Bonne Année 2015

I meant to write my first blog of 2015 on 1/1/15, but somehow time just flew, and it is now past midnight on 1/2/15.  I am not tired at all....I guess it has something to do with that tall latte I started drinking at around 4pm.

Anyway, as at every start of the New Year, I make myself a list of New Year Resolutions.  Yes, the usual losing a few pounds, eating healthier, exercising, and blah, blah, blah make my list EVERY year without fail, but this year, I am adding one additional item that I seriously want to improve on.....and that is learning to speak French.

Where do I begin with this language that is just not sticking to my brain?  I have studied it for the past 2 years or so (many long breaks during the hot summer months), and previously taken it in high school, but for some reason, I get tongue-tied each time I want to say more than a simple sentence.  If a native speaker tried to speak to me, I know EXACTLY what to say in a witty/sarcastic way in English, but for some reason, by the time my brain processes and translates what I want to say in French, the moment is gone and/or the person looks at me with a raised eyebrow or is already talking to me about another topic, but this time in English.  Hmm...

So this year, I have decided to step it up a notch:

#1 - I have invested in a Berlitz compact French-English dictionary (you may roll your eyes and state, duh, isn't that the first thing you get? Mind you, I've used Google Translate and/or Yahoo! Answers in the past).

#2 - I will read at least one modern fiction novel in French this year (not more than 200 pages), and force myself to look up each word that I don't recognize, so that my vocabulary increases and/or the ones that I had previously learned but failed to remember, will be reintroduced to me.

#3 - I will listen to more French music and try to understand the lyrics. 

#4 - When watching my favorite US TV shows on DVD, if there is an option to turn on the French subtitles, I will do so.

#5 - I will continue to watch French movies (but will leave the English subtitles on just in case).  Will stick to comedies, because I have dozed off one time too many for the ones dealing with hidden meanings.

#6 - I will listen to French podcasts.

#7 - I will attempt to speak more French with fellow learners and perhaps if I have the nerve, with native speakers.

And that's that.  I hope that my French will improve, and I can one day visit France (or Canada....the French-speaking part), and speak in français.  Bonsoir.