For 25 years, Lutgarde, Roland, and Nicole have been meeting on Tuesday mornings to practice the French language. For Lutgarde, French also held personal significance: her daughter and grandchildren live in France, and she visited them regularly.
In the early years, participants received traditional, school-like lessons focusing on vocabulary and grammar. Their first teacher was a sworn court interpreter. Over the years, the emphasis shifted from grammar to conversation. Today, about ten participants form a self-guided conversation group, choosing a new theme each week to discuss.
Roland emphasizes the importance of practice: "If you want to keep speaking a language, you have to stay engaged with it. One morning a week, we are truly focused on French." He now passes on his love for languages by teaching French to a beginners' group on Thursdays. Their passion for languages extends beyond French; Nicole and Roland also took Spanish classes for several years.
After a quarter of a century, the Tuesday morning gatherings are about much more than just le français. The participants have gotten to know each other better, and the group has evolved into a close circle of friends. They also regularly meet outside of their weekly sessions, often traveling together to France almost annually. Places like Arras, Lille, Bergues, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Calais, Dunkirk, and even Paris have been visited over the years, sometimes by bus or train, and partners and acquaintances are welcome to join.
These trips have created many memories, some more spectacular than others. They vividly recall an incident where a double-decker bus got stuck in an underground parking garage, causing roof damage. It's a story they still bring up years later. Nicole mentions that they traditionally end the year with a meal together in Ieper after their last meeting. "Over the years, we've met so many people through the group."
New members are always welcome, provided they have a basic knowledge of French. Newcomers should be able to hold a simple conversation about what happened yesterday, what's planned for today, and what tomorrow brings. As the group summarizes it: you need to not only know French but also gradually (dare to) think in French. After 25 years, no one seems in a hurry to stop, as ultimately, it's not just about vocabulary, grammar, or correct conjugation.
