The Philosopher's Demise: Learning to Speak French

by Richard A. Watson

A wry, witty memoir of a desperate middle-age foreign language learner. Richard Watson was invited to deliver a paper on Rene Descartes―in French, a language Watson could read but couldn’t speak. A private crash course and lessons at the Alliance Française only served to prove how difficult it can be to learn any foreign language, especially later in life. Throughout are digressions on the contrasts between France and America, on the mysteries of French engineering, and on eccentric French spelunkers. This book is for anyone who has done battle with another language―especially French!

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Language, Humor

Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Richard Watson is a recognized and pre-eminent Cartesian scholar and until his retirement was a professor of philosophy at Washington University in St. Louis. He now lives in Missoula, Montana.

Reviews

[Pea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not an instruction manual for learning French. This is a book about French culture from an American perspective. And it's about learning French. It's an easy read - a fantastically introspective account on the author's journey from world-renowned master and author on Descartes, to someone who can communicate orally in the language - and who can be accepted within the society.

I love his third-person POV as he describes interactions between American (adult) students in his French class (in France) - it's liberating and infuriating to any person who loves to experience foreign cultures and morphemes.

[Lilianad · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You speak English using French words."

"The Professor recommended that we go to the Luxembourg Gardens and find some old person sitting alone. "Go up to them and ask them to tell you their life story. That is a time-honored way in France to learn to speak French."
I don't know. I never heard of anyone who tried it, and I'd advise anyone who did to stand well back while asking. Some of those old people can spit a long way."

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty interesting book about the difference in culture, from academics to social life, between a city like Paris and any other western city. Although I wasn't too sure what the purpose of the book was going to be prior to reading the book, I was even more confused by the end of it. A light read that delves into the Parisian life but nothing more

[Jim Toner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having majored in French, I could relate to Dr. Watson's experience. I didn't agree that the French don't want foreigners speaking their language. Most French people were pleased when I spoke their language. Some gently corrected me when I made a mistake. I liked how he incorporated the Garden of Luxembourg into the book. It is one of my favorite places in Paris. He is correct about the French being intensely private people. My host family over there told us the French often don't even open up to other French people. This book was very interesting to read about someone else's experience in France.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh such a slog to get through

A couple of the mini essays were enjoyable (I especially liked the one about why men hate the French language), but the rest dragged and were of no consequence. There was essentially no point to the whole book, especially considering how it ends. Very rough.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick afternoon read about the tribulations of the author wanting to learn French. His reasons for doing so may not be the most admirable (to enter the elite circle of French Cartesian philosophers), but they are certainly understandable. Unlike what the cover copy says, this story is more about French culture and the Alliance Francaise than it is about persevering to reach a goal. The humor and stereotypes can be broad at times, but they provide a good contrast to Watson's musings and observations.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute book written by a philosophy professor who could read and write french but was unable to speak it. After being invited to speak at a philisophy conference in Paris he realized that he had to learn the language. It is a quick read filled with man funny anecdotes of his experience. I was able to relate at times after our experience learning spanish in spain and my experience trying to learn french while living here in Verbier.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amusing account of the author's crash-course in learning to speak French, which he already reads and writes fluently. There are some interesting anecdotes about various aspects of French culture, as well, such as how dumpsters are emptied. It's a fun, easy, entertaining read that also contains some interesting insights.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was quite interesting to read someone else's struggle to learn a foreign language in middle age. I was especially intrigued by Watson's comments on the possible sources of his resistance to learning French, both the personal ones and that ones that stemmed from English being his native language.

[Kaushalya · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining, albeit stereotypical, representation of the French. But it does give a very good account of the difficulties of learning a new language (a little extreme in Watson's case)