Re: PM’s French Re-entry into the Matrix - Phase 1: 500 Hours Extensive Reading

Continue or start your personal language log here, including logs for challenge participants
User avatar
PeterMollenburg
Black Belt - 3rd Dan
Posts: 3229
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2015 11:54 am
Location: Australia
Languages: English (N), French (B2-certified), Dutch (High A2?), Spanish (~A1), German (long-forgotten 99%), Norwegian (false starts in 2020 & 2021)
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 15&t=18080
x 8029

Re: PM’s French Adventures in the Matrix

Postby PeterMollenburg » Mon Nov 04, 2019 11:05 am

Not overly sure (again) what to write here, so I’ll just see what eventuates...

Oh, in October I did 65 hours of French.

In October for the first time in a long time I started listening to some English language music again. On the odd occasion I do watch a movie in English with my wife, but English (language) music I had blocked out for the most part for a number of years with a few snippets here and there. I was hell bent on eliminating English wherever I could. Yet I used to be crazy into music when younger. Anyway lately I think as a stress release and distraction I’ve gone back to listening to some of my good old favourites - too many of them now dead (Michael Jackson, Heavy D, Notorious BIG, Tupac). Where did the time go? How did the 90’s get so far back?

I don’t think this is a bad thing, as I think it’s a sign of me being more at ease that my French isn’t going anywhere. I’ve also taken to reading a bit more English lately. Not a ton, just the odd Wikipedia article when i know the French equivalents don’t provide as much detail. I think some of this is rebellion under pressure and probably not overly great for my exam prep. On the eve of the exam (in a week from now, I will have completed it), if anything I feel my ability to write has dropped off as I’m just not immersed to the extent I should be. I am really confused by this exam in many ways, i’ve had such an odd lead up to it. I could honestly do ok or honestly fail miserably. I’ve been so stressed about the various writing formats, then i realised, while they are important, what’s more important is register, flow, grammatical structure, use of connectors and knowing had to manipulate the language to suit the audience. That scares me too. I do not feel up to the task, but of course I could be wrong.

When I have intended to focus on my exam books I’ve either avoided French altogether or done a 180 and gone off and read a (French) book or some of my French mag’s, since the thought of delving into the exam books was not something I really felt drawn to. So, I really am under prepared. REDACTED it, whatever. Can’t change that much this late in the game.

So, changes coming. In a week I will have sat and passed or failed the C2. In two weeks I will be on night shift - I HATE night shift. In three weeks I’ll be finished at work altogether and moving house (again). Somewhere in there I’m returning to Dutch study. In a month or so I could have a new job. I’m looking forward to the changes and getting some stability, sanity, peace and predictable structure back.
11 x

User avatar
lavengro
Blue Belt
Posts: 728
Joined: Wed May 24, 2017 1:39 am
Location: Hiding in Vancouver. Tell no one.
Languages: English - finally getting a handle on this beast of a language. Also tinkering with a few other languages intermittently.
x 1994

Re: PM’s French Adventures in the Matrix

Postby lavengro » Mon Nov 04, 2019 6:30 pm

Bonne chance Peter! Though with your hard work, I do not believe you actually need luck.
PeterMollenburg wrote:... in October I did 65 hours of French.
Well done!
PeterMollenburg wrote:....
So, changes coming. In a week I will have sat and passed ... the C2.
There ya go, I fixed it for you!
4 x
This signature space now on loan to the mysterious and enigmatic Breakmaster Cylinder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUGKldkiex4

User avatar
PeterMollenburg
Black Belt - 3rd Dan
Posts: 3229
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2015 11:54 am
Location: Australia
Languages: English (N), French (B2-certified), Dutch (High A2?), Spanish (~A1), German (long-forgotten 99%), Norwegian (false starts in 2020 & 2021)
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 15&t=18080
x 8029

Re: PM’s French Adventures in the Matrix

Postby PeterMollenburg » Mon Nov 04, 2019 8:07 pm

lavengro wrote:Bonne chance Peter! Though with your hard work, I do not believe you actually need luck.
PeterMollenburg wrote:... in October I did 65 hours of French.
Well done!
PeterMollenburg wrote:....
So, changes coming. In a week I will have sat and passed ... the C2.
There ya go, I fixed it for you!


Thanks, lavengro! ;)
0 x

Arnaud
Blue Belt
Posts: 984
Joined: Sat Jul 18, 2015 11:57 am
Location: Paris, France
Languages: Native: French
Intermediate: English, Russian, Italian
Tourist : Breton, Greek, Chinese, Japanese, German, Spanish, Latin
Language Log: viewtopic.php?t=1524
x 2172

Re: PM’s French Adventures in the Matrix

Postby Arnaud » Mon Nov 04, 2019 8:37 pm

A une semaine de l'exam, tu ne peux plus rien faire pour améliorer ton français, donc détends-toi, écoute un peu ton corps pour arriver frais et dispo le jour de l'examen, et advienne que pourra. Quel que soit le résultat, tu n'auras pas démérité, sois-en sûr.
3 x

User avatar
PeterMollenburg
Black Belt - 3rd Dan
Posts: 3229
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2015 11:54 am
Location: Australia
Languages: English (N), French (B2-certified), Dutch (High A2?), Spanish (~A1), German (long-forgotten 99%), Norwegian (false starts in 2020 & 2021)
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 15&t=18080
x 8029

Re: PM’s French Adventures in the Matrix

Postby PeterMollenburg » Tue Nov 05, 2019 2:01 am

Arnaud wrote:A une semaine de l'exam, tu ne peux plus rien faire pour améliorer ton français, donc détends-toi, écoute un peu ton corps pour arriver frais et dispo le jour de l'examen, et advienne que pourra. Quel que soit le résultat, tu n'auras pas démérité, sois-en sûr.


Oui, tu as raison, Arnaud... peut-être. Sois je ne fais rien, soi je finis tous les manuels de français que je n’ai pas encore fini .... même plus (je vais en acheter plus) ! Pas de sommeil, pas de nourriture, rien du tout sauf le français !!! Certes, je dois aller au travail, mais même là-bas les patients, les médecins les autres infirmiers, ils parleront tous le français. Sinon, je ne les soignerai pas, ou ils n’auront plus de travail ! :lol:

D’accord, d’accord, je suis un tout petit peu ridicule... mais pas beaucoup, même pas un tout petit peu. Je ne suis pas ridicule ! Qui me l’as dit, hein ? C’était toi, Arnaud ?! :x

Avec le peu de temps qu’il me reste, je vais essayer d’écouter le français, lire, écrire, comprendre l’examen, mais surtout, comme tu me l’as déjà dit, j’écouterai mon corps.... j’ai besoin d’énergie pour être à la hauteur ! Merci, Arnaud ;)
2 x

Gustav Aschenbach
Orange Belt
Posts: 186
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2016 4:22 pm
Location: Germany
Languages: German (N), English (C1), French (C1), Dutch (beginner), Spanish (beginner), Portuguese (beginner)
x 333

Re: PM’s French Adventures in the Matrix

Postby Gustav Aschenbach » Tue Nov 05, 2019 6:42 am

Si j'étais à ta place, j'apprendrais par coeur quelques expressions et connecteurs un peu plus soutenus (p.ex. "il est de notoriété publique que...", "bon gré mal gré", ... si ça colle avec le registre, bien sûr), histoire d'impressionner les examinateurs. Et j'utiliserais autant d'idiotismes que possible dans la partie écrite.
0 x

User avatar
PeterMollenburg
Black Belt - 3rd Dan
Posts: 3229
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2015 11:54 am
Location: Australia
Languages: English (N), French (B2-certified), Dutch (High A2?), Spanish (~A1), German (long-forgotten 99%), Norwegian (false starts in 2020 & 2021)
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 15&t=18080
x 8029

Re: PM’s French Adventures in the Matrix

Postby PeterMollenburg » Tue Nov 05, 2019 12:11 pm

Gustav Aschenbach wrote:Si j'étais à ta place, j'apprendrais par coeur quelques expressions et connecteurs un peu plus soutenus (p.ex. "il est de notoriété publique que...", "bon gré mal gré", ... si ça colle avec le registre, bien sûr), histoire d'impressionner les examinateurs. Et j'utiliserais autant d'idiotismes que possible dans la partie écrite.


Bonne idée, mais...
Une chose que j’ai déjà fait, c’était de mémoriser presque 60 connecteurs pour l’écrit et plus de 70 pour l’oral, si j’essai d’en mémoriser plus je compliquerai les choses ! Merci, néanmoins ;)
1 x

Gustav Aschenbach
Orange Belt
Posts: 186
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2016 4:22 pm
Location: Germany
Languages: German (N), English (C1), French (C1), Dutch (beginner), Spanish (beginner), Portuguese (beginner)
x 333

Re: PM’s French Adventures in the Matrix

Postby Gustav Aschenbach » Tue Nov 05, 2019 8:58 pm

PeterMollenburg wrote:60 connecteurs pour l’écrit et plus de 70 pour l’oral


T'inquiète, ça fera l'affaire... T'es parfaitement préparé.
1 x

User avatar
PeterMollenburg
Black Belt - 3rd Dan
Posts: 3229
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2015 11:54 am
Location: Australia
Languages: English (N), French (B2-certified), Dutch (High A2?), Spanish (~A1), German (long-forgotten 99%), Norwegian (false starts in 2020 & 2021)
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 15&t=18080
x 8029

Re: PM’s French Adventures in the Matrix

Postby PeterMollenburg » Tue Nov 12, 2019 3:04 am

Well, yesterday I sat the C2 DALF exam.

My lead up, as I’d already said, was less than ideal. Numerous challenges going on around me, and when I had some time, I felt I needed to do nothing. Nonetheless, my preparation was not zero. I managed to get some done here and there and two days before I did a complete practice exam as best I could and had my ‘go to italki teacher’ check over my written material. I also had a couple of last minute italki sessions with her to discuss the situation and do a brief run through of the audio/oral component.

Needless to say, my prac exam wasn’t perfect. I ran out of time with the written part so deliberately didn’t correct my own work, as the reality was I’d reach the time limit. Thus, a number of silly mistakes were found, but all in all not a bad job when it came down to it.

Unfortunately, despite learning the lesson, the same thing happened in the real exam. I ran out of time. I read the articles through a few times, I planned and reworked my plan, began the written section with 90 minutes remaining, but I just couldn’t seem to push myself to write that quickly.

Then suddenly there was only 30 minutes left, then twenty, then shit I’m running out of time! So, The first 2/3 of my written piece, I knew my word count, I took my time developing each paragraph etc. The last 1/3 though, although I had the ideas in my mind, I had to rush, didn’t do the word count and in the end had zero time to re-read my whole writing piece. Still, I was able to roughly calculate my word count and should’ve been pretty close to on the money of 700 words.

Oh and the subject was regarding stress. I had to write an article on the stresses of modern life for a well-being magazine and discuss how, regardless of the level of stress we can be under, we have the ability to overcome it. I couldn’t complain about the topic, it wasn’t too difficult and I had some personal ideas I could draw on as well.

The listening/oral component was mixed. I had trouble with catching names and particular figures, I think because I was nervous. I didn’t like the audio in terms of it being a small stereo in a corner echoing a little off the walls.

The audio actually had problems playing at one point and the examiner had left the room as I was the only C2 candidate. I wondered if it was the computer it was linked to updating and causing the audio to stop start or it was part of the expectation of C2 level. I opened the door and yelled out the examiner’s name. She didn’t come, I got on with it, and it stopped playing up. At that portion of the audio I also found the quality difficult to hear what was being said. This I knew was deliberate. Next listen there was no stopping and starting, and I caught next to zero again in the same section of audio lasting for around a 45 seconds at a guess. I figured if I couldn’t catch it this time, I was not at a disadvantage the first listen when it was stopping and starting.

So my compte rendu was not perfect with bits of information basically missing. Again I struggled with the time preparing in writing for my oral component. I did okay-ish but I’m not certain of the accuracy of certain things. Also, they asked me for further clarification on a couple of facts/figures after completing the compte rendu and I just couldn’t provide it as I hadn’t caught that info. I guess they were giving me a chance to score a little higher, but when I didn’t provide the info they didn’t seemed shocked, we just moved on to the next part.

I was lucky with the theme though, as it was about homeschooling in France and whether or not it should even be allowed. Thus, the audio that it was based on was like a radio talk show where a few experts spoke and several call-ins with their own experiences with homeschooling and unschooling.

The second oral component was based around me taking a stance on why I homeschool my child. Perfect! My wife and I actually do this. So the oral component went seemingly okay.

the third oral component was basically two examiners asking me questions (a debate) based on the previous section (me homeschooling my child). Again, I had plenty of personal stuff to draw on here and I knew the situation in France somewhat as I’d researched it a tad.

So the audio/oral component was mixed. Great topic, didn’t catch the info of the initial audio recording (15 minutes long, 2 listens), but I had plenty of personal info to draw on. My ‘unfortunately’ in this section would be that I stumbled with words occasionally being nervous and also being nervous I think my use of connectors could’ve been better.

All in all, yesterday I felt somewhat positive. Today perhaps not us much. I’m expecting to pass, but not by a large margin. I’d love in the 70% range or more (my B1 from memory was high 70s, my B2 low 80s), but I’m expecting 50s to 60s range. Glad it’s done though, so glad. Fingers crossed!
34 x

AlOlaf
Orange Belt
Posts: 199
Joined: Sun Jul 19, 2015 11:11 pm
Location: USA
Languages: Speaks: English (N), German
Learns: Danish, Norwegian
x 366

Re: PM’s French Adventures in the Matrix

Postby AlOlaf » Tue Nov 12, 2019 3:56 am

My fingers are crossed, too!
1 x
Corrections welcome!


Return to “Language logs”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: merino_iceberg and 2 guests