Thanks for reading. “Okay” is a good trick and it works like a charm. I, unfortunately do use “okay” in English. Probably too much and my French partner finds it threatening 😂😂. You just can’t win.
Learning a new language is very difficult (especially french I guess!) and this is true that if you say Le instead of La nobody will pay attention. French people also make mistakes in their own language! ;-)
It is SO worth it to try to learn. Small mistakes don’t matter. For many months when I first moved to France from UK I would get hung up on stuff like that. But I started to focus on the main word, eg Jambon, or cheese. Whether it was le or la didn’t matter. Most people just understand and very gradually, without effort, it came out correctly. Keep calm and carry on speaking French…!
After taking a few classes that covered the basics of grammar and vocabulary, what got me rolling was having language partners. These were French people trying to learn English who were at about the same (pathetic) level that I was in French. That made them super patient with me as I struggled to form sentences, just as I was patient with them when they did the same. This got me started and--years later--my French is good, though my grammar could use work.
The other thing I learned is that you have to be willing to look stupid, A LOT, as you make mistakes and learn from them. It's either that or never learn.
I loved this! Thank you for sharing- I completely understand everything you went through Suzanne…
I arrived in France 20 years ago with very basic schoolgirl French - despite having a French grandmother and a father who was fluent the language was never spoken at home so when I arrived here aged 40 I was lost! Completely…!! We had a daughter who had to be enrolled at school, I understood nothing but the papers were signed anyway. We had to register my husband as an artisan, he was obliged by the Chambres de Métiers to take a short ‘formation’ it was terrifying and neither of us understood a word! He was registered anyway, the papers signed - with no idea of what they said. If the phone rang I would cry, eventually not answering at all because it was yet more distressing than attempting to understand face to face.
But, in the first year I was persuaded by the Directrice of the local school if to give English lessons to the GS/CP and CE1 students - I understood little of what they said but formed a bond with the teachers and eventually worked full time.
Only through persevering and listening to the French classes did I eventually gain confidence and an understanding of the language. I know if I’d never accepted the work it would have taken my years longer to achieve even an acceptable level but the children were amazing… to me there was no better way to have learnt.
Now I speak without fear, I still make mistakes, especially with the genre but I will answer the telephone without crying and the incessant paperwork doesn’t feel like a fighting a losing battle!
I'm a french woman of 52 years old. I would like so much to be fluent in but I know it is absolutely impossible. I can manage a chat but only with basics words. When I speak English, everyone knows that I am French, I would have a very French accent 😄. But, never mind, I try to speak, I do a lot of mistakes and I believe that one day, I will speak fluently. Thanks for your feedback, I fell not alone now 😄
From: Karen Bussen May 14, 2024 at 5:19 PM - Edit - Reply
Great piece, love hearing your story! best, Karen
FROM: Suzanne Vidal May 14, 2024 at 6:03 PM - Edit - Reply
Thanks so much, Karen!
From: Judy MacMahon May 14, 2024 at 6:02 PM - Edit - Reply
This is a great and inspiring story, Suzanne. It’s Important to be honest, as you have done, as it enables other French language learners realise where they’re at in the journey and how important it is not to give up.
Thank you for this story. You’re a fabulous storyteller.
I enjoyed this, and related to so much of it! (Although I haven’t been here as long as you!)
I almost never used “okay” in English conversations, but now I use it all the time because it works in both languages 😂
Thanks for reading. “Okay” is a good trick and it works like a charm. I, unfortunately do use “okay” in English. Probably too much and my French partner finds it threatening 😂😂. You just can’t win.
Bonne journée 🌷
Learning a new language is very difficult (especially french I guess!) and this is true that if you say Le instead of La nobody will pay attention. French people also make mistakes in their own language! ;-)
So very true 👌
It is SO worth it to try to learn. Small mistakes don’t matter. For many months when I first moved to France from UK I would get hung up on stuff like that. But I started to focus on the main word, eg Jambon, or cheese. Whether it was le or la didn’t matter. Most people just understand and very gradually, without effort, it came out correctly. Keep calm and carry on speaking French…!
After taking a few classes that covered the basics of grammar and vocabulary, what got me rolling was having language partners. These were French people trying to learn English who were at about the same (pathetic) level that I was in French. That made them super patient with me as I struggled to form sentences, just as I was patient with them when they did the same. This got me started and--years later--my French is good, though my grammar could use work.
The other thing I learned is that you have to be willing to look stupid, A LOT, as you make mistakes and learn from them. It's either that or never learn.
Having a language partner is a great idea! It’s less intimidating and pushes you to speak with ease.
You’re right. Making mistakes helps you grow and as for looking stupid? Yes, all the time. Just keep smiling. 🙂
I loved this! Thank you for sharing- I completely understand everything you went through Suzanne…
I arrived in France 20 years ago with very basic schoolgirl French - despite having a French grandmother and a father who was fluent the language was never spoken at home so when I arrived here aged 40 I was lost! Completely…!! We had a daughter who had to be enrolled at school, I understood nothing but the papers were signed anyway. We had to register my husband as an artisan, he was obliged by the Chambres de Métiers to take a short ‘formation’ it was terrifying and neither of us understood a word! He was registered anyway, the papers signed - with no idea of what they said. If the phone rang I would cry, eventually not answering at all because it was yet more distressing than attempting to understand face to face.
But, in the first year I was persuaded by the Directrice of the local school if to give English lessons to the GS/CP and CE1 students - I understood little of what they said but formed a bond with the teachers and eventually worked full time.
Only through persevering and listening to the French classes did I eventually gain confidence and an understanding of the language. I know if I’d never accepted the work it would have taken my years longer to achieve even an acceptable level but the children were amazing… to me there was no better way to have learnt.
Now I speak without fear, I still make mistakes, especially with the genre but I will answer the telephone without crying and the incessant paperwork doesn’t feel like a fighting a losing battle!
Sounds like we’ve had a similar road to fluency. Living life as a local definitely pushes one forward. At some point it’s sink or swim.
Bravo to you. Your willingness to accept a role out of your comfort zone served you well. 👌
Hi,
I'm a french woman of 52 years old. I would like so much to be fluent in but I know it is absolutely impossible. I can manage a chat but only with basics words. When I speak English, everyone knows that I am French, I would have a very French accent 😄. But, never mind, I try to speak, I do a lot of mistakes and I believe that one day, I will speak fluently. Thanks for your feedback, I fell not alone now 😄
I feel the same when I speak French. I will never lose my American accent but, like you, I just keep on going.
Never alone 😉
From: Karen Bussen May 14, 2024 at 5:19 PM - Edit - Reply
Great piece, love hearing your story! best, Karen
FROM: Suzanne Vidal May 14, 2024 at 6:03 PM - Edit - Reply
Thanks so much, Karen!
From: Judy MacMahon May 14, 2024 at 6:02 PM - Edit - Reply
This is a great and inspiring story, Suzanne. It’s Important to be honest, as you have done, as it enables other French language learners realise where they’re at in the journey and how important it is not to give up.
Thank you for this story. You’re a fabulous storyteller.
Regards
Judy
Thanks Judy. I believe it’s important to share the “real stuff”. Learning a language can be so discouraging but we all get there in the end.