alittlebitfrench

Sky news vs BFM BFM wins it for me.

I just googles 'Michel Thomas' who I have never heard of until today. According to Wiki he was interrogated by Klaus Barbie. Now Klaus Barbie is someone you wish to be more dead than he is.

Why do expats (mostly British) have a problem with French TV. As one poet said today on a certain forum 'French TV is a pile of poo'. hmmm... I don't think it is that bad personally...or any worse than the UK.

Sorry, that was not the point I was trying to make. My OH is very very highly educated and as close you can get to being Bilingual. One of those annoying people who are just born clever. If I ask the question 'What does the 'y' mean in J'y vais...they would fumble around for a minute or two and then just basically say because that is the way it is. Just learn the context of the phrase and get on with life.

Idun said ... "I know that it is ESSENTIAL to the french that they 'know' the inside outs of french grammar......." But they don't. That is the point. So why do expats wising to learn french try. There some phrases that you just have to learn innit. je m'en fous

On y va..... Do you learn or acquire French ? You can't go through a whole day without saying 'on y va' Even to yourself. Betty, Je me demandais (there is that 'was' again Chancer) do you teach French like English is taught as a foreign language. You know in a CELTA way or in a more traditional way.

Nick P. If you don't watch UK TV or French TV what type of immigrant are you ? Are you more American ?

Chancer said "cannot see how or why it would ever be used to say "I'm leaving" I think you are right but sometimes people say it to themselves when leaving. They are rushing (as usual in France) around looking for something they are missing (keys) and then say to themselves...."bon.....J'y vais" Then you ask 'tu vas où' ?

I do very much understand that 'one size does not fit all' when it comes to teaching. I was indeed the person you describe. I would have to know why/understand what 'en' or 'y' meant and why they were there and getting annoyed by not understanding. With hindsight I feel now that I wasted a lot of time and over complicated the learning process by being too rigid in my need to learn French. Only really after time do things like 'en' of 'y' fall into place. They have to click in context for you to get it. I am not sure I really needed to know. A good one. I said to my daughter "where are you going"?. She said in French in a stroppy way "I am going to my bedroom...quoi". I asked what does 'quoi' mean at the end of that sentence. She said it means 'you have a problem/you have a problem with that. LOL You here 'quoi' being used so freely in the middle of a conversation on daily basis. How do you teach that ?

I am fed = j' en ai marre (the dreaded en) oooooh that is to difficult to understand and pronounce. No problem I am fed up = johnny marr Bingo !!!! No need to panic on the streets of London. I am going to open school LOL

I was just interested. Most people who come to France are retirees and a persons ability to learn a language diminishes with age. What do you teach a sixty year old wanting to move to France ? I don't learn. I absorb. Quoi. It is much easier with young children as they use such simple French with a lot of slang.

Des jours anciens

How do you teach 'J'y vais' Betty. Do you teach it ? It such and important expression (like many) used every hour of the day. It takes just 10 seconds to learn. Everyday French is mostly expressions and slang with some grammar chucked in. "Can someone go to the shops and buy me some Onions " ? J'y vais = I will go and do it "Is that someone at the door"? J'y vais = I will go and have a look. An easy phrase to add emotion..... "I thought you were going to buy me some onions"? (shrug shoulders) "geeeeee vais" (pointlessly wave car keys)........."bordel"......(slam door) = I am off to buy them now for F sake..

j'y vais What does 'j'y vais' mean in English ? I hope I spelt it right. LOL.

Chancer you are saying things/words like 'imparfait' and the 'futur conditionnel'. Sentences that don't make sense to people like me. I could not give a shît......or should I say.. 'je m'en fou' (is that spelt right ??) It is survival French...you numpty. What is numpty in French ?

Fair point, but the steering wheel will be on the wrong side.

I don't know if this is old news but as I understand it all those using a VPN to watch BBC i player will soon get blocked. http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/web/bbc-to-start-blocking-vpn-users-from-iplayer-1306937

I agree with Debra. I kinda think you have done the right thing. I would add that only having termites and British neighbours would put me off.

[quote user="Patf"][quote user="alittlebitfrench"].it is the same reason that ebay fr is a complete waste of time.[/quote] Once again, albf, I disagree with you. I've bought many things from ebay.fr, no problems with any of them. Perhaps not the range offered on ebay. uk but good responses and reliable delivery. ps are you sure you can speak/read french? [/quote] I meant that the French when it comes to shopping are very stuck in their own ways.

Thanks all. My intention is to change it but it means that the engine comes out. It is worth it as the car is in very good condition. I would only trust a Saab specialist to do it but France being France that is going to be very expensive. That is of course that I can find someone to do it. In the UK it is a £1500 job. I might have to look for an 'English speaking Mechanic' on a French forum which I think is code for a 'British mechanic living in France' that wants to take the job on at their leisure.

hmmmmm.....I'm lost. As usual when it comes to language. I would want what in every day living in France ?

That is (but not in my or your neck of the woods) expensive....but I would say aluminium is the way to go. P.S What is a 400 year old mas ?

I agree..... 'ais' (or the pronunciation of) at the end of a verb means 'was'...in simplistic terms. Very easy French if you ignore the theory. J'y vais. Learning or understanding why 'J'y vais' is 'J'y vais' written or otherwise is no use to man or beast learning French above the age of 8. However, just learning the phrase (two minutes work) and using it in in mainstream conversation it is quite useful.

My timing chain rattles on start up on my beloved 1992 Saab 900. After five or so minutes (or when the engine is hot) the noise is gone. Should I get it changed ? Will it break ? Trouble is, I am struggling to find a garage that can offer good advice because it is not a French car. Any ideas ?

Forget PC or IM. How does 'Je faisais' translate into English ? P.S That was a good post you made earlier. I really enjoyed reading that.