Plunge into French Immersion

A year and a half ago I began studying French. I put this off because I was busy for 30 years. Finally, I have taken the plunge.

Living in Downtown Minneapolis near my classes made it easier to start. L'Alliance Française of the Twin Cities is located just a block from our condo building. AF is an organization that promotes French language and culture and has many sites around the world. 

 
   (Photo above from the AF website, see link below.)
 

After moving Downtown 6 years ago, I traveled back and forth by it for several years as I patronized restaurants and stores. The building has an old storefront in the historically preserved North Loop district. Front windowpanes are painted French blue. A French flag waving outside made it look so appealing. I thought, "Someday I'll do that".


Learning French gradually rose to the top of my bucket list. Then I acted on it. I plunged into Intensive French classes June of 2010. These required 12 hours a week in class. I spent many more hours on evenings and week ends doing homework.

A bucket list is a list of things to do before you die. This is mine:

*Learning French well enough to read it and have a conversation in it
     (I have one very good French friend living in Rennes)

*Writing a lot and writing well (Publishing a book or creating a successful blog or both)
*Earn another degree with which I have no intention of earning a living
*Visiting as many ancient sites of civilization as possible
     (Fait accompli: Stonehenge, Athens, Knossis, Herculeum/Pompeii, Rome, the Taj Mahal)
*Living and eating in France (Long visits in each of the regions are desirable)

*Skiing downhill until I am 80 (Free lift tickets may be available.)
*Learning the true meaning of life... Well, one has to aim high. (I am really slacking on this one.)

I began at the age of 59.
I'm not terribly concerned about whether I can accomplish all these things after the age of 60. But the fact is if you 'use' it you will most likely still be able to 'do it'.

I get a little rankled when people comment that learning French will keep me from developing dementia. So not the point! Enjoying the accomplishment of what you do is.


Join me as I relate my experiences and thoughts during my first year of intensive French. Please send me your comments and dive into this experience with me.

Links:
L'Alliance Française Minneapolis/St. Paul 
The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis, MN

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