Needless to say, its been an adjustment. I have only thought twice about buying a plane ticket back to the United States, once after downing the Nutella and once after meeting my language professor. Its not so much that she is somehow scary or intimidating, its that she is surprisingly scary and intimidating. I have only heard one "Well done!" come out of her mouth so far, and I can assure you that it was not directed at me. When you think of the French in general, you will be thinking of my professor. She rarely gives compliments or encouragement, she is strict, and she is extremely protective of her language.
While preparing for my semester abroad (a preparation, which I must admit, did nothing to prepare me for the real France), I had read somewhere that the French go about teaching in a different way than Americans. When an American student gets something wrong, the teacher says, "Good guess, but no. Would you like to try again?" When a French student gets something wrong, the teacher says, "No, no, no." When an American student gets something right, its "Yes! Well done!" When a French student gets something right, its met with, "Moving right along..." Its an interesting difference that I can't say I find unattractive. I really actually enjoy the criticism, truthfully, I do. The fear of being wrong has a funny way of clarifying your answers.
Classes, in general, are very interesting. I found out very quickly that although I can drift off in class while the professor is speaking english and still be able to answer correctly, it is not so in French. I have never concentrated this hard in my life, which is one of the draws of the classes. Everything is interesting and new because I am constantly learning new vocabulary or new ways to express ideas and opinions. Its a constant challenge to keep up with everyone else in the courses but that's what makes it so fun.
Classes are run differently by the French, and I have learned quite a few nuances of classroom etiquette. Cell phones are, in general, allowed, and in one particular case, my professor's cell phone rang during class, and she spent the next ten minutes in the hallway chatting.
I've also found that having a classroom with twelve students from twelve different countries is the recipe for a unique experience:
Austrians, because of their educational system, will always question and debate with their superiors. Its just the way they have been taught to interact with their professors.
Moldovans will always raise their hands before speaking and treat the professor with utmost respect.
Italians will always try to make Italian words sound French when they cannot remember the word in French. They always roll their "r's".
Algerian females are quiet, timid, and above all, always have their hair covered with beautiful scarves.
Algerian males are talkative and confident, the result of growing up in a male-dominated society, unlike France or the U.S.
Poles come from a country that forces its citizens to be tough and strong. The higher quality of life in France is one of the first things they will talk about when they describe their time in France. They love how much the French squeeze out of life.
Spaniards also always roll their "r's" and have a very hard time switching in between the different accents, which I don't blame them for. Its all the same vocab, just different pronunciation.
And lastly, Americans. Americans have the worst accents of all the groups. I don't know if we were just born deaf compared to most people, but for some reason, we cannot hear the nuances of the French language. I know this is a fairly well-known fact because of how many times my european friends have commented on how terrible American accents are, and after hearing all the other accents one might have, I would take all of them, combined, if it meant getting rid of my American accent.
Anyways, I'm having a wonderful time here. Thank you for all the notes and emails. I love hearing from everyone. Have a beautiful weekend!
Elise
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