Regarding fluency, I once read that a quick test of fluency in any language is if you can easily come up with the foreign words for Shoehorn and Brussels Sprouts. Try it!
I like to measure my fluency by the ability to get an honest laugh out of French people, particularly ones that I don't even know. The other day I was asking questions on the phone about our freeway beeper, talking with a representative of Vinci Autoroutes. I told her that the account was in my (French) wife's name, and that she was with us on the speaker phone. The woman asked for my wife to state her name and birth date for identification. After she did, I interjected: "I'm twisting her arm behind her back" ("J'ai son bras tordu derrière le dos"); and she laughed despite herself.
I’m at the very beginning of my French language journey. I knew it would be hard, but this is another level above what I expected. That said, I know that I am making progress because I understand SOME spoken words and am starting to be able to read things and get what they mean. This week’s success story was that I was able to say the sentence I needed to say at La Poste to pick up my package and the person asked me for the tracking number instead of looking at me like I was a crazy person.
That's a HUGE win! Those triumphs will start to pile up. I also think that being able to read and comprehend, and pick up words, is a turning point. Things pick up from there. One thing that helped me is being able to anticipate what people would say, and also imitating what I hear others say. Oh, and reading out loud! Good luck!!
When I hesitate for a moment searching for best way to say something in French, I'm usually glad that I didn't say what I was first going to say...just sayin'.
Great post, I remember the Einhorn case like it was yesterday. It shows the power of your journalistic expertise.
We’re in the same boat with you regarding Spanish. My husband and I decided to go beyond focusing solely on our classes and taking the plunge. From now on it’s Spanish exclusively no matter how stilted when we interact with the veterinarian, barber, dentist, dog-sitter, etc. It’s interesting that we meet people who keep spinning their wheels looking for the ultimate solution to learning Spanish when everyday life is the best way to use what you’ve learned.
We are lucky (in a way) here in Rennes: English is not widely spoken, so we are forced to use French with doctors and dentists, etc. . . It's a good thing. I'm curious about life in Barcelona!
I'm a year and half into my French learning journey--living in France, slowed down by working and socializing mostly in English, but getting to the point where I really could start trying to inject more "in-the-wild" French into my interactions, but it's SO DIFFICULT to turn off that fear/perfectionist filter that you describe. Amazing how persistent it can be, even after decades in your case!
Trust me, I am bilingual and still sometimes stutter or get stuck. It’s a damned complicated language and, if you don’t use it regularly, really hard to navigate. If you ever get stuck in an another emergency situation (hopefully not) you can always reach out to me anytime. I’m just a phone call away…
Have fun getting out and using your French more! It's so important to just pick up the rhythm and flow of how everyday conversations go. I imagine that with that list of teachers and the many hours you've spent already, your French must be quite good by now. What European level are you?
I believe somewhere between B2/C1. I get to use my French a lot, especially now that I live here, yet I still have trouble understanding anyone under 20!!
As a lifelong language teacher, I can tell you that once you reach that level, progress comes in tiny increments and is harder to measure. It's important to get out and speak, but also put a lot of "comprehensible input" on you language menu: listening and reading. Working on these "passive skills" will help you pick up new expressions and vocabulary without studying them outright.
Thanks for this advice! I've been a longtime listener of a few French podcasts, and you are right: that helps a lot. (My favorite is Inner French.) I do need to get over the hump with TV shows, though. I often often get bowled over by slang and colloquial expressions, so it helps to find those with French subtitles. I take a French literature class, which I love, and read as much French news as I can tolerate, but what has helped most in that department is reading out loud. It's weird, but it helps.
Yes, because if you're more auditive, it is going to help reinforce the structures.
Conventional wisdom is that watching TV series is great for learning a foreign language, but if they're too quick and slangy, you won't get that much out of it yet. I think documentaries can be better, especially if they contain interviews -- you get a mix of more comprehensible French and conversation. What I studied is that "comprehensible input" means you should be understanding 80-90%, which gives you enough understanding to identify and benefit from what you don't understand.
I vividly remember your being sent after Einhorn that first time. High school French may have let you down, but you didn’t let the Daily News down. You improvised. That same part of your brain probably works in new situations now. Et en français.
Also: If you’ve never been stumped for a word in English, you’re doing better than most of us.
Great post. I am flattered by beingincluded inyour list of French teachers and would like to share this post with a former colleague whom I am currently tutoring in French.
Merci for the list of teachers! I may make that leap. I think that my fearlessness in speaking “kindergarten French” is that I don’t live where it’s spoken daily, like you - I just get to be that Américaine who is trying so hard (Québec) or who needs much practice (France). And I don’t care one sou. I’m so impressed by your ability to navigate medical and legal convos en France!
Nice post Theresa. Honored to have made the list and… You’re welcome! Signed: Veronique Savoye
I am working toward achieving my dream of moving to France, so I'm glad to find this publication to keep me inspired. Love your sense of humor!
I’m glad. you found us, Quinn. Do you have a timeline or a dream location?
Regarding fluency, I once read that a quick test of fluency in any language is if you can easily come up with the foreign words for Shoehorn and Brussels Sprouts. Try it!
I like to measure my fluency by the ability to get an honest laugh out of French people, particularly ones that I don't even know. The other day I was asking questions on the phone about our freeway beeper, talking with a representative of Vinci Autoroutes. I told her that the account was in my (French) wife's name, and that she was with us on the speaker phone. The woman asked for my wife to state her name and birth date for identification. After she did, I interjected: "I'm twisting her arm behind her back" ("J'ai son bras tordu derrière le dos"); and she laughed despite herself.
OK, I had to look up shoehorn!!!
I’m at the very beginning of my French language journey. I knew it would be hard, but this is another level above what I expected. That said, I know that I am making progress because I understand SOME spoken words and am starting to be able to read things and get what they mean. This week’s success story was that I was able to say the sentence I needed to say at La Poste to pick up my package and the person asked me for the tracking number instead of looking at me like I was a crazy person.
That's a HUGE win! Those triumphs will start to pile up. I also think that being able to read and comprehend, and pick up words, is a turning point. Things pick up from there. One thing that helped me is being able to anticipate what people would say, and also imitating what I hear others say. Oh, and reading out loud! Good luck!!
When I hesitate for a moment searching for best way to say something in French, I'm usually glad that I didn't say what I was first going to say...just sayin'.
Hi Theresa,
Great post, I remember the Einhorn case like it was yesterday. It shows the power of your journalistic expertise.
We’re in the same boat with you regarding Spanish. My husband and I decided to go beyond focusing solely on our classes and taking the plunge. From now on it’s Spanish exclusively no matter how stilted when we interact with the veterinarian, barber, dentist, dog-sitter, etc. It’s interesting that we meet people who keep spinning their wheels looking for the ultimate solution to learning Spanish when everyday life is the best way to use what you’ve learned.
We are lucky (in a way) here in Rennes: English is not widely spoken, so we are forced to use French with doctors and dentists, etc. . . It's a good thing. I'm curious about life in Barcelona!
I'm a year and half into my French learning journey--living in France, slowed down by working and socializing mostly in English, but getting to the point where I really could start trying to inject more "in-the-wild" French into my interactions, but it's SO DIFFICULT to turn off that fear/perfectionist filter that you describe. Amazing how persistent it can be, even after decades in your case!
Trust me, I am bilingual and still sometimes stutter or get stuck. It’s a damned complicated language and, if you don’t use it regularly, really hard to navigate. If you ever get stuck in an another emergency situation (hopefully not) you can always reach out to me anytime. I’m just a phone call away…
Have fun getting out and using your French more! It's so important to just pick up the rhythm and flow of how everyday conversations go. I imagine that with that list of teachers and the many hours you've spent already, your French must be quite good by now. What European level are you?
I believe somewhere between B2/C1. I get to use my French a lot, especially now that I live here, yet I still have trouble understanding anyone under 20!!
As a lifelong language teacher, I can tell you that once you reach that level, progress comes in tiny increments and is harder to measure. It's important to get out and speak, but also put a lot of "comprehensible input" on you language menu: listening and reading. Working on these "passive skills" will help you pick up new expressions and vocabulary without studying them outright.
Thanks for this advice! I've been a longtime listener of a few French podcasts, and you are right: that helps a lot. (My favorite is Inner French.) I do need to get over the hump with TV shows, though. I often often get bowled over by slang and colloquial expressions, so it helps to find those with French subtitles. I take a French literature class, which I love, and read as much French news as I can tolerate, but what has helped most in that department is reading out loud. It's weird, but it helps.
Yes, because if you're more auditive, it is going to help reinforce the structures.
Conventional wisdom is that watching TV series is great for learning a foreign language, but if they're too quick and slangy, you won't get that much out of it yet. I think documentaries can be better, especially if they contain interviews -- you get a mix of more comprehensible French and conversation. What I studied is that "comprehensible input" means you should be understanding 80-90%, which gives you enough understanding to identify and benefit from what you don't understand.
I vividly remember your being sent after Einhorn that first time. High school French may have let you down, but you didn’t let the Daily News down. You improvised. That same part of your brain probably works in new situations now. Et en français.
Also: If you’ve never been stumped for a word in English, you’re doing better than most of us.
Thanks, Ellen!
Great post. I am flattered by beingincluded inyour list of French teachers and would like to share this post with a former colleague whom I am currently tutoring in French.
Go for it!!
Merci for the list of teachers! I may make that leap. I think that my fearlessness in speaking “kindergarten French” is that I don’t live where it’s spoken daily, like you - I just get to be that Américaine who is trying so hard (Québec) or who needs much practice (France). And I don’t care one sou. I’m so impressed by your ability to navigate medical and legal convos en France!
Your sister was an inspiration. It was in wanting to do her memory justice that I began this whole adventure.