No wonder so many Brits only speak english when over here!!

[Marcellus]

A teacher has just sent me a copy of the French GCSE paper from this year and I've got to say I'm horrified at how easy it is!!

To start with you must write all your answers in English and you are allowed to take an English/French dictionary on with you!!

Then there are 9 questions all of which consist of perhaps half a dozen lines an inset picture/drawing and a few questions.

For example;

Question 8
You read the reply to Marc's letter
Cher Marc
Il est evident que ton copain manque de confiance. Donc, il faut l'encourager a montrer sa propre personnalite.
Francine

Q - What does Francine say in her reply? Mention two things.

[grumbledoak]

Dear Francine

Why am I writing a letter to myself? Have I gone mad?

Francine

[Funk]

"DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH???"

Works for me so far.

[Monki]

degree level french is just as bad

If you fancy learning, there is a place called CAREL in a town called Royan, they do an intensive french course there

[PottyMouth]

Don't even get me started on the poor level of language teaching in the UK. Although to be fair, English is not taught much better in France.

I've observed many university graduates in classrooms who can barely speak a word of French, and yet go on to become teachers because demand outstrips supply (and because they get a fat government payment).

If you want to learn a language properly, don't expend a penny on flashy language schools. Go to the country and meet the people. After all, what else is a foreign language for?

[Monki]

When living in France I gave a lot of english lessons in the schools because as you say, the standard of language teaching leaves a lot to be desired.

Schools seem to be too intent on making languages boring when they can actually be quite fun to learn!

[JoePublic]

I wasn't taught French at all at school - my school did German instead. I've found this to be a real pain as all the Germans I've dealt with since have all been well educated multi-lingual and eagre to please; the French have been, well, no better than I.

[HereBeMonsters]

JoePublic said:

I wasn't taught French at all at school - my school did German instead. I've found this to be a real pain as all the Germans I've dealt with since have all been well educated multi-lingual and eagre to please; the French have been, well, no better than I.

I really wish I had learnt even an ounce of German. Would have really helped this past week, and I'm off out there again tomorrow night. Anyone know the German for "the bracket holding the alternator in place has sheared off, causing the exposed jagged edge to rip through this high pressure oil pipe, causing a small fire and an embarrassing large puddle of oil all over the road into Adenau. Please fix this as cheaply as possible and I promise to bring a more reliable car next time."?

[Richie200]

HereBeMonsters said:

JoePublic said:

I wasn't taught French at all at school - my school did German instead. I've found this to be a real pain as all the Germans I've dealt with since have all been well educated multi-lingual and eagre to please; the French have been, well, no better than I.

I really wish I had learnt even an ounce of German. Would have really helped this past week, and I'm off out there again tomorrow night. Anyone know the German for "the bracket holding the alternator in place has sheared off, causing the exposed jagged edge to rip through this high pressure oil pipe, causing a small fire and an embarrassing large puddle of oil all over the road into Adenau. Please fix this as cheaply as possible and I promise to bring a more reliable car next time."?

Auf Deutsch/In German
Wir Insel Affen sind ganz blöd. Meine gelumpe müll auto ist kaputt und ich möchte es reparieren. Wo kann mann eine aufwendig Werkstatt finden in dieses wurstfresser Land.
Vielen Dank

Slightly simplified but they will catch your drift:-)

[HereBeMonsters]

Richie200 said:

HereBeMonsters said:

JoePublic said:

I wasn't taught French at all at school - my school did German instead. I've found this to be a real pain as all the Germans I've dealt with since have all been well educated multi-lingual and eagre to please; the French have been, well, no better than I.

I really wish I had learnt even an ounce of German. Would have really helped this past week, and I'm off out there again tomorrow night. Anyone know the German for "the bracket holding the alternator in place has sheared off, causing the exposed jagged edge to rip through this high pressure oil pipe, causing a small fire and an embarrassing large puddle of oil all over the road into Adenau. Please fix this as cheaply as possible and I promise to bring a more reliable car next time."?

Auf Deutsch/In German
Wir Insel Affen sind ganz blöd. Meine gelumpe müll auto ist kaputt und ich möchte es reparieren. Wo kann mann eine aufwendig Werkstatt finden in dieses wurstfresser Land.
Vielen Dank

Slightly simplified but they will catch your drift:-)

Lol - Even I'm not falling for that!