Ive heard when eurostar takes on drivers, they send them to live in france for a month in order to learn the language. Does anybody know anything bout this such as is it mon-fri, do u get to go home at weekends? Do u have to even if u can speak french to a high standard already? Heard this last time they advertised and it put me off applying. Cheers
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Eurostar language learning
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I would have assumed you'd have to speak at least a little bit of the language from the outset. A month isn't really a long to to learn a language to a decent standard. I would imagine there's enough bi-lingual applicants anyway, meaning the hassle of sending someone to France for a month wouldn't be necessary?
Kentish Paul
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I can remember guys did go out to France, but I don't know for how long. I think you also, but don't quote me on this, you have to complete around 600hrs learning French.
French is quite a hard language to learn. You have to learn the difference between masculine and feminine, past and present.
The best way to learn French, is obviously working with them, hence going to France with Eurostar.
learning from a book or in class room, you get to learn the basics but if you go to France, it all goes out the window.
I'm not sure what standard of French you would have to learn at Eurostar, that would be the first question, and if someone replies from Eurostar on this thread they will tell you.
Also you need learn the slang
.
Even though my mums side originate from France and mum and dad still live out there, they can be funny people.
You are normally expected to speak some level of French to French people, other wise they will most probably ignore you...lol.
Someone did say (railway rumour alert), if you spoke English to a French signalman, they got funny, not sure if that's true.
I personally think, it should be like the aviation world. The standard language is in English.
Don't be put off by the language, its actually quite funny sitting there on a train and you can understanding someone's conversation.
If Eurostar is what you want to do, then go for it. Don't let the language or staying in France with a family be a problem.
If I was you, I would maybe look into a few good books and then find a good class, that would be my first step and get some basic lanuguage. Once in the company, you will be working with French crews, and that's where your French will start to pick up.
French is quite a hard language to learn. You have to learn the difference between masculine and feminine, past and present.
The best way to learn French, is obviously working with them, hence going to France with Eurostar.
learning from a book or in class room, you get to learn the basics but if you go to France, it all goes out the window.
I'm not sure what standard of French you would have to learn at Eurostar, that would be the first question, and if someone replies from Eurostar on this thread they will tell you.
Also you need learn the slang
. Even though my mums side originate from France and mum and dad still live out there, they can be funny people.
You are normally expected to speak some level of French to French people, other wise they will most probably ignore you...lol.
Someone did say (railway rumour alert), if you spoke English to a French signalman, they got funny, not sure if that's true.
I personally think, it should be like the aviation world. The standard language is in English.
Don't be put off by the language, its actually quite funny sitting there on a train and you can understanding someone's conversation.
If Eurostar is what you want to do, then go for it. Don't let the language or staying in France with a family be a problem.
If I was you, I would maybe look into a few good books and then find a good class, that would be my first step and get some basic lanuguage. Once in the company, you will be working with French crews, and that's where your French will start to pick up.
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notadriver
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That's not very nice both of you [emoji17]. I have A level French (but that was back in 1990), half my family lives in France, 5 years driving and high speed driving experience (defined as 100 mph or above by Eurostar).
Errrr.... is Newman your alt ?
As to not very nice. You should have seen his previous comments.
For the 100mph driving experience. How is that defined ? I regularly drive a 319 which is capable of 100mph. I have driven at 100mph but not what I would consider "experience"
whoosh
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Here's a bit of info from when the Eurostar operation started up. The course is done in-house now it says, and I know there are 'Language days ' every so offen (a bit like you have Safety Briefs every so often). There would be quite a bit of technical railway terms in French you'd be taught, but drivers have been known to improvise. The most famous was one describing a "horse with a pantograph" when a deer was on the line, and one driver once told me how he got a calling on type shunt signal instead of a main aspect in the Paris area, and how he'd forgotten the proper term for the signal, and found himself describing the horizontal lights to the signaller which had him howling with laughter and getting him to repeat what he'd said to the other signallers in the building. He'd said something along the lines of "I have a horizontal" which was remarkably similar to slang for "I have an erection!"
http://martinnewell.stevedix.de/840
https://books.google.co.uk/books?
Not sure what the course would consist of now, but I expect there would be similarities.
http://martinnewell.stevedix.de/840
https://books.google.co.uk/books?
Not sure what the course would consist of now, but I expect there would be similarities.
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notadriver
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I didn't see the comments but he is a fellow driver [emoji4]. I don't know what they would consider experience in terms of what you've just said but it's a moot point as that no longer seems to be a requirement.
Newman is not my alt. This is my only account on here [emoji4].
I heard a rumour you guys were losing work north of the river?
Just a rumor. We are getting more. Including more weekend work.
Until 319's are gone in full then I have been reliably informed that the arrangement between us and GTR will remain indefinably. It is alleged that we will also get 700 training.
Until 319's are gone in full then I have been reliably informed that the arrangement between us and GTR will remain indefinably. It is alleged that we will also get 700 training.
New drivers get 600 hrs of French, included is 2 lots of 3 weeks staying with a family in France - the weekends are yours to do as you wish, although you learn more staying out there.
Your language skills are assessed as part of the recruitment - if your language is good you may miss the stays in France but you'll have to do the technical language part of the course.
The drivers that were recruited this time last year have been validated for 2 months or so for domestic work only - that'll give you an idea of the length of the training course - their international rules course is next year.
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