Entry #6


Happy New Year !!!!


For sure it is very easier to understand people than it was at the beginning ! I improved my conphrehension and I got used to the speed of speaking and it was a big deal for me ! Even if I do not understand some words, I am able to follow conversation and to understand the meaning. Before the internship I think that I was more close-minded to English. When I heard English a voice in my head said to me «Wallis, it is English... You know that you do not understand English... I will close your mind it is a dangerous ground.». Now I hear «You can do it do not worry!».

My accent is not very good. Sometimes I try to pronounce a word that I had never said or heard and it is funny because often I make a mistake and I say a word that does not exist. But I pay attention to not pronounce letters like in French.I have some difficulties with «e» and «i» but I work on this. It is not true that English teachers in France tell us to pronounce «th» as a «z». But I think that maybe it is easier and because we do not have any interraction with English, French people do not make any effort.
I try to look at the form taken by the lips of my interlocutor and I try to retain the sound of letters. For example I noticed that the tone of «a» is higher in French than in English.

I am very more fluent now than I was at the beginning. My lack of vocabulary is my weak point and it concerns all subjects. It will be better with time.

I have a little story to tell.The other day I was in the car with Bill and it was a very cold day. We were speaking about the next task when he said me :«Are you women off?». I thought that it was a new expression that I do not understand so I said «Sorry ? If am I women off ? What does it means Bill ?» and he bursted out laughing! Actually he told me «Are you warm enough?» and I did not understood. With tiredness the communication is hard!


Vocabulary

Ache
We were speaking about my new vaccines and the pain caused by them in my arm. I told that I felt as if I had aches after doing sport.
All set
I had never heard «all set» but when Bill asked me if I was all set after I got the pizza that I had bought, I understood «all set» on my own. Not the words but with the tone and according to the situation I was able to understand what he said so «prête ?».
Tough luck
I did not know this expression I just did know «bad luck». «Tough luck» is more like «la poisse» in French.
Liberty/Freedom
Liberty is more formal, comes from French and refers more specifically to political/human rights. Freedom is far more common and extends to freedom of everything/anything. I will remember this difference for the future.