Over the next few weeks, I’ll meet a number of new students, all keen to improve on their existing skills.
The past has shown that, inevitably the question of why they want to learn French crops up at our first meeting as [a] I am curious, and [b] well, there is no real [b] – I am just curious!
Most of the time, people get quite embarrassed, and mutter quickly something along the lines of:
“In Britain, we are very lazy and we expect everyone to speak English when we go somewhere on holidays or for business…”
I always point out that I, for one, have to disagree with this statement: I have been teaching French since 1991 in Scotland and have seen a lot of very motivated individuals, who undertake the study of French either for a short holiday or because they love France or for business related reasons…
There was never the sense, for me, that British people were particularly lazy, or that they were uninterested.
Do I think that languages should be promoted better at school? Definitely. I am also annoyed at the lack of grammar these days in the curriculum: grammar may seem evil and overrated, but I can assure you that it really helps if you want to speak in another language in a natural, fluent way. Unlike a parrot.
Anyway, here are some reasons for learning French given by my students in the past on their registration forms:
I’d like to be able to get by in France on my own
Switzerland!
I enjoy travelling and would hopefully like to move to France in a few years
I have a property in Nice
Plan to live in Paris for 2 months next year
To be able to communicate in another language in the hope that I can one day move abroad
To be able to speak French in France
Why not?
To have fun
To keep the brain occupied with something else than computers
I love the language
Rugby!
My interest and to assist with my work
For pleasure!
To try and maintain my level of French and also improve on it
I travel a lot and would like to live in a Francophone country.
Enjoyment: keep up skills and knowledge
Because one day I will be fluent
My girlfriend is French and I want to communicate with her family.
If I don’t keep practising I’ll forget it all
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why people want to take up French or brush up on their existing skills!
Some people just do it because it’s there – their own personal Everest if you may. Others have a specific objective in mind: property, retirement, love, sporting events…
Learning another language is difficult and can be disheartening at the best of times: a few years ago I took up Russian in preparation for a trip on the Transsiberian. I have to say this was a truly humbling experience.
As a student, you do go through ups and downs: when you finally think you are beginning to ‘get it’, something else crops up, and you’re back to square 1… The other thing that really bugged me is: you practise things in class, bits of ‘conversation’ etc… Then, you arrive in the country and… You are lost! Can’t seem to do anything right! But in the end if you keep at it, you reap some rewards: you manage to buy your own train tickets, you have a kind of conversation with other people, you get a glimpse of the country from the inside, you compliment someone on the meal they have prepared in a language they understand (well, or kind of understand, given my half-baked Russian)… Just those little things make it all worthwhile…
Anyway… all this to say that learning another language is scary, but it is in no way insurmountable. It can even prove quite a fun and enjoyable hobby, if the conditions are right and the atmosphere in class is quite relaxed and friendly!
Should you wish to meet me, to know more about what levels I am offering this term, or for some advice, don’t hesitate to contact me!
It’s exam time and you’re in a panic! No need to be 🙂
Lise Morel taught language and literature at the University of Edinburgh and the University of  Aberdeen. She’s used to the standards required and will give you the support and advice you need in such stressful times. She has successfully coached students in the following areas:
»»» Use a dictionary more effectively.
»»» What makes a good translation.
»»» The internet as information tool.
»Literature.
»»» Feel less intimidated by literary texts.
»»» Discover literary theory.
»»» Genres and literary trends.
»History & Civilisation.
»»» Learn French history as taught in France.
»»» Key dates and historical figures.
»»» Get a grip on Current Affairs.
»Oral presentation for finals.
»»» Identify the important issues .
»»» Say what you mean, clearly & logically.
»»» Your presentation objectively assessed.
Students benefit from reduced rates on presentation of their NUS card for individual tuition
Whatever your own circumstances may be, our individual tuition is tailor-made for you, using carefully designed material, or on occasion manuals if we feel you may respond better to a more traditional method of learning. All training material used in class is included in the fees, so there will be no nasty surprises – and the materials are yours to keep: no one will ask you to give them back at the end of the course!
After your free 30 minutes consultation, Lise will advise you as to what solution will be most suited to your individual needs, and she will devise a training plan which will be emailed or sent to you before the first lesson is arranged, so you get a chance to have your say about what you will learn!
Lise Morel has 19 years of experience in language training, and knows all the tricks of the trade – you will quickly speak (and listen!), through a range of interactive techniques.
Contact Lise now to arrange your meeting!
A choice of tea, coffee or herbal tea is available free of charge during the lesson.
Whether you are at university and you are getting exam-panic, or whether you require help for your child for CGSE, Higher or A-Level, or just to give your child an extra hand, Read More…
Maybe your child has moved to a new school and the standard is substantially higher than in his/her former school. Or he/she may feel demotivated and discouraged, and has stopped paying attention to the classroom. because he/she does not understand what the teacher is talking about. Or maybe he/she just needs a little bit of revisions before an important exam.
Whatever your reasons may be for choosing to give extra support to your child, we are here to help. We’re experienced , but most of all friendly, and your child will regain his/her confidence in no time, through a range of fun activities : typically, just a few weeks are necessary to give your child that extra boost that will make all the difference and enable him/her to follow better in class and gain this invaluable asset that is a second language.
»French GCSE.
»»» Revise the vocabulary you need to pass.
»»» Feel less intimidated by verbs.
»»» Write short essays more effectively.
»French Higher / A Level.
»»» Feel less intimidated by literary texts.
»»» Practise complex grammatical structures.
»»» Say what you mean, clearly & logically.
Whatever your child’s circumstances, our individual tuition is tailor-made for them, using carefully designed material, or on occasion manuals if we feel your child may respond better to a more traditional method of learning. All training material used in class is included in the fees, so there will be no nasty surprises – and the materials are your child’s to keep: no one will ask him/her to give them back at the end of the course!
After a free 30 minutes consultation, Lise will advise you and your child as to what solution will be most suited to his/her individual needs, and she will devise a training plan which will be emailed or sent to you and your child before the first lesson is arranged, so you both get a chance to have your say about the training!
Lise Morel has 19 years of experience in language training, and knows all the tricks of the trade – your child will quickly and noticeably improve, thanks to a range of interactive techniques.
Book your session(s) with the Grammar Fairy (£15/session) and start improving your grammar and language skills in French next week!
â–ºBook £15 for a specific session (for online payment see above) â–ºBook full 10 weeks for £130 – contact us for more information â–ºIntermediate to Advanced level (B1-C1) â–ºThe workshops take place in Minto Street, in Edinburgh â–ºEasy access by public transport â–ºLimited to 8 people per workshop â–ºTea and coffee are included, as well as all the documents used during the workshop
â–ºIntermediate to Advanced level (B1-C1) â–ºThe workshops take place in Minto Street, in Edinburgh â–ºEasy access by public transport â–ºLimited to 8 people per workshop â–ºTea and coffee are included, as well as all the documents used during the workshop
Wednesdays, 10-11.30am – £100 for 10 weeks (15 hours)
You have studied French at basic level and you are ready to start talking! This is the course for you: thanks to carefully designed exercises, your communicating skills will improve.
You can expect to learn more about the past and future tenses, whilst consolidating what you have already acquired.
We will be following a specific training programme, but this does not mean this will be definite and fixed: for me, it is important to follow the group’s needs, and adapt the course to your needs, rather than to what I have planned originally!
By the end of the course, you will have increased confidence with speaking and will be able to cope well with basic conversation, and you will be able to handle short newspaper articles etc…
Contact Lise today to check if this is the right class for you: Free 30 minutes assessment of your present level!
The fees include documents used in class, as well as a selection of tea/coffee/herbal teas.
Minimum number of students: 4
Maximum number of students: 8
For more information and for a free assessment of your level to determine if this is the right group for you, contact Lise at lise@edilang.com or on (0131) 557 27 34.
Lise is a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists
The new term for group French classes will start on w/c 19th of September 2011.
There will be noticeably less choice than previous years due to the development of my translating activities in the past few months and existing students will have priority booking until early September 2011, after which date the classes will be open to everyone.
