to be reluctant to allocate money for that.

[Ratatouille1977]

Dh wants to take some intensive course in French, it's almost 300 pounds for a term. It's supposed to be a investment into his professional future. He had many plans over the course of 5 years saying how he was going to increase his earning potential but nothing happened. I feel it and I don't feel it. Plus the course will be on saturday morning from 10 till 13.00. I'm working full time and I start at 8 and finish at 6 every day. What do you think ?

[StuntGirl]

Have any of his previous courses resulted in an increase of income/promotion/etc?

[Ratatouille1977]

He never did any training before, he talked about it and made plans but he seems serious this time.

[SavoyCabbage]

My dh is just about to embark on a second masters. Off his own but but for his career.

He's not doing it for fun. It didn't occur to me to try and stop him.

[Famzilla]

Does he work currently?

[Ratatouille1977]

He works, we just don't have a lots of money to spare that's all. It's a gamble, what if it doesn't work again ?

[Bowlersarm]

Doing an educational course can never be a bad thing, I wouldn't have thought?

[Ratatouille1977]

I want to be ok about it, I really want. I just don't want to pay for it !

[ConfusedPixie]

I'd go with it. DP and I are putting money aside for me to learn my Dad's language and for both of us to learn French, partly fun, partly career/future related. What's the harm as long as he's committed to actually doing it and then practising afterwards?

[Ratatouille1977]

I think yes I should go with it then.

[sugarandspite]

Could you agree that he maybe starts with a cheaper online course for that language first and if he is still keen in say 6 months / a year, then you invest in the more expensive one?

He might even find that he is happy to stick with the online one or it would at least give him a great head start for the 'proper' course.

[Almostfifty]

Why doesn't he try an online course first? There are loads of different ones.

[CairngormsClydesdale]

Got to be honest with you. This is a waste of money. 3 hours a week isn't going to cut it - no matter how intense or immersed. 3 hours is just 3 hours.

If he genuinely wants to learn a language he can dedicate 3 hrs a week himself for much cheaper and/or converse online at night once the children are in bed for free.

I've done an intensive language course - 5 days, 24/7. It cost 2000 quid 10 years ago, but it did the job.

[SaucyJack]

Entirely dependent on what his current profession is, and whether speaking French would be any use.

[StuntGirl]

I thought from what you said that this was a repeated pattern of behaviour. If this is the first time he's done this I can't see any particular reasons to be dead against it. That said I would expect some specific goals from it, not just a vague idea.

It's supposed to be a investment into his professional future.

How exactly? Is there a job he wants which requires French language skills? Is there a sector he'd like to move into which requires it? Does his company deal with French contractors/clients a lot? Are there better opportunities for his career in France?

I have been retraining recently, and it involved cutting down on my hours at work to study for a qualification. There is a specific sector I want to move into which this qualification will allow me to do. I discussed it with my partner, looked into how much it cost, and we worked out how to pay for it.

Sit down with your budget, work out how you'll afford it, work out how you'll deal with things like childcare while he studies (there will be 'homework' too I expect), what will you do if he doesn't pass? What if he doesn't like the course?

In theory though, as long as there is a specific reason for doing it, you can afford it and have childcare covered I can't see why not.

[Ratatouille1977]

I'm French myself so he understands it and can speak it (his level is intermediate). He is a project manager. To be fair to him, he has been doing a online course over the last few months so yes he showed some commitment.

[peppersquint]

why French?

[JoinYourPlayfellows]

"Doing an educational course can never be a bad thing, I wouldn't have thought?"



Of course it can.

If you can't afford it, if it's a crap course, if you don't do any work, if you aren't committed and drop out.

[Ratatouille1977]

Because he has learned it at school and that I'm French.

[Viviennemary]

If you are pretty confident he will finish the course I think he should do it. But on the other hand libraries usually have language learning packs you can borrow. And that would only cost a pound or two.

[Bowlersarm]

Can't you teach him yourself then OP?

Quality couple time plus saving ££££'s. Win win

[Yorkieaddict]

Would it not be possible for you to help him improve his French? It seems daft to be spending money on a course, when you have a fluent French speaker in the house.

[JoinYourPlayfellows]

Why does he think learning French will increase his earnings?

Does he have his eye on a promotion that would involve speaking French?

Another job where it would be a big advantage?

[niceguy2]

I guess it depends on how exactly he thinks it will help his career. If it's just a 'well it's better than nothing' then I disagree.

If as others have said, there's a particular company/supplier/job that he wants to do where French would be useful then I'd support it.

[JoinYourPlayfellows]

"Would it not be possible for you to help him improve his French? It seems daft to be spending money on a course, when you have a fluent French speaker in the house."

Don't you know about the Bilingual Spouse paradox? :o

It's almost IMPOSSIBLE to learn your spouse's first language well if you live in a country where you both speak your first language.

[Ratatouille1977]

I know nothing about business french speaking, I can help him with grammar, spelling, speaking etc...but not really with specific business french terms. It helps me enormously talking about ir with you lot !