More practice required

I just returned from France where I was the guest flute instructor at the Limonest Conversatoire. In preparation for my trip, I practiced my French using Rosetta Stone software and made decent progress. Upon reaching France, though, I soon discovered (as I feared/knew, really) that I was sorely lacking the right kind of vocabulary for flute teaching.

I quickly started a list of the most commonly need phrases:

Start here.

Try it.

Like this.

That's better!

That's too fast.

That's too slow.

You're a little late here.

I heard ______

I like your sound!

Over the time I was there, I felt like I improved dramatically and by the end did not need to reference my sheet at all. I saw several students more than once while I was there and they confirmed that indeed I had made progress. I tried very hard to speak French (referencing my dictionary quite a bit) especially with the youngest students who were only 8 and didn't speak any English.

Of course, you know there had to be at least one case of lost in translation-ness and here it is...

I was meeting with an adult student whom I was told was quite advanced. (He was playing the Poulenc Sonata for all you flute-folk out there.) He also spoke English quite well. But, I was dedicated to my project of speaking French and so persisted with due diligence. Our conversation is recorded below, translated to English.

Me: Hello! My name is Jessica.

Mark: Hello! My name is Mark.

Me: Pleased to meet you!

Mark: Me too.

Me: Start at the beginning? (things like "would you like to" and other niceties were beyond me, but I said everything in a pleasant way hoping it would be communicated)

Mark plays the first movement very well. I am impressed and would like to communicate that I really like his sound. I'm thinking of how to say this as he finishes playing.

Me: (stated in my pleasant and most earnest Do-you-understand-what-I'm-saying? manner) I love you!

Mark: quite startled and now in English Wow! You love me? We've only known each other for 10 minutes! That's great!

Me: also now in English Oh, no! I meant I like your sound. I don't think my husband would be happy that I'm telling strangers I love them. So sorry!

So, the rest of Mark's lesson was in English...