Not sure it's that insignificant. But -
Today in my travels around resort I've talked to 4 French people, 2 that I knew already the others I didn't. All of them have complimented me on my French speaking
One of the guys I know runs a shop and commented that he remembers me trying to speak French very badly a few years ago and is very impressed that I could have a conversation with him today. The other is a guy that runs a small bar/cafe that I use. We have always spoken both languages because he wants to practice English (and I couldn't have a proper conversation in French). Today he was really impressed and said lots that I had improved over the summer
(He left back in April!)
The two I didn't know were parking garage people and I was asking if I could go into the office to talk to the girl about parking passes for me and a friend - really only talked to one of them. But he was very complimentary and said he understood everything I said - even when I stopped and changed the verb or the order of the words!! He learnt english when he worked in Australia, so he offered to speak English, but I so need practice at speaking French, so we carried on with more than parking conversation!! LOL
So, I'm pretty blooming happy today. The more locals that are complimentary/impressed with my ability, them more I can meet and integrate!!!
This winters main challenge is to speak with as many French as possible to put what I've learnt in all the lessons into practice. Then back to school in the interseason to train for the nationality language test!!!!
Happy Noggin tho. The effort of all the lessons has been worthwhile!!
EDIT - What I have worked REALLY hard on is my accent - so I think that is why I get more compliments. I am trying soooooo hard not to sound like an English (Irish!!) speaking French. The guy I didn't know actually asked me where I was from, so that is always a positive sign that you are getting there with the accent
