Allons-y!!

Photo courtesy of morguefile.com

It's that time of year again where I hem and haw about my next solo adventure. Next year I've set my sights on France! Aah Paris, you're probably thinking, but no you are a little wrong mon chers (or whatever). I plan on staying for as short a time as possible in Paris and will venture out to the countryside. Well, that's the plan for now. I have been to Paris before, nearly 15 years ago. I tried as best I could to learn French before my arrival.  This was all early internet, mind you, where there weren't a crapload of resources I could turn to for online learning. I was only armed with my French 101 college text book with no cassette tape accompanying it.

     By the time the trip arrived, I felt I was at least armed enough to say pleasantries and ask for simple directions. The French people I encountered, however, had other plans. My attempts to speak with the natives was thwarted most of the time..sometimes rudely. Looking back, my pronunciation was probably horrifying to the point of insulting as I had no one to practice with while I was learning and was too poor to take classes. I probably also sounded like a hick with my southern accent on top, 'Saloo, commahnt allay voo?'. While I did have a fun time with my friends, I couldn't help but think when I left that it would've been so much better if I knew how to communicate to the regular joes/josephines on the street. It very much felt like I just saw the city, but didn't experience the city, so much so that the thought of Paris today leaves me a little cold. Now that I'm a bit more experienced in travel, I want to give it a second shot. It's my white whale and I want to conquer that bitch! 

     Ever since then I've stopped and started learning this language off and on throughout the years. Oddly enough it's my favorite language, even over Brazilian Portuguese, but I couldn't stay motivated. Now I've decided to restart in earnest since this trip will be occurring next year around this time. Not only this trip being the motivator, but I also love French music and movies. There are a lot more free resources/options available for self-study as well. I have this entire week off so now is the time for some intensive studying. I'm going to hunker down and eat, breathe, sleep it for the next 7 days. No English allowed! Everyone says that I should get a language partner right away, but aside from saying hello I wouldn't know what else to say. Right now my goal is to just have a simple conversation with someone who is fluent or a native.

That said, here is my plan for the week:

1. Go through Pimsleur French and Assimil French. 2 to 3 hours a day, no exceptions. I need to up my game on forming a sentence without thinking too hard about it.

2. Get on Memrise (so fun and addicting) and shore up vocab for an hour a day.

3. Watch French movies/tv shows and listen to French music for fun breaks.

4. By day 5, get on italki or skype and partner up with a native or pay for a tutor to practice speaking.

     The biggest hurdle for me will be speaking with someone. I am shy and am usually not a person that will initiate contact. I also really hate the fact that being a complete moron when you speak to someone in your target language for the first time and possibly forever is a pre-requisite. Why can't I just know it dammit?! I just have to put my big girl panties on, be a little Zen, and let the humiliation wash over me. The satisfaction when I was learning a bit of Brazilian Portuguese was that I got to the point where I was starting to dream in the language. I felt I had turned a major corner when that happened. Hopefully this will happen for French as well, it's a great feeling. Until then, au revoir and see y'all on the flip. Maintenant, je commence!