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Hi from an Australian in Paris | ||
Tags: Introduction | French | ||
 Language Learning Forum : Members profiles |  | |
| Moniker Newbie Australia Joined 4592 days ago 14 posts - 15 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Esperanto, FrenchB1 | Message 1 of 5 23 April 2012 at 8:21pm | IP Logged |
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Hi everyone (et salut à tous),
My name's Nicole, I'm 21 and I've been living in Paris since January this year. Before I moved, I'd lived my whole life in Australia, though I've always been fascinated by other cultures and seized every opportunity to travel (we're such a geographically isolated continent, it gets expensive quickly!). I'm here now in Paris for as long as my budget can last, which I estimate will be until around September. If and when I can get a job, I hope to stay longer. I'm studying French full time and have been since I arrived. Before that, I'd taken sporadic once-a-week classes with Alliance Française and done a few study sessions with my French-teaching Aunt, but I was firmly at a low A1 level. Arriving here felt like starting from scratch. This whole process of acquiring a language is new to me, and I'm finding it fascinating. I don't remember being this engaged with learning anything since I was in primary school, and as difficult as it is, it's also very satisfying. Being members of this forum, I'm sure you know the feeling. ;) I look forward to getting to know you all. À plus! 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| iguanamon Pentaglot Senior Member Virgin Islands Speaks: Ladino Joined 5252 days ago 2241 posts - 6731 votes  Speaks: English*, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Creole (French) | Message 2 of 5 23 April 2012 at 9:38pm | IP Logged |
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Welcome to the forum, Nicole! You seem to be doing quite well with French, having gone from A1 to B1 in such a short time. You'll no doubt be even farther along by September. Good to have you here and best of luck with advancing your French!
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| Moniker Newbie Australia Joined 4592 days ago 14 posts - 15 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Esperanto, FrenchB1 | Message 3 of 5 23 April 2012 at 10:33pm | IP Logged |
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Thank you, Iguanamon!
Sometimes I wonder whether I'm a 'true' B1, since my school has a reputation for being lenient with the CEFRL levels. However, when I read the description of what I should be able to do, I can accomplish it all. My speech in French just seems so...stilted and unnatural still. Like, even if I know a word I'll sometimes hesitate before I say it, or pause afterwards to make sure it was understood. I'm getting better at letting my thoughts flow, though. I think once I start speaking with a more natural rhythm I won't feel like such an imposter when I claim to be B1. ;) Still, it's very encouraging to hear someone call it fast progress! Sometimes I feel like I'm learning so slowly for someone doing full-time study AND almost complete immersion. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| iguanamon Pentaglot Senior Member Virgin Islands Speaks: Ladino Joined 5252 days ago 2241 posts - 6731 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Creole (French) | Message 4 of 5 23 April 2012 at 10:48pm | IP Logged |
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Hang in there. Use French as often as possible. Limit your use of English and try to avoid falling into the expat trap of only socializing with other English-speakers outside of classes. B1 is an accomplishment. Being hesitant is part of it. That will get better the more you use and speak French. Stop fretting, you're doing fine!
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| Moniker Newbie Australia Joined 4592 days ago 14 posts - 15 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Esperanto, FrenchB1 | Message 5 of 5 23 April 2012 at 10:52pm | IP Logged |
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Wise words :) Thank you for the advice and encouragement!
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