The only class I'm actually planning on taking at the Universite de Geneve this semester (at least at this point) is the political theory one, so that one's in French, which should be interesting. Now both of my flat mates (one is French and one is Swiss, and they're both native French speakers) have offered to edit papers for me, though, so that's good
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don't worry about seeming quiet - it's so hard to show your personality in another language - it's normal so they probably get it. i used to worry about saying something worthwhile cos i'd had to bother to translate it so i figured it should have a point but i think just little phrases help open you up to speaking confidently. stuff like "c'est vrai, c'est clair, c'est evident, c'est nul, c'est bon, super cool! etc) helps cos then you don't worry that you are being silent. also in a few months when you'll understand them loads better you'll realise that the things they said only sounded impressive cos you didn't understand it all. french (and most likely swiss) people just have the same full of rubbish conversations as everyone else.
Actually, I did understand when they were having a rubbish conversation about how Laude-Camille doesn't like Carla Bruni, but I still felt silly for having nothing to say. And Frank just speaks so quickly, because he's French.
The Swiss speak more slowly than the French (and say things like septante, huitante, nonante, and bonne ap!), so there are actually times when my French flatmate will say something, and I don't understand him, and then my Swiss flatmate will say the exact same thing and I understand her perfectly. Well, he also mumbles a bit, so that could be part of it. Or I could just be getting used to Swiss French.
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i used to worry about saying something worthwhile cos i'd had to bother to translate it so i figured it should have a point but i think just little phrases help open you up to speaking confidently. stuff like "c'est vrai, c'est clair, c'est evident, c'est nul, c'est bon, super cool! etc) helps cos then you don't worry that you are being silent.
also in a few months when you'll understand them loads better you'll realise that the things they said only sounded impressive cos you didn't understand it all. french (and most likely swiss) people just have the same full of rubbish conversations as everyone else.
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