by Maude Julien
Long after I had left my father’s house, I continued to suffer sudden attacks of muteness, the after-effects of many years of confinement. With a great deal of effort, I had to learn how to master my elocution: articulating, pronouncing words with as much confidence as possible. Thirty years later, I was confronted with the same crises, this time involving the English language. I also had the pleasure of meeting Jeremy Coffman, who taught me patiently how to steady my breathing, stabilize my speech, and hone my pronunciation. For hours at a time while he was offering me wisdom in pedagogy and hearing, I often had the impression I was Colin Firth as Georges VI in the movie The King’s Speech.
And, of course, I cannot forget Pol Heaney, a loyal friend who has helped me master the grammar, vocabulary and subtleties of this wonderful language, and my friend Charlotte Rachou, who is my irreplaceable bridge between the French and the English languages.