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Meet Keith, Coffee Break French learner

Coffee Break Languages

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Tell us who you are, where you live, your nationality and how long you’ve been learning a language with us.

Hi, my name is Keith and I live with Julie in Hertfordshire. I am English and have been learning with Coffee Break French for just over a year.

What experience have you had speaking and learning other languages?

No formal language tuition since school days – and they are long past! That said I did go on a language course whilst a serving soldier, many years ago. This was to learn the rudiments of the Malay language and it proved to be very useful – I can still remember bits and pieces!

What are your favourite memories of learning a language?

The challenge for Julie (who studies with me) and I, is in ‘having a go’ – too often the Brits seem to sit back and expect to be understood. A real joy comes from being recognised as trying hard to speak the language, even in a pretty limited way – you gain a lot of credit by just having a go.

Where would your ideal coffee break be, and with whom?

Just chatting to the locals at any cafe in France (preferably in the summer in the South of France – otherwise anywhere will do!)

What’s the best language-learning tip you have found works for you?

The old adage “if it’s not written down, it doesn’t exist” could apply in this case. What works for me is to make notes, read them and then read them again. Add new notes and vocabulary to the list but keep reading, re-reading and reviewing them all from page one.

Quick-fire Round

• Your favourite language: French
• Your favourite word or phrase in the language: Bonjour tout le monde, je peux parler un peu de français
• Your favourite destination to practise your language: Nice or Bordeaux

Please finish off with a message to your fellow members of the Coffee Break community and the Coffee Break Team.

Hi Coffee Breakers, I hope you are enjoying the Coffee Break experience as much as I am. I have been impressed from day one with a) the amount and quality of material available, b) the enthusiasm of the CB Team, and c) the level of enterprise which keeps it all not only together but going forward and evolving all the time.

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