No need to actually cross the channel. When preparing my own R/T exam, I spent a good deal of time listening to tower and approach frequencies at Belgian airports - they all do all of their communications in English, and good English it is, as far as I can judge, most of the time - and, almost unconsciously, formulated my own replies in each conversation. Comparing my own ideas to what the pro's said taught me a lot.
Be warned, though: listening to ATC is illegal in Belgium as it is in the UK. Not too much to worry about, our average policeperson can't tell a scanner apart from an MP3-player or from an i-phone, but do NOT mention the word scanner to them, they do know that scanners can intercept their communications and that's what they don't like. Quite understandable, after all.