I’m learning there are a few things about learning a new language that they don’t really tell you in orientation or anywhere in the book, so I thought I would share them.

• Don’t ask why do they do it that way, just memorize it and move on
• Spelling is important (correctly)
• Conjugations have rules about the rules
• Just laugh when you say something wrong in class
• Don’t be afraid to say it wrong
• When you learn a new phrase share it with your next door neighbor who keeps asking if you know any more French
• When the checkout person asks you a question just smile and shake your head (yes and no at the same time)
• Learn a funny phrase that can distract your instructors when they ask you a question and you don’t know the answer (DeAnna’s favorite is saying the 3 French letters J P T – zhay pay tay, which means I passed wind)
• Your six year old will learn vocabulary faster than you, and his homework will also be harder than yours which requires a dictionary just to figure out his instructions to tell him what he needs to do
• Don’t forget that spelling is important (did I mention correctly)
• Repetition is helpful (particularly with spelling)