I can't learn French, I have heard it said but I don't believe it.
Two examples of very good friends who integrate and learn at the same time.
One helps the old next door neighbour cutting and carrying in her wood in the winter. In the summer they host looking after French children here on language courses. Just by doing these two actions you pick up useful French and each month more and more words are added to your vocabulary.
Another friend who does Occitane dancing, helps with the bus at Laguepie. When he arrived here he started with French lessons. He felt he would never progress but spending so much time with French friends he now speaks and knows quite a few words and sayings.
Hazel's argument that there are some people who cannot learn French is rubbish, as is cringing on their behalf; it is the right attitude which gets you integrating and learning. Join a French walking group; a French sewing group; play petanque with French players. There is usually someone with some English to help you and amazingly you pick up lots of useful words. After all just watch those children of English speaking families who go to school here without a word of French and within months are fluent. Children of 4 and 5 are not held back by thinking "I cant do it" and we adults are going to be held back by that attitude. To quote "yes we can!"
Not all of us are going to end up linguists but we are going to endear ourselves to our French friends by trying
and who could ask for more.
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