Learning French.

Monsieur Denis was the teacher to us in our teens.

Shot in the leg during the War. Walked with a pronounced limp and put the fear of "Dieu" into us all.

Let me explain.

The English when we talk do not move our mouths much. I'm not saying we grunt, but vocals are restrained to a minimum. With the French is like verbal gymnastics. Google the French word for a "squirrel ". Impossible for is Brits. But we tried and Monsieur Denis banged our head with a book and called us stupid. No Court of Human Rights was appealed to in our class.

Later in life I mentally thanked the Monsieur when having to converse in Nigeria with the Niger or Chad house guards. No book hanging over my head !!!!!