Oh my, so many parallels to my undergraduate experience majoring in French studies. Didn’t realize this was just a distinctly French experience, thought it was just me. Fascinating!
Liya, I'm also relieved to know I'm not alone. I'm guessing that the mission statement of French education does NOT include the phrase: "We are here to help you succeed!"
Haha it is rather an “educate yourSELF!” culture, preferably by reading Stendahl!
One Old World element that I have always liked about France is they still teach penmanship so everyone writes in a very distinct, uniform way. The 1s have tails, etc. You may not succeed but you will write beautifully!
I am bilingual, happily.. Français/english. I force myself to think and write in both languages to keep my brain in gear... and I am a grown-ass woman, and in Spanish, a chingona., lerning Italian via the Internet. We rock.
Ooh, I envy your bilingualism. And also find it interesting that it's still a discipline to think and write in both languages. Many people have told me that after I lived in France for a year I would be fluent. Ha!
Hi Karen, I was laughing out loud reading this and although I have not taken the DELF yet, I have had many similar interactions with various administrative obligations. I am planning in taking the DELF for citizenship in 2025. Any tips or helpful websites you used?
I loved this piece so much. My equivalent was taking the Italian driver's license written exam and driving test. World class hard, only in Italian, 10,000 possible questions, all trick. Get any random 40 and can only miss 4. Similar testing environment. And, somehow, we both passed! I have rarely been so proud of anything! I got Italian citizenship through marriage, just before the Italian language requirement. At the time I was smug, but now wish I'd had the kick in the pants to polish my subjunctive. Brava for your passing the French language exam.
"I fold my hands on the desk and smile, knowing full well the French find American smiles to be deranged and slightly scary." I didn't realize I was French too! Congrats to both of us!
Well Karen, delighted that you passed ! Congrats !! I arrived in the Netherlands under Brexit Transition Rules, nearly four years ago, and have been digging a bit into what it takes to become a resident or citizen of all of the individual EU Nations. There These tests vary according to country.... I find the differences interesting, yet it's a subject that is often difficult to get clear advance knowledge of. I'd like to see comparative articles, for the benefit of wannabe emigres. One of the issues, of course is that the rules keep changing. Some nations have varying levels of tests, according to a number of factors. Then there are exceptions ... i.e:- if you have certain skills, if you are retired, if you are wealthy, if you are deaf ! etc. Long before one actually makes the move one needs to figure out if one is even eligible to do so.... visas, visa extensions, work permits, family ties, property purchasing rights; it's endless. Even within a country there can be regional complications. Agencies to walk you through it all can help - for a fee, but how does one know which ones actually give good value ... There are scams.... Knowing people who have been thru the process is a big help indeed, so many thanks for this post......
Love to read your articles about real life in France. I was praying you passed as I stressed while waiting to see you passed, lol. Great writing Karen.
Oh my, so many parallels to my undergraduate experience majoring in French studies. Didn’t realize this was just a distinctly French experience, thought it was just me. Fascinating!
Liya, I'm also relieved to know I'm not alone. I'm guessing that the mission statement of French education does NOT include the phrase: "We are here to help you succeed!"
Haha it is rather an “educate yourSELF!” culture, preferably by reading Stendahl!
One Old World element that I have always liked about France is they still teach penmanship so everyone writes in a very distinct, uniform way. The 1s have tails, etc. You may not succeed but you will write beautifully!
I am bilingual, happily.. Français/english. I force myself to think and write in both languages to keep my brain in gear... and I am a grown-ass woman, and in Spanish, a chingona., lerning Italian via the Internet. We rock.
Ooh, I envy your bilingualism. And also find it interesting that it's still a discipline to think and write in both languages. Many people have told me that after I lived in France for a year I would be fluent. Ha!
Hi Karen, I was laughing out loud reading this and although I have not taken the DELF yet, I have had many similar interactions with various administrative obligations. I am planning in taking the DELF for citizenship in 2025. Any tips or helpful websites you used?
I loved this piece so much. My equivalent was taking the Italian driver's license written exam and driving test. World class hard, only in Italian, 10,000 possible questions, all trick. Get any random 40 and can only miss 4. Similar testing environment. And, somehow, we both passed! I have rarely been so proud of anything! I got Italian citizenship through marriage, just before the Italian language requirement. At the time I was smug, but now wish I'd had the kick in the pants to polish my subjunctive. Brava for your passing the French language exam.
Merde, that Italian driving test sounds likes. Something for which you need an advance degree. Brava, you!
bonjour Karen. Thank you!
This article is so good I've just added as 'further reading' to this le Bulletin newsletter about learning French: https://judymacmahon.substack.com/p/1432a-learning-french-featuring-female
Thank you for writing and sharing :)
Warm regards
Judy
Merci, Judy !
Not at all. My pleasure
"I fold my hands on the desk and smile, knowing full well the French find American smiles to be deranged and slightly scary." I didn't realize I was French too! Congrats to both of us!
HA! It's not untrue.
Félicitations ! Tu m’inspires. Mon nouvel objectif dans la vie : pas de perfection, mais « je réussis ».
Merci, Kathryn. And, you only have to get 50%! ;)
More stressful (even) than waiting in A&E in the UK!
I wouldn't argue with you there, though I suppose it depends on WHY you're waiting at the A&E!
Haha! Indeed, though it doesn't seem to affect the wait!
Well Karen, delighted that you passed ! Congrats !! I arrived in the Netherlands under Brexit Transition Rules, nearly four years ago, and have been digging a bit into what it takes to become a resident or citizen of all of the individual EU Nations. There These tests vary according to country.... I find the differences interesting, yet it's a subject that is often difficult to get clear advance knowledge of. I'd like to see comparative articles, for the benefit of wannabe emigres. One of the issues, of course is that the rules keep changing. Some nations have varying levels of tests, according to a number of factors. Then there are exceptions ... i.e:- if you have certain skills, if you are retired, if you are wealthy, if you are deaf ! etc. Long before one actually makes the move one needs to figure out if one is even eligible to do so.... visas, visa extensions, work permits, family ties, property purchasing rights; it's endless. Even within a country there can be regional complications. Agencies to walk you through it all can help - for a fee, but how does one know which ones actually give good value ... There are scams.... Knowing people who have been thru the process is a big help indeed, so many thanks for this post......
It's so true! I never realized how much a bureaucratic process could be like surfing.
Both carry a risk of drowning for the ill prepared......
Love to read your articles about real life in France. I was praying you passed as I stressed while waiting to see you passed, lol. Great writing Karen.
Kathy, thank you. Clearly your prayers were heard. I'm hope you're well. x
Whew. I will be taking this. . .someday. Good to get a preview.
I hope it's under more organized circumstances. Bonne chance!
Exactement!
Toutes mes félicitations! J'en ris encore!
Oh la! C'était nulle! (appreciate the imparfait, svp)
Duly appreciated :-)
Merci, Mere. After awhile I wondered whether I'd miss some online article about how stress could damage your internal organs. Whoosh, it was awful!
Merci, Anne. I'm still recovering.