MadmoiZelle speaks English

[CalamityJenn]

Posté par Béré

I would really love to improve my english by finding english or americans friends (anyone who's native language is english in fact), but I don't know how to do. I don't know where to find them, and I'm so shy anyway.
I guess that's the kind of friends you find without looking for them, right ?

Hey !
It's just a suggestion, but you can go to any university international office and give them your contact (name, email, FB...). International students coming for exchange programs are usually very interested in having French Conversation with French people. So, you can first make contacts with them and then alternate French sessions and English sessions so you can both practice.

[Ithurielle]

Posté par Velikanova

Because I've been studying english for three years now, I regularly meet some difficulties to write correctly in french. I've always be very good at spelling, but now, I always have doubts with some words: whether I should write them with two "n" or not, I keep being confused with the english spelling... "annoncer" for exemple.

Well, I don't know if there are a lot of Mad coming here but I would be glad to chat in english with any of them : I'm going to a theater school next year and I won't practice english as much as I did, and I will loose all what I gained with a lot of efforts.
I'm going to continue my english readings but I know that it won't be enough.

I'm sure you will always find other Madz ready to help you practice! Reading helps a lot, I find, and even though you improvement isn't always easily quantified, you'll see that, after a while, you have indeed got better at it, and your reading will go more smoothly.

Watching TV series, with our without subtitles also helps, not to mention the fact that you get to get rid of the horrid French dubbed voices when you go for the original. I talk to myself a lot, it sounds silly, but a lot of my friends have said it worked, and I can only agree with them.

If you look at my previous message, you'll see the address for the Interpals website, which can help you find people who'd be happy to practice English with you.

[Mlle-Sophie]

In my case, watching tv shows helped a lot! I watch them with subtitles. It's a good way to improve your accent and pronounciation.

Oh I also use Interpals! I've been using it for a few years and it's, indeed, a great website. It became an addiction. I sometimes get bored of it but always come back. I found a few great friends, mostly americans, and everyday I learn something new from their loooooong messages. I really love it.

When I'll be done with school, I hope to spend one year in the US. I'd like to find some small jobs there and experience the "american way of life" . I also think it's the best way to definitly get fluent in english.

[Velikanova]

Posté par Ithurielle

I'm sure you will always find other Madz ready to help you practice! Reading helps a lot, I find, and even though you improvement isn't always easily quantified, you'll see that, after a while, you have indeed got better at it, and your reading will go more smoothly.

Watching TV series, with our without subtitles also helps, not to mention the fact that you get to get rid of the horrid French dubbed voices when you go for the original. I talk to myself a lot, it sounds silly, but a lot of my friends have said it worked, and I can only agree with them.

If you look at my previous message, you'll see the address for the Interpals website, which can help you find people who'd be happy to practice English with you.

I'll try Interpals!
I'm more concerned about losing my accent and my level in a chat with a english speaker. As for the reading, I have been used to read huges litterary novels so now I can read them (obviously less easily than in french) without difficulties, I mean, without thinking that I'm reading in another tongue. I'm currently reading Mrs Dalloway by the way
I talk to myself too , especially when I take a shower (I don't know why but my bathroom is the place where I have the most intensive intellectual activities... )

Because english is everywhere, I think about internet, I feel that this language opens me thousands doors! When I began to master it (well, at least, speaking it fluently), I had the sensation that I could acess any information available online.

[Elie Doe]

I agree with the ones who said that watching Tv shows helped a lot. I'm not a teacher or anything but I can tell from my personal experience that listening people speaking english is really important and useful. I learned more this way than I ever did during my schooling. Anyway, I'm so glad I found this topic, during summertime I don't get to practice my english and I really miss it !

[Van Damsel]

@Elie Doe : One says "listening TO people". I keep telling it but prepositions are always important.

[Elie Doe]

I'm pretty sure I was told it was optional but since I'm not a hundred percent sure I'm gonna take your word for it

[Van Damsel]

Prepositions in phrasal verbs (yeah that's the name) are never optional.

[Lison Frisson]

Posté par SuzeDream

I've just hear that, during the six first months of my 1st "Post-bac-year", I'll only have 26 hours of english ! And that's all for all my studies ! (In architecture ) :boxed: As I'm in European Section since 4 years, i think it's pity because i will certainly lose all my knowledges...

Ahah~, it was the same for me, and my teacher wasn't able to speak english properly. In (at ?) which school of architecture are you studying ? (:

[Tracy Jacks]

My dear kittens, I must admit I need your help on something. I've got a traduction from English to French to complete, and I'm stuck on this sentence :

In the latest incarnation of the familiar trans-atlantic values standoff, the US tabloid press had a field day with the promiscuous reputation of the man [...]

I can't even get the whole thing ahah. If you need the context, it's an article about Strauss-Khan's accusations.
Be kind !

[starbucks-lady]

Tracy Jacks > if it can be of any help, "to have a field day" can be translated by "s'en donner à coeur joie".
and here is an attempt to translate this weird sentance!

Dans la toute derniere incarnation de l'habituel fossé culturel transatlantique, la presse à scandale américaine s'en est donnée à coeur joie avec la reputation sulfureuse de l'homme..

.. it doesn't sound right, but perhaps it will give you some ideas!

[Tracy Jacks]

Posté par Pukhet

I can try to help you
Allow me a few minutes to check the article and I'll see if I can translate it !

So, @Tracy Jacks, here is what I've undertsood about this quote from the article from the N.YTimes you've shown me :
"Dans la plus récente incarnation des valeurs sans issue/vaines trans-atlantiques, la presse tabloïd/tapageuse des Etats-Unis eut à faire sur le terrain avec la réputation des moeurs légères de cet homme, qui, jusqu'à il ya moins d'un mois, était le favori pour les Présidentielles françaises, blablabla."

Posté par starbucks-lady

Tracy Jacks > if it can be of any help, "to have a field day" can be translated by "s'en donner à coeur joie".
and here is an attempt to translate this weird sentance!

Dans la toute derniere incarnation de l'habituel fossé culturel transatlantique, la presse à scandale américaine s'en est donnée à coeur joie avec la reputation sulfureuse de l'homme..

.. it doesn't sound right, but perhaps it will give you some ideas!

Cheers, both of you have been very helpful

[SuzeDream]

Posté par Louison.

Ahah~, it was the same for me, and my teacher wasn't able to speak english properly. In (at ?) which school of architecture are you studying ? (:

I'm only going to pass in Teminale S, so I've already collected some informations about my future school for next year and the one where there is (are ? Shame on me, i always hesitate in this kind of sentence ! ) only a few hours of english lessons is at Villeneuve d'Ascq, in the north of France !

[Lison Frisson]

Yeah, I know Villeneuve d'ascq (since my grand parents were belgians and the most part of my family keeps living in the North), and I know about the school because I tried to enter it...but I failed and ended at Paris Malaquais ( actually, it was my first choice). Why did you chose Architecture ? Have you a relative who is architect ?

[Rehanne]

this topic is a great idea! i'D Like to improve my english so if anyone has at least an advanced level in english would like to talk with me on msn for example i'd be glad

[SuzeDream]

Posté par Louison.

Yeah, I know Villeneuve d'ascq (since my grand parents were belgians and the most part of my family keeps living in the North), and I know about the school because I tried to enter it...but I failed and ended at Paris Malaquais ( actually, it was my first choice). Why did you chose Architecture ? Have you a relative who is architect ?

OH, can you give me some informations about the entrance exam that you have to attend to enter in this school ? (Or in french by MP if you want, it will be easier to explain ! )
I choose Architecture because I'm interessed by this job and studies since 4 years (more or less ! ) ! As a matter of interest, when I was yonger, i bought "The SIms" just to built houses that i draw plan's before ! And i had two different work experience in 2nd and during this "Paques" holidays, and it confirtm me in my opinion !

[li']

Hi there.
It's my first time and I'm not really self-confident. That's why I apologize to all my grammar mistakes.

[SuzeDream]

Don't worry li', you have to start somewhere, I wasn't self confidente at the beginning and now it's easier for me to speak here in english !

[Somewhere]

Hey First time for me here. Please forgive me for all my futur mistakes, my english level is quite bad compared to yours. I often go on omegle (it's a website where you can speak with strangers if you didn't know) to improve my english.. Even if there are almost only pervers and psycho over there I am able to understand a vlog on youtube for example but when I watch english or american channels on TV it's quite complicated for me. There are A LOT of words that I don't understand. I also try to watch movies in english as often as possible but when I am to much tired or I just want to relax I only appreciate movies in french.

[Alecto]

Has anyone of you ever passed a Cambridge exam? The advanced or even better, the Proficiency?