My French Adventure: Ian Phillips

Ian Phillips Esq came to Lingua Franca in Term 2 of 2022 and let's just say, le nid* has never been le même*! A true personnage*, Ian has a way of using his absolute beginner vocabulary to highly comic effect. One can only wonder what he'll be able to produce when he's un peu plus avancé*. Merci, Ian, for the sense of humour you bring to your lessons, your enthousiasme* but most of all your unmitigated joie de vivre*.
PS Belle photo*!

What made you decide to study French?

When I was eight years old, and all the other boys wanted to be policemen and firemen, I pronounced that I wanted to be an international lawyer. Why? Because they have to speak French, of course. Fast forward 40 years and I may not have fulfilled the lawyer part, but I can at least learn French!

How long have you been studying French?

I received a gift voucher for Lingua Franca for Christmas 2021. So I began my French adventure in April this year, 2022. Give someone you love a gift voucher for a term of French Classes – it will get them out of the house for at least an hour a week.

What do you like most about it?

Being part of a group class helps with any nerves you have. Everybody is in the same boat and everybody has that moment when things just ‘click’. I have been fortunate to have Julie as my teacher and my classmates are all lovely to see each week.

Any hard bits?

Without doubt, it is remembering the masculinity or femininity of words. Who/what/why made these decisions is of endless amusement and frustration to me. But as the French say, “un chat est un chat” (a cat is a cat).

Do you have a favourite French word?

Of course, it’s bouteille* (BOO-TAY)… because everybody should be shaking their bouteille!

*the nest | *the same | *character | *a little more advanced | *enthusiasm | *cheerful enjoyment of life | *nice photo |*bottle