Battle of the funny phrases: phrase 2:
THERE’S MUNCHKINS ON THE STARBOARD BOW!
CHALLENGE ME WITH A FUNNY PHRASE HERE
The challenge this time is to translate the phrase into French. So, here goes…
Il Y A MUNCHKINS PAR TRIBORD DEVANT!
Category: Learning French
Photo Credit: Fatimah Namdar
Sometimes, language learning can take you to exotic places and enrich other people’s lives as much as your own. Rhona Foulis tells her story:
Hi, Rhona. Would you like to introduce yourself?
I am an actress, English tutor and theatre reviewer. Having graduated with a First Class Honours degree in English and Drama, I worked in the theatre industry for four years before training as an actress.
Did you have a natural talent for language learning at school?
I find learning languages fairly easy because I’m fascinated by words and the ways in which we communicate with each other. I’m definitely an arts rather than a science person.
Has being able to speak more than one language helped you in your career?
I’m not sure whether my Spanish and French have directly helped me in my career. They probably would have proven more useful if I’d become fluent, but the acting took over after my A Levels.
Learning a language is no longer compulsory (in the UK) for schoolchildren once they reach the GCSE options stage. What are your views on this? Do you think children should be encouraged to learn a language at school? What can be done to make children enjoy learning a language?
It’s really sad that children aren’t encouraged to learn languages. We suffer from serious linguistic complacency in this country, assuming the universality of English, which is very ignorant. Undoubtedly, it’s easier for people to learn languages if it’s encouraged from a younger age; then learning language becomes synonymous with discovering the world, rather than a classroom lesson. Beyond childhood, visiting the host country is ultimately the best way to learn.
You taught English as a foreign language to children in South India. What was your experience of teaching in South India like and how did you get involved in teaching English as a foreign language?
Having graduated from university and undertaken several theatre internships, it felt as though I was at a turning point. I decided to make the most of not having any fixed responsibilities by travelling. In my last year at school, we were given a talk by a man who set up an orphanage in South India, the King’s World Trust for Children. Having lived in the Middle East and travelled extensively as a child, he whetted my appetite for an Indian adventure! I wanted to do some voluntary work and thought teaching English would be the best option for me. The tiny village school in Tamil Nadu was like nothing I’d ever seen before – almost like a mud hut – and there were very different methods of disciplining the children. The classrooms were pretty chaotic and full, but you soon learn ways to keep the children interested and engaged.
You’re an actress, an English and Drama tutor and a theatre reviewer. Where does you passion for the theatre come from?
I don’t know! I was hooked after my first performance during a school assembly, aged 10. My passion developed through further opportunities at school and Scottish Youth Theatre.
Have you ever directed a play?
I’ve never directed anything. However, it’s certainly something that I imagine doing in the future, once I’ve had more acting experience, feel more knowledgeable about the theatre and confident in my choices.
As a reviewer, is it hard to write critically about other actors and actresses work when you’ve got first hand experience of how hard the actors work and how much effort goes into staging a production?
No, I think it’s interesting to apply an actor’s perspective to a critical review of a performance, as long as that’s not your only perspective. A reviewer should also consider production values, direction, the writing etc.
Would you agree that Drama and the Theatre Arts are great tools for helping people to overcome the language barrier and communicate with each other? Can Drama and the Theatre bring different sections of the community together?
Absolutely. The structure of the theatre industry itself is traditionally elitist (unfeasibly high ticket prices) and the national curriculum doesn’t give nearly enough value or importance to the arts. However, drama itself is all about people, team work and communication – fantastic tools.
Which would you rather have: critical acclaim or fame?
Critical acclaim over fame. However, I don’t think that either is particularly important to me. What’s important is being able to do work that I enjoy and feel challenged by.
If someone wanted to hire you for English or Drama tuition, how could they do that?
I’m happy for anyone to email me at rhonafoulis@hotmail.com.
What are you working on career wise at the moment?
I’m performing in an exciting, improvisational performance with Fluxx Productions. “Night, London” runs for the first three weeks in March at the Tristan Bates Theatre.
Finally, what do you think of my language learning challenge? Have I bitten off more than I can chew or is it really possible to learn many languages in just 1 year?
In some ways, the more languages you learn, the easier they are to learn. You can begin to make connections between languages and common grammatical rules. But there’s a danger of mixing them up in brain overload!
See the Marty Meets: Rhona Foulis interview on the Up & Coming Talent Blog.
He’s Coming… One of the first people to wish me good luck on my language learning challenge was author and learning expert, Tony Buzan.
Interviewing Tony was an amazing experience. Way back in 2000, I astonished my A Level teachers by achieving much higher grades than they had predicted and getting into my first choice university. Do my achievements belong to Tony as I used his techniques and ideas? No. The achievements are my own. I used techniques and ideas but I sat the exam and I am responsible for my learning. There really is no quick fix in this life and some things work better for some people than others. But Tony’s approach to learning is refreshing, exciting and energising and I know that his techniques and ideas helped me learn so much.
If you’re not willing to invest in your learning then you’re not willing to invest in yourself and you won’t get much out of the experience of learning. But if you are willing to put in the time and the effort then Tony’s techniques, ideas and products will help you. You have to decide what you want to get out of your learning experience and you have to decide what you use to enhance your learning experience. It is, after all, your mind. But please keep an open, educated, informed mind about things because there are so many good things out there than can help you achieve a great deal. They help, you achieve.
For various reasons (not least the insect infestations, the horror of living where I lived last year and the fact that I had to move house in a hurry), I have not published my interview with Tony Buzan but that interview will be published on this blog soon as part of the “Marty Meets” interview series. Stay tuned and keep your eyes peeled.
Another video from Radio Lingua talking about French verbs. The best thing about this video is the reaction of the bloke and the woman standing on either side of Mark. Enjoy.
John has regenerated and the lift music is still there but this is a great way to learn some holiday French
Walk, Talk and Learn French: Radio Lingua have done it again. They’ve harnessed the power of technology and combined it with amazing teachers who really know how to get you enthusiastic about language learning. As always, it’s worth pointing out that Join Martin is an independent project and this video is on here because I would like to promote this series and other Radio Lingua products. The material in this video is copyrighted to Radio Lingua.
Change Your Life in 2009 with Beyond The Question
Make 2009 the year you get fit and healthy. Join The Brand New You Journey
Vote Now! The wonderful people at Poll Now! have launched a “Which Language Would You Like To Learn?” poll.
Radio Lingua listeners share their experiences of language learning in this Radio Lingua competition.
Join Martin is an independent project.
Image Copyright Garouland.com. Click the image to visit Garou’s website.
Garou Again: I have to admit to having become quite a fan of Garou since I started listening to him sing in French. Somehow, he makes romantic songs masculine and mysterious. Listening to him is a real treat and, once again, you can view one of his videos.
