h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yesterday I had my penultimate French class of term. In my teens, that phrase would have filled me with joy but today it makes me rather sad.

At school, I didn't much care for French. My only experience of the actual country was a brief school day trip to Bologne, where my faltering attempts to speak the language were greeted with patronisingly perfect English from the locals. Although I was vaguely aware that 'having a language' was a good thing, I had no personal need to speak the language, so I made little effort (and frequently got told off for gossiping in the back row).

Now, however, things have changed. We have a house in France, which we visit regularly, and have made friends - most of whom, unsurprisingly for a tiny village in the mountains, do not speak English. So I have dusted off my English-French dictionary and started taking classes.

The difference is that now I have not only the need, but the desire, to learn French. And I'm afraid to say that I've turned into something of a swot. I never miss a class if I can possibly avoid it, I do my homework, and I try hard to use the new grammar and vocab that we've learned as soon and as often as I can. I'm now the annoying kid at the front who always sticks their hand up whenever the teacher asks a question.

It's embarrassing. But at least I can talk to the neighbours...