How I learned French: I bet you didn't know...
At thirteen, my life changed forever; that's when I started learning French. There was no internet; there were no home computers for any practical purposes, and calling another country cost several dollars a minute. Brilliant techno-geeks had yet to invent commercial satellite television and radio. The world as we knew it revolved around our own front yards.
I fell in love with the French language in the 1980s when there were few opportunities to connect with other French speakers or to have authentic French experiences. I longed to hear and fully understand this beautiful language that called to me, perhaps I think from a distant past in another lifetime. My French teacher, mentor, and friend, Sharon Orobona, introduced me to French music and also to a lonely European girl who had just moved to America. That young girl gave me my first "mix tape" of French songs. Before the days of lyrics on demand, I spent hours in my room with a tape player, a dictionary, a pencil, and a notebook. Slowly, painstakingly, I transcribed every French song I could find until I understood what I was hearing. I owe my mastery of French in a large part to the lack of technology available in the 1980s and to the power of music to make me feel like I belonged.
I hope you will enjoy the songs that I post here for you. Each has a story. I would not be where I am today without many of them.. I hope you will submit your own songs and listen to the music that inspires your classmates. Every culture produces music. Music is life!
I fell in love with the French language in the 1980s when there were few opportunities to connect with other French speakers or to have authentic French experiences. I longed to hear and fully understand this beautiful language that called to me, perhaps I think from a distant past in another lifetime. My French teacher, mentor, and friend, Sharon Orobona, introduced me to French music and also to a lonely European girl who had just moved to America. That young girl gave me my first "mix tape" of French songs. Before the days of lyrics on demand, I spent hours in my room with a tape player, a dictionary, a pencil, and a notebook. Slowly, painstakingly, I transcribed every French song I could find until I understood what I was hearing. I owe my mastery of French in a large part to the lack of technology available in the 1980s and to the power of music to make me feel like I belonged.
I hope you will enjoy the songs that I post here for you. Each has a story. I would not be where I am today without many of them.. I hope you will submit your own songs and listen to the music that inspires your classmates. Every culture produces music. Music is life!
