odile Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 My niece is very shy and wouldn't try to speak French when staying with us in Switzerland. As she loves animals, we told her our 2 cats and 1 dog don;t understand English at all, so she would have to try with them. the next morning I came downstairs and could here talking in the kitchen. I stopped and listened. She was chatting away with Gatsby, our dog, best she could. I didn;t comment - after breakfast she bombarded me with questions in English :how do you say 'sit', how do you say 'roll over', and so on. For 2 weeks she got more and more confident talking to the animals, and acquired quite a lot of vocab. so maybe a good idea to adopt a French stray dog and try this method? We hope that next time she comes she will start talking to us too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Animal Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Marvellous! [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybananasbrother Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 So, Christine is a language teacher. Oi, what language does Destroyer speak finally? He certainly doesnt understand such nice things as "if you bark again you are going on the barbie". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odile Posted August 11, 2008 Author Share Posted August 11, 2008 we also practised animal speak a la French- and sung a French version os Old Mc donald - she loved that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybananasbrother Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Yes, as a language teacher for 35 years, I would say you have discovered the right way. Follow the child. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anton Redman Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 The thing that used to do for me in Switzerland was being on the tram and realising that even as a foreigner I was expected to switch from French to German when you crossed the canton border. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchie Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 What initially did it for me was.. music.. ( well, lyrics )How surprising...[:)]I agree with the " follow the child" but when you do, there are always nasty people to say you are " démago"... [6] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 [quote user="woolybananasbrother"]So, Christine is a language teacher. Oi, what language does Destroyer speak finally? He certainly doesnt understand such nice things as "if you bark again you are going on the barbie".[/quote]If you threatened me like that, I'd refuse to understand as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybananasbrother Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I slung him on the barbie the other day, just to try out the size. Perfectttttttt fit. He just gave me a big kiss, cheeky bug ger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odile Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 Anton you must be a genius - especially if you can do that in Swiss German! Fribourg? Bienne? Ruriraschli! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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