Learning French

Unfortunately, when in school, I never studies French, just Spanish. Spanish is a simple language. The words look like what they sound like. I can understand Spanish when it is spoken, slowly. Even quickly, I can pick out words. French spoken quickly sounds like mish mash to me, a blur. After 10 years of traveling in France, without formal studying, my French is what I call restaurant and shopping French, lots of nouns, some verbs, some adjectives, but no idea had to conjugate a verb, and to structure a sentence. When I see the words written, I have no idea how to pronounce them. D. and I have been talking for years about taking classes so he could improve and I could start really learning. So, next week we start at Alliance Francaise in NYC. Last night we went to a very nice introduction there, a wine and cheese event. It is a very frightening prospect to contemplate a formal class with homework to add to my existing work and personal schedule, but it is time to learn.