Cactus Language Blog

Cactus Opinion: Learning French in Biarritz

Posted by Sarah under Cactus Languages Abroad, Cactus Staff Opinion, French, Learning a language

Laura Harrison, Cactus TEFL Advisor, tells us about her recent language learning experience in sunny Biarritz

With its spectacular coastline and boutique-lined streets, Biarritz simply oozes Gallic chic and surfing cool.

It’s strange really that these two qualities exist side by side, and even stranger that I, an individual with a self-confessed lack of either attribute, should feel so at home and so enamoured of this place!

Fortunately, my last trip to the city was neither to surf nor to shop so my secret was safe. I was there because of one of my own passions, the French language.

I chose to take my annual language course at the medium-sized and very friendly language school on the outskirts of the town centre…well, the VERY outskirts of the town centre. It’s easily reached by bus, yet guilt stemming from the consumption of croissants, moules frites and patisserie equalling almost my own body weight inspired me somewhat uncharacteristically to walk 40 minutes there and back each day. Needless to say, the fact that the route included a sizeable hill was unbeknown to me when I made this decision.

Although the realisation that you have forgotten a lot of the language you spoke almost fluently at one point is a little depressing, a week on a language course serves as a good reminder that the knowledge is still all there, just temporarily suffocated by Monday’s shopping list and the finer points of your upcoming tenancy agreement.

It has definitely inspired me to make the most of this skill that I am so lucky to have acquired so successfully, and to make sure that what’s latent never becomes forgotten. If I need a few croissants to jolt my memory along the way, then I guess that’s just a sacrifice I’ll have to make!

Tags:biarritz, Cactus TEFL, French, French language course