THE KNOWLEDGE FLUENT IN FRENCH W
e are moving to France and are really keen to integrate into
the local community. We both did French at school and can manage basic communication but ideally we’d love to become fluent in French. What tips do you have for us?
necessarily work well if you have children from an earlier relationship). Separate ownership (séparation des biens). As the name suggests, under this MPR each of you will be deemed to own only the assets held in your sole name. As you were married in England, while resident there, this is the regime that will likely automatically be assigned to you.
It is possible to change
your MPR by visiting a notaire. The most suitable type of MPR will very much depend on your circumstances and your wishes. For example, if you are running a high-risk business personally, it may not be a good idea to have a community of property regime as all your and your spouses’ assets could be at risk if you go bankrupt.
Language tutor CÉLINE GUERREIRO replies (
celine-guerreiro.com): Rewire your ears to hear new sounds! Did you know that babies have the ability to hear all the sounds of all languages until they are nine months old? After this, you lose this ability and become attuned to the sounds of your mother tongue, or mother tongues if you were lucky enough to be born into a bilingual family. Here’s what you can do to retrain your ears. Listen to French native
speakers (in the street, on TV, on podcasts...) for hours on end, even if you don’t understand everything. Just let go! If you’re not sure, go to
forvo.com to hear a native speaker say it. Rewire your mouth! It’s
The other factor you mention
is amenities – restaurants, supermarkets, boulangeries, pharmacies etc. When you arrive at your holiday home you want everything you need to be accessible. Some areas are more rural than others so being aware of local amenities is vital. A 15-minute drive to a supermarket or restaurants is very different to a 40-minute drive and will make all the difference to your holiday home experience. Finding a property in France
can be a full-time job; having clearly defined criteria along with the right budget is vital. To best utilise your time, many
clients find having someone on the ground who knows the area, understands the property market and buying process, and offers straight honest advice is essential. Working with a buying agent saves time, minimises wasted visits and viewings. Having a clear search criteria enables me to do the legwork – searching and visiting properties to narrow down a shortlist, all of which can be viewed in one trip. I then work to get the purchase process completed as swiſtly and efficiently as possible so all you have to worry about is how you plan to enjoy your new holiday home.
time to train your mouth to pronounce sounds like a French native speaker. How? Listen to a video and activate the subtitles or listen to a podcast and download the transcript. Pause after each sentence and repeat what you have heard. That’s it! It seems simple but it’s really powerful. It’s called shadowing. You’ll improve your pronunciation so much. Read, read and read! Unlike
children who learn their mother tongue between the ages of 0 and 6, you already know how to read – use this advantage! Choose a book that seems interesting and buy it on your Kindle. Why a Kindle and not a paperback? Well, you can click on any words you don’t understand and read the definition. That’s really helpful! If you can download the audio
Get in touch!
Ask your questions about French property or life in France... Email:
karen.tait@francemedia.com Alternatively, you can post your question on our Facebook page
FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: March/April 2024 91 Céline Guerreiro
version, even better. You can listen to the story and read it at the same time. Now you have to dare to
speak! Get feedback from a French native speaker/ teacher. Look for someone who was born in and has lived in France who can give you quality feedback, shares the same interests as you, and who will take advantage of your mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow. You’re the boss of your
learning, you decide what you want to talk about. Whether it’s sharing the plot of your favourite TV series or discussing your plans for moving to France, it’s your call. This self-directed approach
requires a change in mindset if you’ve experienced traditional schooling; part of the guidance I offer to clients who enroll in the Montessori Language School is showing them how to take charge of their own learning. Through these exchanges,
you will build strong human connections and immerse yourself in an adventure that is as rewarding as it is exciting. Your teacher should keep the conversation flowing and wait until the end of your chat to give you feedback. You work on your pronunciation, grammar, conjugation and expand your vocabulary. It’s amazing how much you learn through these conversations. You don’t need to do grammar exercises in a boring book to achieve this!
© SHUTTERSTIOCK
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