Ça Fait un Bail

Ça Fait un Bail

“Ça Fait un Bail” is a favorite French expression of mine that roughly translates to “so, it’s been awhile”. I like it is because I was never actually taught it, I just picked it up after hearing it in several different TV shows in French. My positive affinity is due to the pride I feel in figuring out it’s meaning by myself from context. 

Which brings us back to “Ça Fait un Bail, ” because it’s been awhile since I’ve posted any bilingual reflections following my Gluttony series. We’re still in West Africa, teaching French to Jubilee (now almost 4). I try to include French language learning shows, music, and read-alouds on a daily basis. She doesn’t actually speak French but she definitely has a positive attitude about it and will frequently ask how to say a certain word in French. My husband recently commented that he was proud of how many little phrases or songs she could say in French. 

At the same time, her local language ability has sky rocketed because she spends so much time with her monolingual African friends and nanny. Sometimes she’ll say something that she doesn’t entirely know what it means but she just knows the right context to use it in. It’s truly amazing to see her pick up these languages to which she is exposed!