An easy way to update or keep practising your French is to go to a French speaking branch of Toastmasters International speakers' clubs. We have one in London, there must be several in Canada, and I went to a meeting of Francophone in Singapore.
On most trips to Singapore I have missed the Francophone meeting because they meet only once a month. However, on my last trip to Singapore I was in luck. Their current venue was the Alliance Francaise, a large building on the corner of Sarkies Road, near Newton Circus with the Newton MRT (underground railway) only yards away. That venue is also near the Sheraton Towers Hotel where the first and biggest English speaking Toastmasters group meets the first three Monday of every month.
The Alliance Francaise ground floor has a reception desk. Alongside are various leaflets and magazines in French or about French events such as the Circle Du Soleil, or French circus.
Upstairs is a cafe, the Olio bites. The decor is a warm red. They sell sandwiches and cheesecake.
I arrived early which gave me a chance to look at the Toastmasters international manual in French, which I borrowed from one of the members who was setting up the room.
Even though I speak French fluently with a good accent, I was amazed how many words were either technical, or current jargon. A practical guide is Un guide pratique. Just looking at the cover of the manual, I am learning new phrases and can keep re-reading and saying the phrases until they are fixed in my mind.
The manual translates Where Leaders Are Made as Où se forment les leaders.
The first word I learned was that guests are called invité. Invited. I was a guest. But not invited! I had invited myself.
You can buy the manual through the Toastmasters International website if you are already a member of if you are setting up a Toastmasters group. (If you are not and have never been a member of Toastmasters International, you need to find a local member to help you set up a group. Area Governors are keen to start new groups and can obtain about 20 starter packs including the manual so that you can hand them out at a meeting if people are ready to sign up instantly for example if you call together a group of people, such as at your workplace.
You don't have to worry about the cost of buying all the starter packs and manuals. Toastmasters International supply a kit for starting a new club if you have a member or Area Governor.
It's most interesting to hear the French language meeting. One of the table topics was about how you would react a b c or d choices, to .... The vital missing word was the French slang or argot for 'tipsy', or merry, or drunk.
Glossary
guest - invite
guide - guide
leaders - leaders
practical - pratique
the (plural) - les
where - où
Angela Lansbury, tutor or English, public speaking, and French. Author, blogger, traveller, photographer.
On most trips to Singapore I have missed the Francophone meeting because they meet only once a month. However, on my last trip to Singapore I was in luck. Their current venue was the Alliance Francaise, a large building on the corner of Sarkies Road, near Newton Circus with the Newton MRT (underground railway) only yards away. That venue is also near the Sheraton Towers Hotel where the first and biggest English speaking Toastmasters group meets the first three Monday of every month.
The Alliance Francaise ground floor has a reception desk. Alongside are various leaflets and magazines in French or about French events such as the Circle Du Soleil, or French circus.
I arrived early which gave me a chance to look at the Toastmasters international manual in French, which I borrowed from one of the members who was setting up the room.
Even though I speak French fluently with a good accent, I was amazed how many words were either technical, or current jargon. A practical guide is Un guide pratique. Just looking at the cover of the manual, I am learning new phrases and can keep re-reading and saying the phrases until they are fixed in my mind.
The manual translates Where Leaders Are Made as Où se forment les leaders.
The first word I learned was that guests are called invité. Invited. I was a guest. But not invited! I had invited myself.
You can buy the manual through the Toastmasters International website if you are already a member of if you are setting up a Toastmasters group. (If you are not and have never been a member of Toastmasters International, you need to find a local member to help you set up a group. Area Governors are keen to start new groups and can obtain about 20 starter packs including the manual so that you can hand them out at a meeting if people are ready to sign up instantly for example if you call together a group of people, such as at your workplace.
You don't have to worry about the cost of buying all the starter packs and manuals. Toastmasters International supply a kit for starting a new club if you have a member or Area Governor.
It's most interesting to hear the French language meeting. One of the table topics was about how you would react a b c or d choices, to .... The vital missing word was the French slang or argot for 'tipsy', or merry, or drunk.
Glossary
guest - invite
guide - guide
leaders - leaders
practical - pratique
the (plural) - les
where - où
Angela Lansbury, tutor or English, public speaking, and French. Author, blogger, traveller, photographer.
No comments:
Post a Comment