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Learning French in Paris: Alliance Française – Week 5

// October 12th, 2009 // General

The following post is likely to be of very little interest to most readers of AmericInParis, other than my mom, but I’m going to share it anyway. I’m now in week 5 of my French classes at Alliance Française here in Paris. I’ve learned a lot, including several verb tenses: passe compose, present, and futur simple. This past Friday we had our first written exam that required us to use all three tenses. The assignment: Write a letter to someone as though we were currently on a trip. Requirements, use all three tenses (past, present and future), use time-phrases (e.g. Yesterday, afterwards, tomorrow, etc.) and talk about activities. The strike-throughs and red font are things my teacher crossed out or changed (adding letters, accents, correcting verbs, etc.). This was an in-class exam, no dictionary allowed. Anyway, enough suspense, the following is the mini-essay I wrote:

Chére Eleonore,

Je suis à Paris maintenant pour un voyage avec mon ami Taylor. Paris est une ville magnifique, grand et peuplée. Il y a beaucoup des monuments!

Hier, Taylor et moi sommes allés à au musée de Louvre. Aussi, nous avons mangé dans un resto trés génial. J’ai mangé le meilleur déjeuner de ma vie! Après, nous avons vu un film dans sur les Champs-Elysées.

Aujourd’hui, nous avons visité Notre Dame–c’est une cathédrale très beau belle. Mais, il pleaut et il fait un peau peu frais donc maintenant, il faut porter beaucoup des vêtements! A 16h, nous  aurons irons a Les aux Invalides a voir le tombeau Nàpoleon.

Finalement, a demain Taylor et moi, nous visiterons l’Arch de Triumph, l’Opera, et la le Jardin du Luxembourg. Je pense que nous dinerons avec un amie de Taylor aussi.

Actuellment, j’aime cette ville. Je voudrais habiter ici et je ne veux pas partir de Paris! Mais, je devraisa aua lundi. Je suis te téléphonerai toi à lundi quand je rentrerai a chez moi! retourner travail

Bisous,

Miguel

The following is a rough translation for those of you who don’t speak French. Please bare in mind that I wasn’t really shooting for style or deep-thoughts!

Dear Eleonore,

I’m in Paris right now for a trip with my friend Taylor. Paris is a city that is magnificent, big and populous. There are many monuments!

Yesterday, Taylor and I went to the Louvre. Also, we ate in a great restaurant. I ate the best lunch of my life! Afterwards, we saw a movie on the Champs Elysees.

Today, we visited Notre Dame–it is a very beautiful Cathedral! But it rained and it is chilly, therefore it is necessary to where a lot of clothes! A 4PM, we will go to Invalides to view Napoleon’s tomb.

Finally, tomorrow Taylor and I will visit the Arch de Triumph, Opera, and the Luxembourg Garden. I think that we will eat dinner with a friend of Taylor’s, as well.

Actually, I love this city. I would like to live here and I don’t want to leave Paris! But, I have to return to work on Monday! I will call you on Monday when I return to my house.

Kisses,

Miguel

So that was my written exam for which I received a “bien!” from my teacher. A lot of red marks, but I’m not going to lie…I was quite pleased with myself. Considering that I had never studied a single word of French prior to coming to Paris, I think things are coming along quite well for 5 weeks. I guess there is hope for not being a mono-lingual American after all.