Oh when do I stop translating in my head and just speak and comprehend French as French?

This is a big question for me. I am at some what of a stand still with my French learning while I attend online college classes in English. Well, I suppose I only have myself to blame. I make time for two classes a week. Why not French verb drills, vocabulary, flash cards, or some audio listening comprehension on a regular basis. It is very tiring to listen in French to a native French speaker and hope I have time enough to work out in my head what is being said. Then I try to get myself together fast enough again in my head to get my tongue moving and staying in decent timing with the conversation. Sure talking with the same people helps. You get use to a person's voice, his/her nuances, the speed, the style, and best of all he/she knows what to expect from you. When I talk with someone I see once a week or less I have found I am much closer to mental exhaustion after a conversation. I suppose with more time and absolutely with more French studying efforts I will eventually approach fluency. Until then I need a bag of frozen peas for my brain.

Just thought I would share.

World Endeavors :is a link to a blog site of a company which offers internships and possibly more. I do not know. I found them through Google when I thought I had elective credit hours open to possibly do an internship class. I do not have the availability in my schedule nor does this company offer anything in France at the time. I do find their periodic emails entertaining if not informative. This one containing this blog entry and its 5 Tips to Overcome Culture Shock interested me. Part of why I am blogging is culture shock, so here is someone else's advice on the subject. I concur.

Happy reading.

Principality of Liechtenstein.

Ever heard of Vaduz? Well it is the capitol of one of the smallest countries if not the smallest country. However, in all actuality it is a principality and so being a country is questionable. If you are interested you can check out this tiny place ruled by its Prince and Princess at:
http://www.tourismus.li/en/our-country/about-Liechtenstein.html
or
http://www.infoplease.com/country/liechtenstein.html

Vaduz Castle

  The Red House

                                 

                                                                                   A little model of Vaduz Castle

This rich little German speaking place a bit smaller than Washington DC is in Europe, right smack in the middle of the Alps, but is not part of the European Union. So, just so you know, it uses the Swiss Franc, but accepts the Euro...tourism at its finest.