French Interview

So I applied for a bi-lingual job and I actually got a call back. I did a 30 minute phone interview which was successful but now I have to do a 10 minute language assessment over the phone in which a french manager will call me and carry out a short conversation in french.

I've attended a french school from pre-K to high school then I took french courses in highschool and graduated with a french certificate but it has been years since I've used it! I've lost some of it... I can hear it and understand what people are saying but I have a hard time remebering how to say certain things and getting them out. I feel like I get tongue-tied!

I'm really nervous now because I'm not sure if my french is going to kick in... It's like riding a bike right? I'm scared. I have no one to talk to in frech and right now I have my TV on a french channel but it's not helping me much.

My mom always told me I would need french to get a good job but I guess since the language was shoved down my throat I've always hated speaking it, now I guess she was right. But I'll never tell her that. hahaha

How should I brush up on my french by 2:30 tomorrow? Me thinks I'm in trouble.

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15 replies since 1st June 2011 • Last reply 1st June 2011

Reply #1:

Try finding a random chatroom website where only french is spoken

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Reply #2:

call up some of your old classmates who took the french courses with you and ask them to have a conversation with you in french?

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Reply #3:

When you're walking around the house (don't ask why you would be doing that in the first place) talk to yourself in french. I find it helps. I talk to my friends in french sometimes, but it kinda does their head in (possibly why I have a 'select' group of friends Tongue oh well, C'est la vie - sorry I couldn't help it)

Also imagine what they might ask you: why do you want the job, what experience do you have, silly things, but they might come up in the conversation. Try and brush up on some general responses and say them out loud.

Good Luck,
Hope you get your job x

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Reply #4:

There's this thing I'm using "mango languages" and it's really good. I would reccomend it, but you may be past that level. I use it for free b/c of my library, so you may not be able to get it.

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Reply #5:

If you get in trouble just say that it's a case of nerves. Or just try to describe what you mean.

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Reply #6:

There's an awesome quiz site, here's their French page:
http://www.sporcle.com/games/subcategory/french

This one is good, it might jog your memory a bit.
http://www.sporcle.com/games/ElanMorin/100_French_Verbs

Also I agree with Jenny, talk to yourself. Narrate you life. I did that before I went to France and it helped me remember how to make sentences and stuff.

And remember there are multiple ways to say stuff. "I have to feed the dog" could be "I have to give food to the dog" (or if you're desperate "The dog is hungry and he needs my help" haha Tongue)

Good luck! Happy

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Reply #7:

Wow thanks everyone! It's crazy how much you can forget a language in just a few short years. I'll talking to myself and coming up with possible answers as well as some of the other suggestions.

Thanks for the help Happy

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Reply #8:

Hi Lo, my grandmother was french hence I can speak french pretty well. if you think that could help we can skype and simulate the interview.
I'll send you a private message with my skype name
and don't panic! you'll be fine!

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Reply #9:

I can't wait to hear how it went :]

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Reply #10:

Aw thanks Susanna that was very nice of you Happy I'm sorry I didn't see your message earlier because the interview is already done!

A very french woman called me and asked me all about my french speaking history and my schools. She wanted to know if the schools I went to offered only french classes or if they were french immersion (which they were) and then she asked me stuff like if I speak french at home (which I never ever do) but I said I only speak it on very special times such as visiting my grandma who doesn't speak english at all.

The woman said the interview went well and she was going to get back to the hiring people because I passed it. The whole interview only lasted about 5 minutes but she got in a lot of questions and information I'm just glad I was able to hear her and understand everything she was saying. I also kept my answers very short and stuck to things I was sure of instead of trying to boost my answers like I would in english.

Now that I passed the interview I should really keep working on getting my french back to where it was before so...

Merci à tous pour l'aide, ça veut dire beaucoup! Je peux toujours compter sur la bonté des autres ici à CO+K!

(Thanks everyone for the help, it means a lot! I can always count on the kindness of others here on CO+K!)


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Reply #11:

Well done Lo.Glad it went well ;)

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Reply #12:

good job! i'm happy for you ^__^
and i'm still available for some french conversation on skype Happy

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Reply #13:

yeah! I'm so happy for you!!!! and if you have some questions i speak french! Happy I'm from Québec.

Je suis très heureuse pour toi!!Ma réponce arrive bien trop tard sur ce post mais bon!Mieu vaut tard que jamais! Happy Je lisais les commentaires et je me disais: ahhh! Jespère que son apelle c'est bien passé! ^_^.Moi pour m'aider à apprendre l'anglais et bien, je pence en anglais!Sa marche bien pour moi.Et sa m'arrive même de rêver en anglais! :S ha!ha!ha!


Good luck!! ^_^

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Reply #14:

Well done! My french is rubbish but I try Tongue

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