Light at the end of the Day

It was a miserable, cold, wet, grey day as we drove down to Rodez this morning to sit our French oral test for naturalisation. First we lunched with my old French editor, now retired, who assured us that the test would be perfectly simple.

We are seeking French citizenship (dual nationality) as insurance against the UK quitting the EU after the in/out referendum in 2017. If they were to do so it would strip us of our automatic rights as European citizens, including the right to healthcare and pension.

The test itself was held in a classroom in a huge, modern, government building on the outskirts of Rodez. It felt very much like being back at school, sitting at numbered desks. All it lacked what the smell of chalk dust and warm milk. There were eleven of us altogether. Most of the others appeared to be of Arab origin, but also seemed pretty fluent in French.

We received a sheet of paper on which we would mark our answers to multiple choice questions by filling in with pencil a circle next to an A,B,C or D. Those questions were written in a livret also provided, and were triggered by audio conversations diffused by a CD player at the front of the class. There was no chance to listen again. The conversations were random and without context, and you had 30 seconds to listen, read the questions and make your choice for each of 90 audio clips.

It was relentless. The concentration required was utterly exhausting. I would have found it difficult enough in English. But in French... After 30 minutes I just wanted it to stop. It in no way tested my ability to speak and interact in French - which I have done, daily, for nearly 14 years. I have addressed French audiences of up to 400 people for an hour at a stretch. I have given radio and television interviews.

But I am pretty sure I failed the test!

The only light at the end of an otherwise grim day was a slight break in the clouds as we arrived home at dusk to open a bottle of wine and put the awful experience behind us.

Footnote: I have no idea why, but this entry is dated November 18th, when it should be the 17th. Can't seem to change it, so can't post my entry for the 18th. Grrrr!