Walter B. Wriston '41
Smith, Nancy
2007
On Learning French
When I enrolled in the Fletcher School, I was told, "By the way, you have to speak a foreign language." That was about the best news I had ever heard, so I called Dad and asked, "Where in the world can I learn how to speak a foreign language fast?" He suggested Middlebury; I called them up and asked if I could attend summer school, they said yes, and I got in an old Ford and drove up there. The dean interviewed me in French. I looked at him and said, "I'm sorry sir but I don't have any idea in the world what you are talking about." And he said, "Well, you are supposed to speak it when you come here." I said, "I am here because I don't speak it." And he said, "Well, you've got more courage than brains, so you might as well stay." I nearly died. This is a school where no English is spoken and there is an unwritten rule that you won't speak any language other than the one you are learning. It is a superb deal. By the end of the day I was able not to starve to death in a French restaurant. | |