Pretty spare this week for me, not because of a dearth in interesting links but rather because it’s been yet another busy, busy week.
First, for the really important, earth-shattering stuff, namely, re: books! I can’t remember how I found Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books, but now I’m sucked in mostly because of the hilarious writing and, well, the blog title, darn it. Nothing French about it (except for the occasional steamy bouts of French kisses between the covers they review, I’m sure), save perhaps for the idea of books as being a source of fun and pleasure rather than technical education. Remember the days when novels ruled the earth and self-help books were few and far between?
Oh, and the color scheme is a sixties-coven gone mad. Love it!
Fashion: I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned her in these pages before, although I know she’s commented a few times. Sasha Manuel, a former model and currently a part-time professional blogger in the Philippines, publishes Style Manila (among a half-dozen or so other blogs — whew!). Although a few of her posts refer to fashions not available in the US, most of what she features could easily be sourced here (including Mango, a recent favorite). Plus, I have fun just checking out what the Manila fashion scene looks like in this very globalized world we live in. I dare say that the city’s on its way to becoming one of the fashion capitals of Asia, and Sasha’s right at the forefront of it.
As almost everyone knows, although I studied French in high school and was really quite good at it, that was about twenty years ago (Reunion’s in October! Go Vikings!). I’ve forgotten a lot since then but remain committed to re-learning it over the next few years. Anyway, someone sent me a link to LiveMocha a few months ago, but I’ve only recently gotten into it. You can learn French, Spanish, German, Hindi, Mandarin Chinese, and English. The site has comprehensive lessons for each of these languages as well as lots of social networking opportunities (including IM, PM) that make it easy to meet others who either are learning the same language or are already fluent in it. Actually, it can make it too easy, as someone IM’d me within seconds after I started my first pronunciation lesson, but I think there’s a way you can turn the notification functions off so that you can study in peace.
Anyway, it seems to be a pretty decent way to practice one’s writing and reading and pronunciation online, although of course nothing beats a live class or — even better — full immersion. But if you’re stuck at home and need some brushing up on the basics, this wouldn’t be a bad option. The French pronunciation is fantastic, especially as I had an Italian-American teacher in high school with only passable pronunciation skills. At the time, though, she sounded authentic to my virgin ears.
That’s it for today. I have some fantastic news, though: I just got a gig teaching at a one-day workshop for artists in April! Yay! I’ll be doing a one-hour quick course on writing to communicate to your potential buyers/audience, both on- and offline. It’s being offered by the local community college and will be a good platform for a longer, more comprehensive freelance writing course I’ll be conducting there a couple of weeks after the workshop through their continuing education program. Not counting my two-year stint teaching English in Japan, this’ll be my first time doing actual instruction in a college setting, so I’m both very, very nervous as well as very, very excited.
Yay, me!
What’s on tap for you this week?
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Congratulations, Marjorie!!! That is great news. What an interesting topic. Artists often have difficulty with their own P.R. Looking forward to hearing more about the class. You are a productivity machine
Congratulations! That’s pretty cool.
I was just thinking about my French – like you, I took it for years and was pretty good but had to focus on other topics in college and lost a fair bit of it.
Going back to Paris helped but it also reminded me how much I loved it and how much better I was at it in the past.
You had suggested in a previous comment that I take one of those evening education courses in writing (which is a great idea!) – I’ve been thinking about doing that with French too so I can brush up on my skills. But then I’d also love to take Italian (took a semester in college for ‘fun’)…so many things to do, so little time.
I had no idea all this time that I’ve been reading your blog that you have lived in Japan! Now I like you even more! I am a total Francophile and Japanophile. I lived in Paris for a while about 8 years ago, and did my undergrad degree in French. But it’s becoming rusty, especially as I’m using Japanese everyday now. I didn’t know about Livemocha–thanks for the info!
Busy week(s) for me as well. This is why i’m online at midnight trying to wind down. oh and i’m also too lazy to push the caps key.
i got to your blog here and my eye went directly to the link title ‘smart bitches who love trashy books’. i laughed stopped reading and had to comment. so, poof. there you have it.
bedtime.
sidenote..i can’t wait to know what you think of the house. let me know if you can’t open the zip file. a lot of work indeed.
Congratulations! I can’t say that you shouldn’t be nervous because I would be too, but I have no doubt you’ll do great, nonetheless.
Congratulations! This is wonderful news. Will you write your own lesson plan?
Dear LBR, merci!! Yeah, I wish my best friend J. could take it, but she lives in Dallas.
I was thinking that if it turns out to be a hit, I might expand it and make it into an online course so that out-of-staters can take advantage of it.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately of your last sentence about me being a “productivity machine.” I’m not sure I like being thought of as a “machine,” although my best friend said pretty much the same thing the other day. It really hit home that maybe I am doing a bit much of late (I’ve been having a hard time sleeping the last few days) and need to slow down, you know? I like being productive, but not to the point where I just spend all my time working, which is what I feel I’ve been doing lately. You’ve certainly given me some thoughts to ponder!
Dear AS, yeah, as I get older, I’m finding way more interesting stuff I’d like to pursue than I have time for! (See note to LBR above.) I think I really need to just focus and master one thing at a time. Right now, I really want to learn French and get to the point where I can converse with native speakers without stumbling around too much! I haven’t gone back to LiveMocha since Monday, but I’ll have more time this weekend.
Dear Fuji Mama, konnichi-wa! Wow, how wonderful! I would love love love to live in Japan again. My husband also lived there for a time (a few years after I did), but although he loved it as much as I did (and speaks and writes better Japanese than I), he won’t go back. Just as well, as he probably would have a difficult time getting a hospital job there, not being Japanese.
Anyway, so glad to “meet” you! Sounds like we have a lot in common — I’m so fascinated with the connection between France and Japan. I’ve always thought it was much closer and more interesting than the American-Japanese or French-American connection. And aesthetically, I think Tokyo has a lot it can teach Paris.
And thanks for linking to your blog! I’m already enjoying it and feeling soooo natsukashii.
BTW, I lived in Hita-shi, Oita-ken. Very inaka, but it was exactly how I wanted it. And I really, really miss okonomiyaki-yas!
Dear Colleen, hope you’re getting more sleep! I’ve been pretty deprived of it lately, too, and it’s really doing a number on my days. Sigh. I’m really not 18 anymore, am I?
I saw the house! You know, yeah, it needs a lot of work, but I’ve seen enough HGTV to know that you can definitely do tons with it and make it a gorgeous home. Just a bit of sweat equity and TLC, and you’ll be golden. Love the courtyard and entryways.
And thanks for the kind note!
Dear Randal, I’ve never taught writing before, although I’ve tutored plenty of times. This should be an interesting experience. Merci for your thoughts!
Salut,
Marjorie
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