k&k episode 179 - the one where they continue discussing the link between personality and language... and stuff...
After the interesting discussions we had in episode 177, we decided to get Sigmund Frog in the CTS for episode 179, to talk about the ways we communicate and how we get our personalities across in French vs English. We do an intervention and reassure Kylie that her French is much better than she thinks, we talk for a long time about the definition of fluency and bilingualism, Frog talks about his own experiences in Swedish, English and French, and he also makes some interesting observations about the way we all speak French.
This episode was brought to you by the phrase "parler une langue couramment" (to be fluent).
Guest host : Sigmund Frog
k&k episode 178 
I guess the "fluency" lies in humor. Can you crack jokes in a language, and be understood? _That_ I believe is the main test, since humor involves so much more than just knowing the words and grammar.
What say?
There's also "PTDR" as an LOL replacement - bonus points for any non-French person who can say what it is. What is funny is that my students last year all thought "lol" meant lots of love.
I also would like to say that Miss Kyliemac does not give herself enough credit for her French abilities. The girl can rattle on in French with the best of them:
As for myself - I really don't consider myself bilingual. I think I have a high level of fluency, but there's still definitely room for a lot of improvement. I also have a sort of issue with the whole idea of being "bilingual", because I think that part of bilingualism means being bi-cultural and I don't really think that's 100% possible unless you are able to spend half the year in one country and half the year in the other.
For example, yes I am American, but after five years here, I no longer know what the new American slang words are, who the latest actors are, what TV shows everyone is watching, etc. But yet I know that for France. Cultural references make up such a huge part of speaking a language that I think the more you take on of your adopted country, the more you lose of your home country. And I am overly-tired and slightly hung-over so none of this is coming out coherently. Grr.
Did I mention how much I love it when Frog is on the podcast?? ;)
I love this particular episode. ooh ksam what is ptdr?!
LOL -- loved the intro sentence!
cya Fri-night!