How to fall in love with a language with Carrie from French is Beautiful

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...in French, right?
OK.
As you wish. Yes, let's start in French.
So
And thank you by the way
Ah you're welcome.
It's a pleasure (un plaisir)
That's very kind, thank you.
So now you live in Paris
Can you tell us which path you followed to get there?
So I studied for a year here
I studied French literature at Paris IV
The Sorbonne (prestigious French University)
And also classic piano at L'École Normale de la Musique (a leading music conservatoire)
And that's how my story with Paris started.
I remember
I read on your site (sur ton site)
That for you it was a very important moment
when you got the Skills and Talents visa
Can you tell us a bit about all that?
I lived in Los Angeles
I'd already had French is Beautiful for a few months
I love that you pronounce it in French...
I've gotten into the habit
because before when I spoke in French
I said ah well I've had French is Beautiful (American accent) for a few months
And it's true that
it's complicated when you speak in French
to not speak with a French accent when you speak in English
so
The same thing happens to me in Italian too
There you go, and so even if frankly I felt a bit silly at the beginning
to say "French is Beautiful" (French Accent)
It's more natural
Now it's natural but I've gotten into the habit of saying French is Beautiful (with a French accent)
And there you go, so I already had French is Beautiful
And I always had this dream actually
to live in Paris
one out of every six months
for example.
And that's why
That's one of the reasons why
I wanted to create a digital school
That way I could move
Because before I taught courses locally
in Los Angeles
So I was less free
And also the idea to teach a number of people at the same time
inspired me
instead of just teaching a course to one person at a time
So that's it.
Because in that way you've created a community too
Exactly.
And so in... it was in 2014
I discovered Instagram
And I started to post little videos
really just me
Either in the kitchen in Los Angeles
or in my parents garden in North California
You can look, if you go far far far
if you go right to the start
of the French is Beautiful feed
You'll see those videos, they're funny today.
I love those videos
I'll never delete those videos
because it was the beginning.
And I've got really beautiful memories of that moment
because I had this dream, this big dream
to have a big audience and to inspire people.
And so I found out actually
that the French government had this visa
Skills and Talent
In fact, the visa is what you receive at the consulate
And the residence permit is what you receive
once you've got the visa and you're here in France.
So it's actually a residence permit called Skills and Talent
It doesn't exist anymore, it's changed
but it was
a residence permit for people
who promoted French culture and the French language
And so I read that
and I told myself, well it's made for me.
So I prepared my application
and I had my interview
several interviews
I worked on it for around 6 months
and I was... I was
in a shop
Kinko's FedEx in Los Angeles when I got the email
And I was, I swear, the happiest woman in Los Angeles
I believe
I cried and... that's it.
It was an email that explained that everything was good,
and my visa was waiting for me at the consulate in San Francisco and there you go.
That was in September 2015
So now let's talk a bit about...
I think that there are lots of people who'd love to do what you've done.
Or live like you live... in Paris. And learn French
There are also lots of people who have problems learning the language.
What's your secret?
Well the secret, my secret
Actually, I think that...
Often people don't realise
just how much time you have to spend with the language.
to know it well.
And it doesn't matter if it's French, Italian, Spanish...
And people look for "short cuts"
Yes, "hacks"
And it sells.
Everywhere on the Internet
But it's false.
On top of that
I find it a shame because
it destroys the pleasure of learning.
It's a pleasure to learn something for yourself
especially French.
And so I often say to my students
The French language is living
She's like a person
You should think about...
your journey with French
like a friendship
or maybe like a relationship with a lover
I don't know
but
to have a friend, you have to spend time together
I love that. It's nice.
Thank you
And it's important too
Yes
I've never
Yes, you really need time
And now unfortunately, lots of people
think that...
It's possible to learn a language very very very fast
It's a bit difficult because after you realise that maybe it's not true.
You try
Yes!
And after they tell themselves: Oh well I'm not talented for languages
Exactly
I hear that all the time. You too I imagine.
Yes. Yes. Absolutely. You need time.
I really like that, so...
To think....
about French as if it was your friend or boyfriend.
Yes.
Well... an energy that you prefer to spend your free time with.
Also it makes the learning process gentler
because it's true that for most people
I understand. The idea of studying is quite a serious idea.
But it has to be a pleasure.
Especially, because, let's be honest
We're not obliged to learn French.
Apart from if you've already got a job in France.
Or if you're...
If you're mum or dad of children who speak French.
maybe - at a push.
But it's a pleasure.
So, you're in Paris now. Can you describe your typical day in Paris?
I don't normally have typical days
Apart from Sundays.
And so that's something that I....
It's changed a lot.
Well, there are lots of things that have changed a lot for me since I've been living in France.
Before, well I also have to say that it's part of the life of an entrepreneur
You work a lot, you're very focused.
You haven't got much free time.
So when I arrived here, I worked... I worked a lot.
I didn't enjoy life enough, I find.
On the other hand,
thanks to my French friends,
thanks to the French culture
I learnt how to enjoy life more.
And so for me, my Sunday is a sacred day.
On Sundays, I do... what I want.
So for example, on Sundays I'll read
I love to read.
That's why I've got the book club for women.
If it's nice, I'll walk in the park close by...
If not, I'll go for a coffee somewhere with my book...
Maybe I'll simply stay at home and play a bit of music...
I don't know, but, but for me...
Sunday's are the only day of the week for me which is typical.
Otherwise, during the week
That is... Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
it's a mix of creating content for social networks
to see some clients, some students locally
Normally I teach courses in Parisien cafés
I love going to concerts in the evenings
Dinners with friends in the evenings
Maybe a gallery opening.
On Thursdays I love going to gallery openings actually.
But it changes, it changes all the time
and that's also why I love Paris
It's a dynamic city
But it's a city...
that...
that's quite calm too.
It's seems...
I'd also love to come to Paris
it sounds amazing.
Life in Paris.
No but it's true, it's amazing.
There's everything here
It's a big city. It's a very big city.
And it's true, compared to other cities in France,
Paris is big, it's noisy, it's...
Parisiens are a bit stressed
But it's not like New York for example.
New York is oppressive.
And Paris, Paris... even if it's a very big city,
It keeps its...
village side, a bit.
I know that there are Parisiens that will hate me if they hear that
but for me it's true.
That's what I love.
And it's thanks to the "quartiers" (districts) I think.
For example, my district, the 3e (Paris system for naming districts)
is my village.
We've all got our villages here
Our district, our "arrondissement" (French word to describe different administrative quarters of the city)
I find that it's the same thing in Milan actually.
All the Italians say "in Milan, life is too..."
We always have really busy times
It's too difficult to live
But, compared to London
it's really a completely different lifestyle (un style de vie)
That doesn't surprise me at all.
And it's true that Milan compared to Siena,
Well, yes, no comparison.
It's a very stressful city.
But I know Milan a bit
I've been there two or three times.
But it's true, the food is so good
The people are chic
People aren't always running around in the streets either.
Well they're working, but it's...
The people are pretty chic in any case.
It's not...
And we sit down to eat.
That's....
There you go.
that's vital.
I was in New York and a month ago.
Well, 6 weeks ago
I lived in New York for 8 years.
And...
It's true, every time I'm there, wow.
People are... there, people are really in a rush.
So now..
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How to fall in love with a language with Carrie from French is Beautiful

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