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[clavicembalo]

I am never, ever EVER going to learn this French in time for my oral exam next week (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

Jamais? Vraiment?

Qu'est-ce que c'est?

[Juniper]

I am never, ever EVER going to learn this French in time for my oral exam next week (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

Aw je suis desole (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[Fran*Piano]

I am never, ever EVER going to learn this French in time for my oral exam next week (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

Qu'est-ce que c'est?

It's a presentation with three questions, and then five sets of questions to be memorised. Then, next Thursday, the teacher picks two at random and we have to answer the questions and recite the presentation, as well as do a roleplay that has to just be done on the spot (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

I am never, ever EVER going to learn this French in time for my oral exam next week (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

Aw je suis desole (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Merci, Juniper (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[clavicembalo]

It's that time again. A'level Russian students were preparing for one today (unless that was a mock). I know lists for Y11 French Orals were made known on the internal email in school this week.

My French and German orals were years ago!

Funnily enough, I remember a surprising amount of French, despite never having used it. I picked up an essay last week that someone had left in the printer, regarding the Second World War, all written in French. I understood nearly every word. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

But then that's the difference between reading and speaking!

[Fran*Piano]

It's that time again. A'level Russian students were preparing for one today (unless that was a mock). I know lists for Y11 French Orals were made known on the internal email in school this week.

My French and German orals were years ago!

Funnily enough, I remember a surprising amount of French, despite never having used it. I picked up an essay last week that someone had left in the printer, regarding the Second World War, all written in French. I understood nearly every word. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

But then that's the difference between reading and speaking!

Yeah, I can usually read okay, sometimes get tenses mixed up-but speaking is a whole different ball-park!

[Juniper]

It's that time again. A'level Russian students were preparing for one today (unless that was a mock). I know lists for Y11 French Orals were made known on the internal email in school this week.

My French and German orals were years ago!

Funnily enough, I remember a surprising amount of French, despite never having used it. I picked up an essay last week that someone had left in the printer, regarding the Second World War, all written in French. I understood nearly every word. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

But then that's the difference between reading and speaking!

Yeah, I can usually read okay, sometimes get tenses mixed up-but speaking is a whole different ball-park!

I used to think my French speaking was pretty good until I went with my French friend to visit his parents in Brittany. Every time a said anything in French, he would start laughing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I reverted to English pretty quick (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[clavicembalo]

I used to think my French speaking was pretty good until I went with my French friend to visit his parents in Brittany. Every time a said anything in French, he would start laughing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I recall taking a day trip from Aachen in Germany across the border to Maastricht in Holland. I'd taken A'level German and had been sufficiently interested to work my way through several chapters of Teach Yourself Dutch.

So at the kiosk in the railway station I tentatively asked something in Dutch (probably the price of a newspaper). As a mathematician at heart, I thought I had the numbers off pat, but when I was handed the change I had no idea what was said in reply!

[BerkshireMum]

I used to think my French speaking was pretty good until I went with my French friend to visit his parents in Brittany. Every time a said anything in French, he would start laughing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I reverted to English pretty quick (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

You shouldn't have let him put you off! Most French people speak English with a very noticeable accent; I have a French friend who has lived in England for about 40 years, and she pronounces my name in the most amazing way.

I've been lucky in France (outside Paris!), and find most people are very happy that I try to speak their language. I've had lots of compliments about how good my French is (which just goes to show how poor most English people's is!), which considering "Les francais ne parlent pas O-level French", is quite an achievement. (Who remembers the wonderful language Franglais? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) )

Fran*piano, I hope your oral goes really well. Orals are a bit like grade exams really, in that you only get the one stab at them; hopefully your ABRSM experience will help you through. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/fingersCrossed.gif)

[Fran*Piano]

I used to think my French speaking was pretty good until I went with my French friend to visit his parents in Brittany. Every time a said anything in French, he would start laughing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I reverted to English pretty quick (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

You shouldn't have let him put you off! Most French people speak English with a very noticeable accent; I have a French friend who has lived in England for about 40 years, and she pronounces my name in the most amazing way.

I've been lucky in France (outside Paris!), and find most people are very happy that I try to speak their language. I've had lots of compliments about how good my French is (which just goes to show how poor most English people's is!), which considering "Les francais ne parlent pas O-level French", is quite an achievement. (Who remembers the wonderful language Franglais? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) )

Fran*piano, I hope your oral goes really well. Orals are a bit like grade exams really, in that you only get the one stab at them; hopefully your ABRSM experience will help you through. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/fingersCrossed.gif)

Thanks very much, BerkshireMum (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I'm hoping it'll go okay, I've done heaps of revision so at least I should be able to go in knowing that I've prepared the best I can (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[lucky045]

I'm sure you'll be fine Fran. It's one of those things where you stress like anything, and then wander out thinking "was that it?!"
Even if you do forget some key words, you'd be surprised how easy it is to come up with something to say when your mind is so focused. Good Luck!

[Fran*Piano]

I'm sure you'll be fine Fran. It's one of those things where you stress like anything, and then wander out thinking "was that it?!"
Even if you do forget some key words, you'd be surprised how easy it is to come up with something to say when your mind is so focused. Good Luck!

Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) actually, I had to do a mock run-through of my questions with my teacher-I couldn't remember a single word of it! However, when I'd finished, she looked up and said "Well, you didn't say a word that's written down on here, but at least I know if you freeze next week, you can wing it okay, you'll be fine!" which gives me marginally more confidence (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[lucky045]

I'm sure you'll be fine Fran. It's one of those things where you stress like anything, and then wander out thinking "was that it?!"
Even if you do forget some key words, you'd be surprised how easy it is to come up with something to say when your mind is so focused. Good Luck!

Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) actually, I had to do a mock run-through of my questions with my teacher-I couldn't remember a single word of it! However, when I'd finished, she looked up and said "Well, you didn't say a word that's written down on here, but at least I know if you freeze next week, you can wing it okay, you'll be fine!" which gives me marginally more confidence (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Well, you've had your freeze moment now, so that's great. Maybe when you get in there you'll have a choice of new inspiration and memorised answers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Flossie]

I'm sure you'll be fine Fran. It's one of those things where you stress like anything, and then wander out thinking "was that it?!"
Even if you do forget some key words, you'd be surprised how easy it is to come up with something to say when your mind is so focused. Good Luck!

One thing which we were advised to do when preparing for our A-level orals was to record ourselves and then listen to how we sounded to help us improve our accents etc. I found this really helpful. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I did German not French, but I'm sure the same applies (I was so rubbish at French that I was actually allowed to stop doing it in year 9 when it was still a compulsory subject for everyone!).

Edit: I actually learnt the presentation for mine by listening to the recording of it on the bus everyday.

[Fran*Piano]

I'm sure you'll be fine Fran. It's one of those things where you stress like anything, and then wander out thinking "was that it?!"
Even if you do forget some key words, you'd be surprised how easy it is to come up with something to say when your mind is so focused. Good Luck!

Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) actually, I had to do a mock run-through of my questions with my teacher-I couldn't remember a single word of it! However, when I'd finished, she looked up and said "Well, you didn't say a word that's written down on here, but at least I know if you freeze next week, you can wing it okay, you'll be fine!" which gives me marginally more confidence (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Well, you've had your freeze moment now, so that's great. Maybe when you get in there you'll have a choice of new inspiration and memorised answers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks, Lucky, I'm hoping so (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'm sure you'll be fine Fran. It's one of those things where you stress like anything, and then wander out thinking "was that it?!"
Even if you do forget some key words, you'd be surprised how easy it is to come up with something to say when your mind is so focused. Good Luck!

One thing which we were advised to do when preparing for our A-level orals was to record ourselves and then listen to how we sounded to help us improve our accents etc. I found this really helpful. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I did German not French, but I'm sure the same applies (I was so rubbish at French that I was actually allowed to stop doing it in year 9 when it was still a compulsory subject for everyone!).

Edit: I actually learnt the presentation for mine by listening to the recording of it on the bus everyday.

I have a recording from the French assistant at school of my presentation-I've not really made any concentrated to learn it, but I know most of it just from listening to the recording! I actually hadn't thought to do it with my other questions, you've inspired me there Flossie (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Babybird2]

I have horrible memories of my AS-level French mock oral, where I sat down with the sheet of info that I was meant to be preparing with in the preparation room... it was a tourist leaflet about Aberystwyth. I panicked because I had no idea how to pronounce Aberystwyth. The French wouldn't have been a problem, but Aberystywyth really threw me.

I sat down with my French teacher for the mock exam, stuttered a few words and burst into tears (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I got an A in AS French and dropped the subject (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)