I am Canadian, so I started learning French when I was 10 years old. But my entire experience with the language was in the classroom. All of that changed, however, during my last summer of high school. At age 17, I flew across the country by myself for the first time! I was headed to Quebec to live in the province(省)with a French-speaking host family. I would learn French at a local college.
When I arrived, I met my host family. They didn't speak any English. Though nervous, I introduced myself as best I could.
On the first day of school, all of us students were given a test to determine our language level. We also signed a contract promising to speak only French all summer. This even included times we communicated with our other English-speaking classmates.
The struggle to communicate in a second language was harsh but exhilarating. I made a lot of new friends, ordered food from restaurants and even saw a movie in French. I didn't understand most of it, but I loved the whole amazing experience.
On the weekends, my classmates and I took trips to different locations around the province. On one trip, we went whale watching on the St. Lawrence River. Even though it was raining, we could see giant whales swimming around our boat.
The most memorable part of our trip was a visit to historic Quebec City. I walked along the cobblestone (鹅卵石) streets and took pictures of the European-style buildings, and I learned about an important battle that took place nearby. I also got to enjoy a "beaver tail"-a special local food. It was truly an Eastern Canadian treat!
By the end of summer, I was communicating pretty fluently. I couldn't wait to go back to school and talk with my French teacher. Being fully immersed (沉浸) in a French-speaking environment was a valuable learning experience. At the time, I had no idea that I'd end up living abroad for more than 10 years. I'll never forget that first experience that paved the way for my future adventures.
微信扫码预览、分享更方便
