You’ve booked a couple of weeks off work, reserved the gîte, sorted out the ferry tickets, checked out a few local restaurants and attractions online – maybe even dug out your espadrilles (back in fashion again?) And you have been meaning to dust off your French too, but somehow it seems such an imprecise aim that you’ve never got further than seeing that ‘local’ classes are a good half hour’s drive away, began 3 months ago, are full on the day you want and you’ve always ended up only going to the first three anyway…
If this sounds in any way familiar then help is at hand! I understand you want to go on holiday and just be a bit more involved in what’s going on around you, want to be confident enough to say a few simple things to break the ice, maybe get chatting to the nice family next to you on the beach, be greeted with a genuine smile when you return to the local café, to be les Anglais who made an effort. In the few months between now and your holidays you won’t become fluent but you can go from spectator to participant and become that French speaker not just a French listener.
