Language Preparations
It’s really hard to learn French in Arkansas.
I’ve been told there’s a fairly large French community here because of companies like Falcon Jet, and Maybelline/L’Oreal, but I guess they keep to themselves because, aside from the occasional Francophone I pick out at the Clinton School Lectures, I don’t really see too many of the French around town.
There also aren’t too many French majors at UALR. Our department is fairly small with only three professors, but they do a pretty good job. There are no actual native French speakers that teach my classes, but that’s ok, I guess.
I’ve had few opportunities to really speak French outside of my classes. The first time, I was at a party celebrating the 21st birthday of one of the French foreign exchange students, Arnaud. I hadn’t actually met him before the party, but after a few drinks we got to talking, and it came up that I studied French and would be spending the next year abroad. He started to speaking to me in French. I didn’t expect I would understand him as well as I did, but maybe inebriation is the key to making breakthroughs in foreign languages. I respondeden francaisand I think we were both drunk enough to not care how bad my French probably was. I thought I sounded pretty good! He understood me, and we had a brief conversation.Depuis quand vous-etudiez le francais? Depuis deux ans.Et cetera.
But, anyways, it’s still hard to learn French in Arkansas. My French pronunciation class is serving me well for speaking, but I don’t get much vocabulary practice that doesn’t involve les voyelles etles syllabes. The only other French classes I’ve had are Beginning French I and II, and also Intermediate French. And so, I’ve taken it upon myself to do some outside studying.
I have two French reading books—Better Reading Frenchand Easy French Reader—and also a grammar book—Complete French Grammar. I’ve just ordered Milan Kundera’s Une Rencontre because I just finished it in English and I’d love to take a swing at it in French (I always feel cheated reading a translated work, like I’m not getting the real meaning). I read what I can understand of Le Mondeevery morning. It’s interesting reading a non-American newspaper anyway. Everyday I recognize a few new words that I didn’t know the day before.
My goal is to finish both reading books and the grammar text by the time the semester is over. Before I leave for France in the late summer, my goal is to be (at least) semi-fluent reading French. That will make picking up the speaking a loteasier. Besides, some of my favorite authors wrote in French, and I’d love to be able to start reading their work in the original language. As I mentioned above, I always feel cheated reading a translation.
A Brief Update: Some Changes of Plans
Well, as I promised, it’s been awhile since I made that first post, and a few things have changed:
After meeting with my French adviser a few weeks ago, I’ve decided that I will be spending not one semester, but two semesters, in France. This is a decision I am incredibly happy about. How did this happen? Well, as a sophomore, I’m already only 3 hours away from finishing my English degree, and this gives me time to really devote myself to my French studies. I want to immerse myself in the French culture and develop my language skills as fully as possible. Furthermore, by spending a full school term in France, I’ll be able to receive most of the credits for my French major abroad (24 hours!). It’s going to be a much more formative experience taking French language and literature in France (obviously).
So, here’s the updated plan, subject to (subtle) changes:
1. I’ll be taking a French conversation class this summer from May to July at UALR in order to be a little more prepared before jumping into the culture.
2. I will leave for France sometime between July and August (school doesn’t start until September).
3. Depending on when I get to Europe, I will spend time traveling. Many of my classmates will be in Spain until mid-late July, and I’ll try and meet up with them if I’m there at that time.
4. While in France, I will spend the holidays with my host family and/or with my cousin, who lives with her husband in Paris.
For now, I still need to apply to the university, register with Campus France, and apply for my student VISA. More to come!
- Caitlin
P.S. And can I just say again how EXCITED I am to be spending a year abroad?
Introductions
For six months in 2012, I will be living and traveling in Europe. For the first 2 - 3 months, I plan on traveling sometimes solo and sometimes with friends through bits of Spain, France, Switzerland, Ireland, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and back South and then East for a bit. The plan so far for the summer is simply to see as much of Europe as possible. (Not hastily of course, because, how I could I really experience Europe if I try to hit one country in a single day?) At the end of August, I start school in Orleans, France, where I will be staying with a host family, learning to speak the language and understand the culture.
This blog has three purposes:
Firstly, it serves as a landfill for all my junk ideas leading up to my actual departure from Little Rock in late May/early June. That is, all my brainstorming and preparation, excitement and apprehensions will be cataloged here over the next five months as I complete Study Abroad applications, buy backpacking gear, and plan out my life from June 2012 - January 2013. This part is all for me, so I get everything sorted out in my head.
When I’m in Europe, I’ll keep up with the blog as much as possible while on the road (I haven’t decided for or against bringing my laptop). Family, friends, and stalkers can keep up with my adventures through the pictures, videos, and prose documenting my trip abroad.
Finally, I plan on keeping up with the blog for, at least, a few months after I get back, just to document my adjustments back into American culture. In 2013, we may (or may not) have a new president. The world will have ended (remember the Mayans?). My baby brother will have started college. And I’ll be getting back from an incredible six month adventure, re-acculturating myself into America.
And that’s why this is “the round trip.” I plan on documenting everything from now until a few months after I get back.
But, don’t expect this to be updated frequently for awhile. The new semester hasn’t even started (I may be jumping the gun on starting this blog). But once the blog gets going, and once I get to Europe, keep up with me! Shoot me an email (‘ask’ for it, if you don’t already know it) or send me a message on Facebook. I have Skype, too. Give me your address, and I’ll send you a real post card from…abroad.
But all that isn’t for awhile. Right now, I’m just giddy about leaving on a plane in less than five months to have my first grown up adventure.
