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    Flirting with French: How a Language Charmed Me, Seduced Me & Nearly Broke My Heart
    Unavailable
    Flirting with French: How a Language Charmed Me, Seduced Me & Nearly Broke My Heart
    Unavailable
    Flirting with French: How a Language Charmed Me, Seduced Me & Nearly Broke My Heart
    Ebook246 pages4 hours

    Flirting with French: How a Language Charmed Me, Seduced Me & Nearly Broke My Heart

    By William Alexander

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    In this “charming memoir,” a determined Francophile pursues fluency in the language he loves—and we read along to find out if it will ever love him back (Kirkus Reviews).

    William Alexander is more than a Francophile. He wants to be French. If only he could speak the language. In Flirting with French, Alexander eats, breathes, and sleeps au français. He travels to France, where mistranslations send him bicycling off in all sorts of wrong directions. At an immersion class in Provence where he faces the riddle of masculine breasts, feminine beards, and a turkey cutlet of uncertain gender, he wonders if he should’ve taken up golf instead.

    While playing hooky from grammar lessons and memory techniques, Alexander reports on the riotous workings of the Académie Française, the centuries-old institution charged with keeping the language pure; explores the science of human communication, learning why it’s harder for fifty-year-olds to learn a second language than it is for five-year-olds. Never giving up his quest for fluency, Alexander discovers that studying French may have had a far greater impact on his life than actually learning to speak it ever would.

    “Alexander proves that learning a new language is an adventure of its own—with all the unexpected obstacles, surprising breakthroughs and moments of sublime pleasure traveling brings.” —Julie Barlow, author of The Bonjour Effect
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOpen Road Integrated Media
    Release dateSep 16, 2014
    ISBN9781616204259
    Unavailable
    Flirting with French: How a Language Charmed Me, Seduced Me & Nearly Broke My Heart
    Author

    William Alexander

    William Alexander won the National Book Award for his debut novel, Goblin Secrets, and won the Earphones Award for his narration of the audiobook. His other novels include A Festival of Ghosts, A Properly Unhaunted Place, Ghoulish Song, Nomad, and Ambassador. William studied theater and folklore at Oberlin College, English at the University of Vermont, and creative writing at the Clarion workshop. He teaches in the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults. Like the protagonist of Nomad and Ambassador, William is the son of a Latino immigrant to the US. Visit him online at WillAlex.net and GoblinSecrets.com, and on Twitter via @WillieAlex.

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    Reviews for Flirting with French

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    • 4/5
      While I was expecting a feel good story about a new experience, what I read was a realistic and entertaining book about the issues and experiences of learning a language as an adult. The learning and language theory interspersed with the variety of tactics Alexander used to try to attain his goal made an interesting read.
    • 4/5
      I bought this book at Shakespeare & Company in Paris, and read it throughout my visit there. The book is delightful. (The trip was too.) And while, for me the visit and the read were completely entwined, I have no doubt that the book would have been just as delightful if I was visiting, say... Milwaukee.
    • 3/5
      This is a book that I wouldn't normally pick up it's not in my genre of books I normally read so I was pleasantly surprised to really enjoy this book. While I've been wanting to learn another language it gave me the courage to believe that no matter what I'll be able to eventually learn and if that takes a random trip to that country and immerse myself...then that is what that means!
    • 4/5
      Charming and easily readable, "Flirting with French" is a memoir of one man's love affair with the French language, but has slight linguistical chops.Alexander presents chronological anecdotes of his study of French, starting with such popular products as Rosetta Stone and moving up to immersive experiences. Meanwhile, he intersperses stories of his heart condition. I'm sure that the two are inextricably linked to the author, as they occurred during the same time period, but the dual focus did nothing for the titular subject matter.The author's own self-criticism is rampant throughout the book, and although I'm sure many readers will find themselves reflected in his words, I found his experiences to be less inspirational and more discouraging, in terms of actual language learning.That aside, it was an easy, mildly humorous read, and enough to make me interested in what else this author might have to say about other subjects.
    • 4/5
      Acquiring a second language has been a maybe-one-day aspiration. William Alexander's account of his obsessive effort to learn French in his 50's has convinced me that perhaps I shouldn't put off the effort for too long. Off to find a Rosetta Stone tape or two!
    • 3/5
      3 because I found the subject matter - learning a new language when you are older - and related bits like linguistics, the history etc. interesting. Otherwise, nothing new, there wasn't much by way of value add. At least I ain't gonna learn my french any faster because I read this book. Not that the book claims to teach you how, anyway. Humor is a bit meh. No LOL moments, if you're looking for that sort of thing - but a quick read. It might motivate you to pick your abandoned French tutorial material again. I was hoping it might do that for me, in days to come and it well might. So, if that was the goal, then yes, mission accomplished. Thank you William Alexander.
    • 2/5
      Perhaps I'm too unforgiving compared to most of the other reviews here, but I just didn't find this enjoyable at all. I understand that Alexander must find learning a language incredibly difficult, but the ratio of frustrating moments to fun ones is tilted way too much toward the former. He practically sets himself up for failure right from the get-go by setting his goal too high (he wants to learn French well enough to *be* French), and his decision to spend the bulk of his time on Rosetta Stone and other self-study methods is unhelpful in two ways:-- No human feedback means he only learns things superficially and can't pronounce them correctly, leading him to complain numerous times about his inability to remember basic vocabulary or make himself understood.-- There are fewer opportunities for him to have actual, interesting interactions with people, meaning much less of that kind of material makes it into the book. Instead we get some smatterings of history and numerous claims about the French language (which one can't check because he has no footnotes), plus complaints about the quirks of the language that seem expressly designed to keep him from learning French. (No matter that *all* languages have odd features that can't be explained by logic.) And that's not even counting the several episodes of heart-related woes he undergoes during the course of the book.Alexander does end the book on a note of triumph (and the "discovery", which isn't new to anyone but him, that learning a language can be good for your brain). However, for me the upbeat finale doesn't make up for the rather tedious journey beforehand.
    • 4/5
      William Alexander is a serious Francophile who not only loves everything French but wants to be French. He wants to live there and converse with the natives in perfect French. Only problem is he doesn't speak French.At 57, the author decides to get serious about learning French. He attends conferences on language learning and talks to the experts. He uses self-study programs. He uses the internet. He does classes including an immersion class in France. This is a comedic look at these attempts. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
    • 3/5
      First the perfect garden, then the perfect loaf of bread, now the perfect language – at least in author William Alexander’s eyes. In his latest memoir, Alexander, author of The $64 Tomato and 52 Loaves, chronicles his journey to master not just the language but also the essence of France. Having avoided learning any foreign language for over 30 years, Alexander, an avid Francophile, decides to take one year to commit himself to learning French. As he chronicles his many attempts to learn la langue francaise, Alexander examines the science behind communication and the culture of his beloved France. Can a middle-aged man even hope to learn a new language? And why is beard feminine, but breast masculine? Alexander tries, and sometimes succeeds, in answering these questions that plague every language learner as he recounts the often embarrassing but always entertaining steps that show him that language-learning is about so much more than words.Verdict: Alexander combines science, history, and culture with his unique brand of self-deprecating humor to create a light and funny read on the excitement and challenge of learning a new language.
    • 4/5
      An often amusing, sometimes a bit too corny account of a 57-year-old's attempt to learn French. Very similar to Mary Roach's books, though with fewer belly laughs, at least for me. A fast, enjoyable read.
    • 4/5
      Apart from the health issues, Alexander's struggle with learning French is similar to my own - an ongoing, not too successful project. I enjoyed this humourous, entertaining look at the challenges in learning a language as an adult.
    • 4/5
      It's been twenty-five years since I last took a French class. I freely admit I have retained little of the vocabulary and even less of the grammar from my seven years of learning. If I tried to speak French now, it would be a garbled and hideous thing, I know. I cannot read the French novels (no translation needed once upon a time, thank you very much) that grace my bookshelves. I cannot even read the long term paper I wrote for my AP French class so long ago. Given that it was a ten page paper on the meaning of life based on the existential writers we'd read that year, I'm not certain I'd be able to read or understand it if it was in English, but that's neither here nor there. The amazing fact here is not that I once wrote something like that (although, yes, it is pretty amazing), it is that I once wrote it in an entirely different language, despite all the errors highlighted in red pen. And even though it has been many years since I was even remotely competent (note I am not saying fluent) in French, I do find myself wishing I was once again. There's no reason for me to re-learn French. It's just something I think would be cool. So it's not a huge surprise that I was immediately drawn to William Alexander's experiential narrative non-fiction book, Flirting with French, about his own desire and attempt to (re)learn French as an adult. Alexander is fifty-eight years old and a dedicated Francophile when he decides that he is going to take the next twelve months and become fluent in French, even if it kills him (and it tried to). He took French briefly and without much enthusiasm when he was much younger but he is ready to really devote himself to learning the language. He attends a conference about language acquisition and although the science of it is against him reaching the level of fluency he desires, he is not deterred at all. He proceeds to try all sorts of ways to learn French, interactive computer programs, Rosetta Stone, French language Meet-ups, corresponding with French speakers via email, even two weeks of serious French immersion classes in France. And in the midst of his quest to beat the odds and learn the language, he is faced with serious and recurring heart issues as well. As he attempts to re-learn, retain, and learn afresh, Alexander also addresses the mechanics of language learning as an adult and the belief that language learning in children is fluid but not in adults, the governmentally sanctioned Academie Francais and its quest to preserve the purity of the French language, the history of the language itself, his attempts to think as a Frenchman and his attempts at French culture (like his day long croissant making--delicious but ridiculously time-consuming). He discusses the vast difference between French and English, the gender of words and the lack of rationale behind said gender assignments, the nerve wracking question of whether you "tutoyer" someone (use the familiar "you" as opposed to the formal "you"), and the incomprehensibility of conversational French as versus formal French. The book is a nice combination of factual information about the French language and language acquisition and personal anecdotes on Alexander's part about his not altogether successful struggles to learn French. The tone of the book is self-deprecating and mostly light-hearted (although some of the medical crises are not as light). Alexander is funny and both he and his quest come off as tres charmante. The end result of Alexander's year to learn French might surprise some readers, or it might not, but it is a a fitting ending for sure. I still think it would be fun to try and pick up the language again myself but I somehow suspect that if I followed that interest, it would, as Alexander suggests with his subtitle, charm me, seduce me, and nearly break my heart too.
    • 4/5
      A classy whimsical account on the frustrations and pleasures of learning a foreign language and the extent the author is willing to go to reach that goal. Through French classes, online pen pals, expert advice, scientific research, and heart surgeries the determination to succeed is inspiring despite all the things that are thrown his way. It’s an adventure that never ends and takes a lifetime or so it would seem to achieve. It encourages me to learn a foreign language and take a chance on what may come despite the difficulties. Once the door creeps open the opportunities could be endless.
    • 4/5
      Alexander has a new mission: learn French. In his account, he explains all the methods he uses, his failures and small successes, his struggles and discoveries, while describing his day-to-day. Much of it is funny and light, a quick read with many valid points about learning a new language.What made the book particularly interesting to me, however, were some of the facts that Alexander presents to us: the cognitive faculties that he developed while learning French, the tricks and tips to develop memory, the inextricable mix of language and culture and how this affects our way of seeing the world, the business of translation and technologies that are being developed, and much more.Alexander's plight was so convincing that it got me to practice my own second language which I have neglected for many years - it is tough, but how rewarding! I definitely recommend this book for anyone who wishes to discover French or wishes to tackle learning a new (or forgotten) language!
    • 4/5
      Learning a new language can be tricky (and funny), especially so if you attempt to do so as an adult. Granted it is easier for some people than for others but different personalities approach the task from their own unique perspectives. William Alexander is very much an adult. One who is in love with all things French and who is determined to conquer both the language, as well as the art of "being" French. His approach to the task at hand is methodical, analytical. So where does he start? With the Association for Applied Linguistics "naturally." His initial findings seem to confirm what many hold to be true: that our ability to learn a new language decreases with age. And William Alexander is 57 years young. Though passionate about his goal, our author seems to get easily distracted by his curiosity about all elements of studying a new language. So while he struggles with conjugation and adult memory not being what it once was he samples different forms of language study. Short trips to the country itself, the "Bible" of language learning that is Rosetta Stone, conversation groups, immersion courses, french pen pals, you name it William Alexander tries to try them all. In an adorably self-deprecating way he shares with the reader not only his linguistic misadventures but also his insights into French culture, history of the language (French, as well as English at times) and its vocabulary. I expected to be entertained and amused but I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of learning I experienced while reading this book. Not only is my French vocabulary richer but I learned a lot about linguistics, neural and memory processes involved in learning a language, as well as what it is exactly that the Académie Française does. William (and his French alter ego Guy) present a story of one man's journey into depths of a foreign language but this book ends up being about so much more than just learning French. Is there such a thing as "too late" when it comes to learning a new language? You'll just have to read the book to find out. I received a copy of this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers. As those who've read my reviews in the past know, that in no way influences my opinion of the book. And just so you know what you're in for if you decided to pick up this book (and I hope you do), here's a little passage from it:"Even at twenty-two I knew better than to ask a Frenchman - especially a French waiter - if he spoke English, which is considered rude and insulting. You should attempt to speak in French, no matter how bad your French might be, and hope you get a reply in English, but in this fancy restaurant, with the stakes high, the prices higher, and the mustachioed waiters straight out of central casting, my nerves got the better of me, and to Judy's alarm and mine alike, I blurted out, "Do you speak English?" The only explanation I have for the reaction that followed was that the poor non-English-speaking fellow must have thought I said, "Do you sodomize your mother?"
    • 4/5
      This is a delightful memoir of the author’s travails trying to learn French. In the process, he discusses a number of fascinating studies about the ability to learn languages, and the reason why it is so much harder for those who are past adolescence (the author embarks on his quest at age 57).He begins with a very brief and entertaining history of language, and then provides more detailed information about French in particular. He observes that it is the official language of twenty-nine countries and is spoken by some 175 million people. He also explains why it is so difficult for non-speakers to pronounce.One of the parts of the book I found most interesting was the section on translation, and why it has proven to be so hard for computers to get it right. The author tells a great story about IBM, for its work on a translation algorithm, obtaining the transcripts of the Canadian Parliament proceedings, which by law must be recorded in both English and French. This gave the computer program some three million matching English-French sentence pairs. Nevertheless, the computer came up with some bizarre output based on the material, such as translating the English word “hear” into the French word “bravo.” It turns out that in the Parliament, whenever members approve of what a speaker says, the English speakers shout “Hear, hear!” while the French speakers shout “Bravo!” But there are much more subtle ways to confuse a translation program. Idiomatic phrases don't translate well, nor do words with double meanings. Think about this sentence for example, the author suggests: “Fruit flies like spoiled peaches.”Evaluation: While I’ve concentrated on the informational content of the book rather than the author’s personal experiences, most of it reads like a stand-up comedian’s act. It is often hilarious, and at all times interesting. [Many of you may be familiar with this author from his first book, The $64 Tomato, chronicled his misadventures as an amateur gardener.] Bottom line: Très charmant!
    • 5/5
      While I was prepared to enjoy William Alexander's latest peek into his life, I didn't realize how much I would learn at the same time. Much like in his earlier work, The $64 Dollar Tomato, Alexander is ready to submerge himself into all that is French, in hopes of being able to live there as a native, perhaps even retire there. He and his wife Anne have spent lovely vacations in France and although his last bout with a foreign language ended after his high school's two year requirement, he's determined to try again. From the ubiquitous Rosetta Stone, to various immersion programs, he goes beyond what you'd expect from your basic community ed class. This was a fun, breezy read and I learned a lot about linguistics, language development and how memory aids in language without feeling bogged down. I'm sure my mom, the former French teacher, would have found this book fascinating.
    • 4/5
      This book was a surprise hit for me. I knew I'd like it, but not having read any of William Alexander's other books (yet), I had no way of knowing how approachable and informative and, most of all, how utterly hilarious it would be! I too have tried to learn French at various times as an adult, and while I won't reveal how Alexander's attempt at immersion went, mine have been flops. At this point, I'm finding it much more satisfying to read about someone else's French fumbles, and Alexander makes it a delight and a treat. And I'm almost inspired to have another go at it myself. Presque.
    • 1/5
      I love France and all things French and I have never even been there. But that doesn't stop me from trying to immerse myself in the culture. We have French themed dinners. I wear sailor striped shirts and get pissed on French wine. I have worked my way through the alphabet of cheese. So when I saw this title on the early review list I entered 10 time to ensure I could receive a copy. The blurb had me at the first line about drinking wine in a café like Hemingway. I thought to myself "at last a man after my own heart." But this is a book of lies. Let us begin with the blurb on the back which promises humorous antidotes and the story of a man who wants nothing more than to be French. Just to clear this book is not funny nor does this man love France. That is not what this book is about. William Alexander, you are a tourist. I must admit here that I did not finish this book out of self preservation/ sheer boredom. While I was informed at great length about the birth of the French language and also what ails William Alexander's health, I learned nothing of the people, culture or why this man even wants to learn French. Wait! Squirrel! I have never read a book that had such difficulty staying on topic. I will gladly sell the author some Adderall if need be. Perhaps it is the age gap between myself and the author and we simply aren't connecting. I passed on a copy to my mother. Her opinion was different only in being more polite. "Too informative to be entertaining" was her conclusion. I highly suggest William Alexander take his flirtatious advances elsewhere.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book and find myself referring to it weeks after finishing it. Mr. Alexander's love of France leads to a desire to speak like a native, which is a very high bar to set at any age. Will attempting to learn through Rosetta stone and immersion learning and night classes lead to his dream?
    • 4/5
      I think this book was written for me. I decided in 2006 to learn French and I've been messing around with it ever since but William Alexander has really inspired me to pick it up again.Mr. Alexander takes us through about a year where he is really determined to learn French. He talks about the various programs he uses and the classes he attends. That could sound very dry but this book, as the title might imply, is anything but dry. He makes his attempt at learning French amusing and so very relateable. I was feeling every struggle he had. As he goes through his year of learning French he is also going through a lot of health issues and he's very open about how those affected his progress. I loved his description of his total immersion experience in France because I've always wondered if that would be something I would like. Mr. Alexander covers some of the research on second language acquisition at older ages and he does it in a very understandable way. He meets some really interesting characters in this journey to learn French. He gives some great information on the problems of computers translating languages. It is definitely an informative book as well as a fun one.I found myself rooting for him every step along the way. Learning a new language at any age is difficult and he was starting at 57. I'm not far behind him in age so this was a thoroughly enjoyable read for me.I received this book from Librarything's EarlyReviewers program and have given it an honest review.
    • 5/5
      William Alexander's account of his struggles trying to master French, a language he loved, in middle age are both humorous and wide ranging. With wry humor, he writes about a broad range of personal experiences from cycling in France (in the rain) to his surgeries in an American hospital. His studies lead him into the related fields of linguistics, history and the neurology of how language is acquired. He never succeeds in learning French but discovers that the process of attempting it has its own rewards. I enjoyed this book enormously and intend to read the other books by the same author. I would recommend it to any one interested in learning any language or just in finding a good read!
    • 4/5
      I received this book for free as an early reviewer. I was torn between 3-4 stars but ultimately went with 4 because, although it was not fully what I expected and took me longer than anticipated to get through, it was well done. I had hoped for more French travel and culture notes, I did not realize how fully Alexander would focus on learning the language. This made it a bit tedious for me at times, however there actually is a lot of interesting information on the French language and language learning in general. If you have an interest in the language or how language is learned, this book is definitely worth a read.
    • 4/5
      I was unsure about this book when I picked it up. I have English parents who made sure I went to French schools. I'm married to a francophone and we speak French at home with each other and our children. So I wondered if there would be anything for me to learn in Flirting with French.Turns out, there's a lot about the language that I have taken for granted. From counting, to the confusing genders of each object, to a hint of sexism in parts of the language (I never considered that there are no equivalent words for "wife" and "daughter" -- there's only "femme" and "fille").One thing that I have found as a French speaker from an English background is that it's one thing to speak a language, but it's another thing entirely to embrace a culture. And I think that's what I admire most about the author's experience. This isn't some writer that thought: "Hey, I'll try to learn French and then write a funny story about my struggles." He really goes all out, not just taking classes and trying to speak, but seeking out French immersion classes in France, learning to play pétanque, cycling through the French countryside, and showing a keen interest not just in the French language but also the French people.I currently have a lot of great books on my "To Read" pile and I felt a little resentful having to push this one to the front of the queue in order to review it in a timely manner. Within 50 pages, any feelings of resentment were gone. Although it probably won't find itself on my shelf of All Time Favourite Books, it's a great read that I would strongly recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the French language and French culture.
    • 3/5
      Funny, good-hearted account of learning French in his 50s. The main plot is as thin as as it sounds, but somehow the intermixing of historical curiosities, technology tid-bits and a secondary plot about the author's heart (literally) manage to make it an entertaining, undemanding and relaxing reading.
    • 5/5
      Early review copy -- I found this book to be delightful and fun to read. The narrator was a simple man in his 50's trying his best to learn French. He not only wants to learn the language; he wants to be French. Throughout the book I learned more than just French words I learned about the origins of language itself. I found the history to be very informative and at the same time humorous. Mr. Alexander lets us peek into his bumbling adventures and to forgive his errors. Throughout these adventures in learning a new language there is also some health problems Mr. Alexander has to deal with at the same time. You can't help but to fall in love and root for the underdog in this story. It is an inspiration to adults who are trying to learn something new, the feelings of inadequacy, and the powers of the human mind. As a creative non-fiction this story can deliver an enduring touch to passions we hold dear and to go ahead and try new things, despite our age or abilities.
    • 4/5
      From the author of [The $64 Tomato] which I absolutely loved, this one captures his struggle trying to learn to speak French like a native. His attempts at learning via language tools such as Rosetta Stone and through a French tutor are hilarious, as are his tongue-tied efforts speaking with the locals during holidays in France. And if that wasn't bad enough, he believes his stress levels were on the rise because of his language challenges and that it resulted in heart flutters requiring him to spend time in the hospital. What I liked about this book was his research into the developing of French as the language that's used today. So there's some interesting history mixed in as well.
    • 4/5
      As someone who studied four years of Latin and two years of Ancient Greek in high school, I can report that "Flirting with English"is a captivating way to captivate someone who is just starting an introduction of the French language. This book sprinkles French words and phrases throughout the story and thus gently forces the reader to learn the meaning of the stated French words and phrases. Furthermore the French words are sprinkled throughout the story line in effect challenging the reader without disrupting the story line. well done.
    • 3/5
      Enjoyable book and an easy read. One part memoir on the difficulties of learning French as a middle-aged person, one part an exploration on what it means to be getting older, and then a little soupcon of humor at the expense of American culture and French culture as contrasts to each other. I didn't find it earth shattering to read, but it was enjoyable. My French is not really any better than the author's, but what I came away from the book was the idea that to truly learn a language you must be willing to jump in with both feet and be willing to make yourself look silly and just speak it (and listen to it in reply to you). this is really difficult to do but it is really the only way to learn and is the same way that children learn their first language. He touches on this as a lesson in the book but immediately gets off this point and highlights the other benefits of learning a new language outside of actually learning to speak it and be understood.
    • 3/5
      A good mix of humour, language history, language acquisition psychology/sociology, medical drama, and human interest. When it began, I wondered if it would be like all the Merde Happens books, but it isn't. It's less about France and more about learning a language in middle age -- the language just happens to be French. Overall, a delightful quick read that educates and entertains.