Since I've been in Italy, my capacity for speaking French has come rushing back. I'll reach for a French word more often than the word in English. It's kind of cool, but also kind of sad. I loved learning and speaking french in high school; Madame Beard was probably my favorite teacher. But I dropped French second semester freshman year of college because the professor was unbearable. I regret dropping it, not only because it means I still have to make up my language requirement, but also because I've lost that ability and passion for French. But being in Italy and learning Italian has made me realize how much I enjoyed learning a new language and even moreso speaking it.
With each passing year that I've been at college, I've felt more and more incompetent compared to the people around me. At least as far as worldly knowledge goes. Geography, politics, literature, science... I know so little about so many different things. I'm not trying to say I'm stupid or anything, just that I feel like I can't talk about as much as other kids my age. But one thing I enjoy and I think I'm moderately good at is memorizing things. And language is something I especially enjoy memorizing. I've only been here two weeks and already I can have a somewhat decent conversation with my host mother, Rosanna. I'm starting to think I'd like to take up French again and possibly pursue a career in language. Translator, teacher, tour guide... there's a high job demand for people who are multi-lingual, right?
I heard that English is the hardest language to learn. In French or Italian, when you have to learn the masculine and feminine and then the different agreements you think "How can this be easier than English?" But those languages at least make sense, they're methodical. English is completely random, I think. The word for "grapefruit" in Italian is "arancia rossa", which literally means "red orange". That makes sense! It's actually an orange that's red. "Grapefruit" on the otherhand makes no sense. It's not anything like grapes. Italian makes the most sense of any language I've learned. I love the pronunciation. But French holds a soft spot in my heart because it was my first love, and it will always be more beautiful to me.
1 comment:
Hi, Hallie, I am so delighted that you are doing a blog--I promise to be a faithful reader! What you said about French popping out of your mouth reminded me of the year I spent in Provence. I had had practically no French when I went there but I had had two years of college Spanish (plus Latin.) When I first arrived, every time I opened my mouth, Spanish came out. That was true until we went to Spain on Spring break six months later. Then French popped out! Anyway, have a perfectly marvelous time in Italy. I will be cheering for you all the way!
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