You Won’t Learn This in the Guide Books
Parlez-vous Francais?
Is so, please don’t answer in French. Unless it involves bathroom fixtures, I probably won’t understand it.
I took French in high school — many many years ago. The only thing I remember, and won’t burden you with trying to spell it in French, is “Stick your head in the toilet.”
The instructor taught us that the first day of class. An ice-breaker, I guess. And I still remember it.
But not much else. Of course, I never went to France or Canada, so after high school it all just slipped away like butter on a hot croissant.
Many schools today are trying new ways to help students learn and retain a new language. They have language immersion sessions and connect students of different languages via the Internet. Many schools also start earlier teaching foreign languages because students retain more at a young age.
My 4-year-old daughter knows some Spanish, thanks to a special daycare teacher and to Dora and Diego. She even corrected me once when I said green was “azul” in Spanish. (That would be blue.)
But she better watch out. I know at least one handy phrase in French. And she probably shouldn’t repeat it.
E-mail me at ssimpson@oklahoman.com and tell me about your experiences learning a new language.
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
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