Language Barrier

June 13, 2017

The language barrier hasn’t been as hard on me as it has been on others. I studied French in High School and took a class last semester in college so I am usually able to understand the general concept of what is being said. However, the rest of my friends I am usually with on this trip do not understand anything. I have to translate most menus and signs for them which is hard at times but usually not too bad. Speaking to French people is a bit more difficult because they have trouble understanding my accent and my grammar isn’t perfect. There hasn’t been a time where the language barrier prevented us from doing or enjoying anything which is good. Whenever a French person we come across hears us trying to speak with a French accent they find it quite hilarious.

Anytime we go out anywhere, as soon as anyone speaks, all of my friends immediately turn and look at me which is always funny. I haven’t learned any new sayings since I have been here but I always find it funny that sometimes we overhear random people repeating words we are saying. For example, one afternoon when we were walking, one of my friend said “I love this!” and then we immediately hear a group of girls walking by mimicking her. I assume that native people in Lyon don’t often hear many American accents, so it is probably amusing to them!

Written By

Jillian Barnabe

I am a student in the D'Amore-McKim School of Business and I plan to graduate in 2021. I chose to study abroad with this program as I felt it would teach me a lot about how to live on my own and be independent as well as how to adapt to cultural changes. I have always loved the French language as I studied it for many years in high school, so I though this would be a great opportunity for me to further my knowledge of the language and culture while earning credit toward my business degree. I am looking forward to living in Europe and traveling to different countries on the weekends and I hope to gain a lot of both business and real world knowledge from this program. I hope to do a lot of sightseeing while I am not in class as I have a strong passion for photography, and I cant wait to try all of the new foods in the places I will visit!