A Comedy of Culture: How Eddie Izzard's Routine Inspired a Lifetime of Language Learning and Career
At the age of 13, learning French was nothing more than an obligation for this writer. Until that fateful evening when they stumbled upon a VHS of Eddie Izzard's stand-up show Dress to Kill. The surreal comedy had a profound effect on their perspective, transforming school French from a dry subject into something funny and engaging.
Izzard's routine tackled the complexities of learning a new language with humor, showcasing ridiculous situations where phrases like "le chat" (the cat), "la souris" (the mouse), and "le singe" (the monkey) were thrown together in an absurd conversation. The writer was captivated by Izzard's irreverent approach to linguistics, which suddenly made the language click into place.
The comedian's show in French during the encore proved particularly pivotal, with a memorable line that cracked a long-standing understanding barrier for this writer: "Le singe a disparu" ("the monkey has disappeared"). This was not just an amusing anecdote but also a revelation – Izzard had unlocked the complexities of grammar and vocabulary that once seemed insurmountable.
The writer's newfound enthusiasm for French led to a passion for learning, taking them from casual interest to fluency. The love affair with language continued with German and Turkish, acquired through their experiences in university. The turning point came when they landed a job at an online marketing firm in Berlin, where immersing themselves in the local culture allowed them to converse effortlessly with locals.
Their path led to Brussels, where they joined the European Commission, using French extensively in their daily work as part of communications, research and innovation team. While English was the primary language used, knowing multiple tongues made interactions with colleagues from diverse backgrounds seamless.
Years later, when taking a train through Bruges, passing a hotel named Le Singe d'Or (The Golden Monkey) brought back memories of Izzard's stand-up routine, filling them with joy and gratitude. Who knew that watching a comedian one evening would lead to a life of cultural exploration, language learning, and professional opportunities?
At the age of 13, learning French was nothing more than an obligation for this writer. Until that fateful evening when they stumbled upon a VHS of Eddie Izzard's stand-up show Dress to Kill. The surreal comedy had a profound effect on their perspective, transforming school French from a dry subject into something funny and engaging.
Izzard's routine tackled the complexities of learning a new language with humor, showcasing ridiculous situations where phrases like "le chat" (the cat), "la souris" (the mouse), and "le singe" (the monkey) were thrown together in an absurd conversation. The writer was captivated by Izzard's irreverent approach to linguistics, which suddenly made the language click into place.
The comedian's show in French during the encore proved particularly pivotal, with a memorable line that cracked a long-standing understanding barrier for this writer: "Le singe a disparu" ("the monkey has disappeared"). This was not just an amusing anecdote but also a revelation – Izzard had unlocked the complexities of grammar and vocabulary that once seemed insurmountable.
The writer's newfound enthusiasm for French led to a passion for learning, taking them from casual interest to fluency. The love affair with language continued with German and Turkish, acquired through their experiences in university. The turning point came when they landed a job at an online marketing firm in Berlin, where immersing themselves in the local culture allowed them to converse effortlessly with locals.
Their path led to Brussels, where they joined the European Commission, using French extensively in their daily work as part of communications, research and innovation team. While English was the primary language used, knowing multiple tongues made interactions with colleagues from diverse backgrounds seamless.
Years later, when taking a train through Bruges, passing a hotel named Le Singe d'Or (The Golden Monkey) brought back memories of Izzard's stand-up routine, filling them with joy and gratitude. Who knew that watching a comedian one evening would lead to a life of cultural exploration, language learning, and professional opportunities?
and French was just an obligation. But this comedian changed the game for me...literally! Who knew learning French could be so funny? 
The way he mixed those phrases together was like a joke, but somehow it clicked into place. And then that encore with "le singe a disparu" – classic! 
It's crazy to think how much that one line changed the course of my life, getting me hooked on languages and leading me to where I am today. German and Turkish came next, and now Brussels is home...all thanks to Eddie's stand-up routine 
The writer's experience is a perfect example of how something as simple as being exposed to humor can spark a lifelong passion for learning. Izzard's stand-up show not only made learning French enjoyable but also set the tone for their future language adventures. It just goes to show that even the smallest spark can ignite a flame of curiosity and exploration! 
This is so random but i'm loving the idea that eddie izard's comedy show inspired someone to become fluent in french and beyond! like who knew that laughing at him making up silly sentences would actually help you learn a new language lol. and it's crazy how this experience opened up doors for them, from marketing firm in berlin to european commission in brussels. it just goes to show that sometimes the weirdest things can lead to amazing opportunities 
like who wouldn't want to learn a new language after being entertained by a comedian 
i'm also loving the idea of taking a train ride and seeing a hotel name pop up that reminds you of something from your past 
it's like, isn't that what makes life so beautiful? all these random connections and memories that can spark joy 
. Like, who knew "le singe a disparu" would be the key to unlocking grammar and vocabulary? Mind. Blown. 
! It's wild how technology has changed the way we learn and access information. Back in my day, if you wanted to know something, you'd have to dig through books or ask your teachers. Now it's just a few clicks away 
. But I guess that's what happens when innovation comes along 
!
!!! it just goes to show how something as simple as a comedy show can have such a huge impact on our lives. like, who knew that watching someone make fun of language learning could inspire us to become fluent in multiple languages? and what's even more amazing is how that passion led to a career at the European Commission 
and that encore performance where he says "le singe a disparu" brought tears 2 my eyes like wow did u know french grammar could b sooo funny? 
I mean who knew watching a comedian could unlock the secrets of grammar and vocabulary? 