Learning French with both sides of the brain

I learn (or used to learn) languages rather easily, I flatter(ed) myself.

Early last year, I decided that I was going to become really fluent in French for the fun of it, and for the fun of talking to French speakers when we travel.

And because thinking in another language broadens your world view, and understanding of the nuances of human experience. I think Charlemagne said, “To speak another language is to possess another soul.”

And because I was bored with the business of setting up our business (a publishing company) last year, but too harassed to write.

So I decided to get fluent in a language I knew, but not well. I was so determined to learn it with my right brain. Listen to it a lot on tape, and in classes, read Le Monde, watch the news in French, watch a lot of French films. And voila, I hoped I would be speaking grammatically correct French. It is not going to happen, alas.

Roy and I, married for 20.5 years, have been so used to characterizing ourselves as left-brain (Roy) and rightbrain, (Anita) that we sometimes forget that everyone has two sides of the brain. And I have decided that, to spare my daughter Zoe embarrassment if nothing else, I am going to use both sides of my brain.

And learn grammar, much though I hoped I had left learning my rote behind me, like other childish things.

Je chantais, tu chantait, il chantait, nous chantions, vous chantiez, ils chantaient

J’ai chante, tu as chante, il a chante, nous avons chante, vous avez chante, ils ont chante,

Je chanterai, tu chanteras, il chantera, nous chanterons, vous chanterons, ils chanteront.

You know, I rather enjoyed that!!