For the most part I live in English-speaking culture. My family speaks English. All my web/email interactions are in English. The dominant language of SHAPE is English. In touristy areas, shopkeepers speak English. Church is in English. Chievres isn't only English-speaking, it is completely American.
The first few times a stranger addressed me in French, I was startled and it took a few moments for my brain to catch up and respond appropriately. Now I'm a bit faster on the uptake. Not only that, but I do enjoy hearing and speaking French. Conversationally, I'm still quite slow, but every day interactions with strangers are getting a bit better.
I like greeting people with a "bonjour!" as I walk the dog and wishing store keepers a "bonne journee" (good day).
I can ask for a pork roast at the butcher's counter and respond when someone wants the extra chair at the dance studio. I'm not a great French speaker, but I'm decent. People quickly realize French is not my first language. They also are generally pleased I am making the effort.
I like the mental exercise of thinking and speaking in French and I expect if I keep at it, it will continue to improve until I once again move back to the US and forget everything I've learned.
Until then- Bonne Journee!
Showing posts with label language. Show all posts
Showing posts with label language. Show all posts
Monday, October 18, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Conversion
Living in a culture that is not one's own requires a good amount of mental energy. First one has to discipline one's self to not assume that everyone does things the same way (and not to assume that one's culture does things the "best" or "right" way) and then one must be disciplined to be open to other ways, thoughts, and habits.
As Americans we are well indulged in our way of doing things. We can travel fairly far and still find ourselves in our own culture. From the east coast to the west coast (and into Canada) we encounter the same language, same TV shows, same stores, same restaurants and for the most part similar styles of dress. Each region may have a particular flare/personality but if you don't like it, you just head for the Gap or McDonald's.
In Belgium, we can find bits and pieces of American culture and those touchstones are helpful. We get some American TV, in the Chievres commissary and PX we can find American products, and on base the primary language is English.
Some people can and do limit themselves to speaking English the entire time they live here and socializing only with Americans and only shopping at Chievres.
It is hard work to push beyond one's culture. Mentally I am always converting things. Like road signs - they are all in French (except when they are in Flemish). For many weeks I traveled down a road that displayed a caution sign. I knew I was to be aware of something, but didn't know what. The sign said "ornieres" As a family we had a running debate about these dangerous ornieres. Was it farm equipment? an animal? Eventually, I looked it up - ruts.
Telling time is a process of conversion. Europeans use military time. On Monday's Kyra's dance class begins at 1800, on Wednesdays at 1900, on Fridays at 1700 and on Saturdays 1430. The clocks in our home are set for military time. Whenever it is 15 something, I always have to pause and figure things out. Perhaps in another few months I'll just know or maybe not.
My oven is Celsius - my recipes are Fahrenheit as are all the heating instructions on products bought at the commissary. I have a Celsius/Fahrenheit conversion website on my Bookmarks bar.
To figure out the day's weather is a two step process. First I find a weather website then I go to the conversion website. I do know 6 (today's low) is cold but I don't know how cold (43) and I know that 15 (today's high) will feel better (59) but how warm can I expect to get?
These are simple everyday things - cooking, telling time, driving down the road. We do them without thinking - unless even these things are foreign.
In learning a language there is a stage that sometimes comes after much time and persistence - the stage when one begins to think in the other language without translating out of or into English first. I hope that stage comes for me when I am not constantly converting language, culture, time or numbers. It will probably happen right before we move back to the U.S.
As Americans we are well indulged in our way of doing things. We can travel fairly far and still find ourselves in our own culture. From the east coast to the west coast (and into Canada) we encounter the same language, same TV shows, same stores, same restaurants and for the most part similar styles of dress. Each region may have a particular flare/personality but if you don't like it, you just head for the Gap or McDonald's.
In Belgium, we can find bits and pieces of American culture and those touchstones are helpful. We get some American TV, in the Chievres commissary and PX we can find American products, and on base the primary language is English.
Some people can and do limit themselves to speaking English the entire time they live here and socializing only with Americans and only shopping at Chievres.
It is hard work to push beyond one's culture. Mentally I am always converting things. Like road signs - they are all in French (except when they are in Flemish). For many weeks I traveled down a road that displayed a caution sign. I knew I was to be aware of something, but didn't know what. The sign said "ornieres" As a family we had a running debate about these dangerous ornieres. Was it farm equipment? an animal? Eventually, I looked it up - ruts.
Telling time is a process of conversion. Europeans use military time. On Monday's Kyra's dance class begins at 1800, on Wednesdays at 1900, on Fridays at 1700 and on Saturdays 1430. The clocks in our home are set for military time. Whenever it is 15 something, I always have to pause and figure things out. Perhaps in another few months I'll just know or maybe not.
My oven is Celsius - my recipes are Fahrenheit as are all the heating instructions on products bought at the commissary. I have a Celsius/Fahrenheit conversion website on my Bookmarks bar.
To figure out the day's weather is a two step process. First I find a weather website then I go to the conversion website. I do know 6 (today's low) is cold but I don't know how cold (43) and I know that 15 (today's high) will feel better (59) but how warm can I expect to get?
These are simple everyday things - cooking, telling time, driving down the road. We do them without thinking - unless even these things are foreign.
In learning a language there is a stage that sometimes comes after much time and persistence - the stage when one begins to think in the other language without translating out of or into English first. I hope that stage comes for me when I am not constantly converting language, culture, time or numbers. It will probably happen right before we move back to the U.S.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
French Class
SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) appropriately enough has a language center. SHAPE employees and their families speak English, French, German, Flemish, Romanian, Greek, Spanish and many other languages. The primary language is English as Americans dominate and we don't speak other languages. In this part of Belgium, the primary language is French. For this reason the language center offers primarily English and French classes, but other languages are available as well.
This week is test week at the language center. Next week classes start.
Today was my placement test. I began studying French when I was in 7th grade (the grade Kyra is in now). I took the French AP test when I was in high school. I minored in French in college. I have studied French. However, it has been a long time since I studied and used my French. I find bits and pieces are coming back to me. I can make my general intent understood.
I'm pretty sure I sound like an idiot as well. When I was registering Kyra for dance classes, I am confident that my subject verb agreement was off, as well as my verb tenses. I think I sounded something like this. "My daughter, she to dance. She dance much. She good. She to dance with girls of more age. She nine classes one year. I make registration for she. I pay?"
My placement test was a ten minute conversation in French with two of the teachers. Where do I live, where did I move from. When did I arrive. Do I have children, how old, etc. Once again my verb tenses were where I struggled.
The language center has 4 levels of instruction - beginner, elementary, intermediate and advanced. Some of these have a further distinction of pre- or + or upper. I have been placed in intermediate +. We'll see how it goes, I start next Tuesday.
This week is test week at the language center. Next week classes start.
Today was my placement test. I began studying French when I was in 7th grade (the grade Kyra is in now). I took the French AP test when I was in high school. I minored in French in college. I have studied French. However, it has been a long time since I studied and used my French. I find bits and pieces are coming back to me. I can make my general intent understood.
I'm pretty sure I sound like an idiot as well. When I was registering Kyra for dance classes, I am confident that my subject verb agreement was off, as well as my verb tenses. I think I sounded something like this. "My daughter, she to dance. She dance much. She good. She to dance with girls of more age. She nine classes one year. I make registration for she. I pay?"
My placement test was a ten minute conversation in French with two of the teachers. Where do I live, where did I move from. When did I arrive. Do I have children, how old, etc. Once again my verb tenses were where I struggled.
The language center has 4 levels of instruction - beginner, elementary, intermediate and advanced. Some of these have a further distinction of pre- or + or upper. I have been placed in intermediate +. We'll see how it goes, I start next Tuesday.
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