Ironically, just saying “bonjour” would have pissed off a lot of ‘Mericans and led to many of them screaming, “speak fucking English you cheese-eating commie!”
I am currently learning French in my 70’s and I don’t have a French-speaking mother or wife to help me (this is not an invitation to francophone women seeking a domestic position). Rousseau had so many advantages and threw them away. CEOs seem inclined to think they’re exempt from the rules that guide the rest of us. I look to the day they’re all replaced by AI.
As I have said here before, the one thing I will never forgive my parents for is enrolling us in an Anglophone school when we lived in Montréal for almost five years. Ages 4-9--we'd have been bilingual and I would have LOVED THAT. Have been trying ever since, ain't the same.
What a fucking whinefest! Poor anglophones being reminded that they're not the conquerers of the French via osmosis, so now (well, in 1993 when this was shat out) they need to leave for Ontario or otherwise learn some words in another language. And the self-victimization is topped only by the condescending colonial attitude throughout the show. Did you know that even though France ruled Upper Canada for hundreds of years, it was the British that somehow brought "civilization" to Québec? And we know just how uncivilized the French are! (rolls eyes in two languages)
I am on team polar bear saying I don’t know what you’re talking about in English or French or whatever. I do not respond to the noises coming out of your mouth holes.
Merci beaucoup! This is ancient history from 60-70 years ago - my stepfather was French Canadian, and his parents only spoke French. (For the record, my own French is abysmal - though I do know enough to ask directions and get fed). I learned basic French from my grandmother. In high school, I took French taught by a Parisian (though what the guy was doing in rural NY I have no clue). Every time I used a Canadian pronunciation for anything (almost everything), he smacked my knuckles with a ruler. I had sore knuckles for four years because the Parisian teacher hated Canadian pronunciations (and had contempt for Canadians). Decades later I landed in Paris for a few months and they understood me perfectly. I couldn't say much, but they complemented me on the way I said it.
Like all language, my French revives itself when I am surrounded by the language. This CEO has no excuse whatsoever because he would have been surrounded by French speakers everywhere.
I took five years of French and didn't speak it. But when I was in Rome in 2000, surrounded by Italians, I found myself suddenly able to think in it! More recently, yesterday my son asked if I knew enough to read an Internet page in French. I said no, but I did! I only got two things wrong (deck, not pool, and today, not always.). I was very proud!
I tried learning Spanish via Duolingo but lost interest after a year or so, and I’ve forgotten a lot. I still get phone and TV ads in Spanish and recognize some words but can’t really follow conversations. I also took Russian and Latin in school but can’t do much in either now
I mean...he could practice *at home with his wife,* but nah, fuck them Francophones. This is indicative of a whole lot about him, and I'm glad he got sacked. I hope there's no big severance payout.
I flew on a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Munich a few years ago and the flight attendants (in addition to being statuesque six-foot-tall blondes) effortlessly ratted off the flight safety instructions in fluent Dutch, and then German, and then English.
They wore light blue jackets and skirts and juanty little blue hats and they brought me a Coke Light (the Euro version of “Diet Coke”). After greeting the boarding passengers in heels, they switched to flats for the duration of the flight and put their heels back on for the deboarding.
In college, our ski team was heavily Canadian. I knew a couple from White Horse. They were very, very proud of being bilingual. They were sad at the time because it was during one of Quebec's secession referenda.
I've been to Cornwall a few times, having gone to college in Potsdam, NY, and having the good fortune of having friends with cars.
Of course that was close to 50 years ago, so I'm sure things have changed since then.
Ironically, just saying “bonjour” would have pissed off a lot of ‘Mericans and led to many of them screaming, “speak fucking English you cheese-eating commie!”
I am currently learning French in my 70’s and I don’t have a French-speaking mother or wife to help me (this is not an invitation to francophone women seeking a domestic position). Rousseau had so many advantages and threw them away. CEOs seem inclined to think they’re exempt from the rules that guide the rest of us. I look to the day they’re all replaced by AI.
As I have said here before, the one thing I will never forgive my parents for is enrolling us in an Anglophone school when we lived in Montréal for almost five years. Ages 4-9--we'd have been bilingual and I would have LOVED THAT. Have been trying ever since, ain't the same.
Apprendez Vous!
"I spent a year answering Air Canada’s telephones after university and had to meet the same in-house standards as everyone else"
PANTS ARE MANDATORY!!! WE TOLD YOU THIS BEFORE!!
I once pulled a VHS tape of this documentary out of a trash can at work. After watching it, I understood why it was there.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘴𝘦 & 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoYIZwPXXWU
What a fucking whinefest! Poor anglophones being reminded that they're not the conquerers of the French via osmosis, so now (well, in 1993 when this was shat out) they need to leave for Ontario or otherwise learn some words in another language. And the self-victimization is topped only by the condescending colonial attitude throughout the show. Did you know that even though France ruled Upper Canada for hundreds of years, it was the British that somehow brought "civilization" to Québec? And we know just how uncivilized the French are! (rolls eyes in two languages)
The French were too busy intermarrying with the native ladies while the British were perfecting their incel persecution complex.
Big Bear has Big Bear Pants on his legs. XD
I am on team polar bear saying I don’t know what you’re talking about in English or French or whatever. I do not respond to the noises coming out of your mouth holes.
"Fish? Non. Je vais prendre le poisson, s'il vous plaît".
"India is buying oil from Iran after a hiatus of seven years."---CNBC
My question, silly as I always am, is how will they be paying?
In Rupees, Dollars, or SAMs.
Surface to Air Missiles start at around $1 mill and up, depending on
accessories. Cup holders, iPads, and WiFi and such.
Iran is demanding payments in rial.
Four Rialz?
Merci beaucoup! This is ancient history from 60-70 years ago - my stepfather was French Canadian, and his parents only spoke French. (For the record, my own French is abysmal - though I do know enough to ask directions and get fed). I learned basic French from my grandmother. In high school, I took French taught by a Parisian (though what the guy was doing in rural NY I have no clue). Every time I used a Canadian pronunciation for anything (almost everything), he smacked my knuckles with a ruler. I had sore knuckles for four years because the Parisian teacher hated Canadian pronunciations (and had contempt for Canadians). Decades later I landed in Paris for a few months and they understood me perfectly. I couldn't say much, but they complemented me on the way I said it.
Like all language, my French revives itself when I am surrounded by the language. This CEO has no excuse whatsoever because he would have been surrounded by French speakers everywhere.
I took five years of French and didn't speak it. But when I was in Rome in 2000, surrounded by Italians, I found myself suddenly able to think in it! More recently, yesterday my son asked if I knew enough to read an Internet page in French. I said no, but I did! I only got two things wrong (deck, not pool, and today, not always.). I was very proud!
I tried learning Spanish via Duolingo but lost interest after a year or so, and I’ve forgotten a lot. I still get phone and TV ads in Spanish and recognize some words but can’t really follow conversations. I also took Russian and Latin in school but can’t do much in either now
Test....
is.
Czech?
That's pest.
Slovak.
My late-paternal grandfather has entered the chat.
I read you.
You poor thing...that's a long book!
Thankfully, you highlighted all the dirty parts. Most considerate of you.
He just limited himself to the Cheers part.
New thread is borked for me....anyone else?
I mean...he could practice *at home with his wife,* but nah, fuck them Francophones. This is indicative of a whole lot about him, and I'm glad he got sacked. I hope there's no big severance payout.
TBF, who TF talks to their wife?
... perhaps I've said too much.
Oh, but there is: $30-40 million.
God how I envy the multilingual.
I flew on a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Munich a few years ago and the flight attendants (in addition to being statuesque six-foot-tall blondes) effortlessly ratted off the flight safety instructions in fluent Dutch, and then German, and then English.
Oh yes. Thinking back on long layovers in Amsterdam
"layovers ". Heh, heh, heh.
I want to hear more about the blondes, in whatever language.
They wore light blue jackets and skirts and juanty little blue hats and they brought me a Coke Light (the Euro version of “Diet Coke”). After greeting the boarding passengers in heels, they switched to flats for the duration of the flight and put their heels back on for the deboarding.
Male, female and all ages.
In college, our ski team was heavily Canadian. I knew a couple from White Horse. They were very, very proud of being bilingual. They were sad at the time because it was during one of Quebec's secession referenda.