = always; encore = still, in this context]
Il me reste six mois [il y a + duration means that length of time ago. il reste means there is whatever left]
j'éspère [je + vowel elides; also you need the ordinary present tense.]
Corrige [If you're calling me tu you should use the second person singular of the imperative, not the second person plural.]
français [cedilla to make the c soft]
plaît [out of sheer pedantry, circumflex on the i there.]