When you go to France...

How many occasions have you been to France so far?

I can't tell you the exactly number but I think it's probably fourteen.

In that case you must can to speak the language as well as a native French person.

I wouldn't go as further as that but the main thing is that I can make myself understood in most situations.

Yes, that's important because if you find yourself in a difficult situation, you can speak yourself out of it.

Can you remember any particular incident when your knowing of the language was a real help?

Yes, we were driving our car through a forest and suddenly the engine ceased.

Unfortunately this happened near a signal that told you that it was dangerous to park there.

A police car arrived and an angry-looking police officer got off the car and came up to me.

I immediately explained the problem and the officer was so influenced by the way I spoke French, that he telephoned a garage for help.