French-English Language Workshops 
(français)
By Guillaume THECHI
Each Tuesday, the International Club organizes French-English language exchange workshops. For two hours, about ten students, young professionals, French natives, English natives and others converse on various subjects. These weekly workshops are an occasion to practice the languages in a friendly environment. |
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The number of participants varies. In general, there are about fifteen who join the locals of the International Club to take part in the workshop. The first words exchanged are in French. Some come regularly: "I come every Tuesday, says Duyhai, a 24 year old employee. I appreciate being able to talk to true English-speaking people," he adds "it allows me to maintain my level of English”. Others are there for the first time; this assures a certain turnover. The objective of the event is the same for everyone: to progress in French or to improve in English according to the simple principle of the exchange. "I need to practice my spoken English, especially for my job" recognizes Arnaud, a 25 year old data processing specialist.”
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The workshop is self directed and spontaneous
It is 8 o’clock; everybody takes a seat around the round table like a family would around the dinner table to tell each other about their day. By chance the workshop ensures mixed groups; men, women and French natives and English natives. A small glass in hand (juice without alcohol obviously!), the languages are united. The first hour generally proceeds in French. Small informal groups are created for a first phase of respective discovery.
No imposed instructions or exercises This is the moment where you realize that, around the table, there is a small part of the world: Australia, Syria, England, the United States, France, Germany, etc. There are no instructions or imposed exercises; just a desire to share and exchange. Throught personal experiences, the subjects of conversation are varied and of broad topics. Glancing in, a small group launches out on the topic of the education systems. The subject changes and the question of the death penalty is brought up around the table. No subject is prescribed; a debate on public transportation emerges for a return on subjects more down to earth. Meanwhile, several anecdotes and life experiences slip into the conversations. Comprehension functions well. The experiences involve personal opinions. Mazhar, originally from Turkey, gives his opinion on the English and French education systems. He knows what he's talking about because he lived there and took for a witness Helen, a student from Leeds who had been in Paris for a few weeks. |
9 o’clock, the conversation continues but in English You listen, speak, and search sometimes for words and the virtual gong of the clock resounds. It is approximately 9 o’clock. Without interruption, the conversations continues in the language of Shakespeare. The attitudes and the stories are reversed. Some, beginners at French, find all their verbal liveliness while some, French-speaking people, are much less talkative. The diverse subjects vary Life in Paris, the last movie you saw at the movie theater, cancer, road safety; one sure thing, in the two languages, is that the subjects and cultural exchanges are infinite. "At the beginning, I came to accompany my friend Ele," says Louisa, a 21 year old English student, "I thought that it would be a little superficial to sit down on a chair and to be told to start speaking!" She continues, "but it works very well. You find yourself in a small group where even the shy people speak." It is a little after ten o’clock and you definitely did not see the time pass by. |
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