5 Things that HELD ME BACK while learning FRENCH

[@philipb2134]

It's helpful to remember that many Fremch learned a foreign language in school, and ran into the same difficulties when they travelled. From this, they well might be more sympathetic to your difficulties than you suspected.

[@emmanuellegd4515]

I absolutly agree with you. The language they teach you in a classroom is clearly different from the language people speak in real life... And the most important is to be understood.... Even native people make mistakes.... Learn to speak in the street, don't focus on grammar.... And my tip: be patient🌟 the ads telling you that you'll be fluent in 6 months are liers... Repetition is the key.... Stay full of beans all the time... This is a slow process... 😊

[@french21able]

Interestingly, your 5 points apply for those who learn English. I still learn every day.

[@treefeathers]

In the early months of my time as an exchange student in France, I didn't speak a lot even as I was learning to understand others pretty well. My friends even called me "the mouse" because I was so quiet. One day when some of us were hanging out at a cafe after school, one of them asked me why I didn't talk much, and pointed out that I'd never learn if I didn't speak. I said it was mainly because I was worried about making a mistake - or worse, that they'd laugh at me. And he said, well of course we're going to laugh at you, that's half the fun of having a foreigner around!🤣 Blunt, maybe, but it really did snap me out of it and help me not take it all so seriously, and eventually become a fluent speaker. And I definitely did crack them up sometimes.

[@yannrousseau5437]

Le français aime bien rire de tout, ça serait dommage de l'en priver 😉. Pour s'améliorer il faut pratiquer donc profitez-en pour parler et rigoler avec eux.

[@christianjambou8208]

I think listening to radio helps a lot to learn a language you pick up a small percentage of what is being said without being judge and fill in the gap and suddenly your vocabulary explode.

[@renferal5290]

I only know maybe 3 words of French, but just making an effort, I found the French people to be very kind to me and helpful

[@AmericaninFranceFinance]

100% agree with these! Also, once I reached conversational French, I kept looking for more growth to prevent stagnating in my regular vocabulary so I'd decide on new topics to learn (cars, pets, politics, etc.), practice alone, and then strike up conversation on - anything to get me out of my comfort zone and build confidence!

[@emmaberthier1843]

I am a French, French teacher in England and I mostly agree with you. However, the pronunciation although not the most important part, is indeed important. Especially as French language has a lot of nuances that could bring you to say something you wouldn't want to say. So obviously if something is mispronounced it is not the end of the world. But you should always try to ameliorate your pronunciation. Grammar is also very important, especially as an adult. The general population will be kind and let it slide, but if you're an adult, people will automatically assume you want to be corrected

[@christianc9894]

Vous avez raison Diane, les petites erreurs on vous les pardonne, on sait que notre langue est complexe et on admire ceux qui osent s'y frotter et qui en plus y réussissent, comme vous.

[@RosemaryN]

Merci bien, j’ai appris un phrase nouveau à cause de votre comment, ‘osent s’y frotter’ :)

[@christianc9894]

@@RosemaryN L'avantage d'avoir des papy dans les abonnés, ils utilisent souvent des expression désuètes. Sinon, on dit une phrase nouvelle. Je me permet la correction. Mais j’avais compris.😌

[@c.guibbs1238]

Ma fille apprend en ce moment même à lire sa langue maternelle (le français)...mais quel cauchemar, cette langue bourrée d'exceptions et de lettres muettes !

[@christianc9894]

@@c.guibbs1238 Attendez qu'elle arrive aux verbes irréguliers......... M^me nous on s'y perds............

[@slenderframe71]

Those tips are valid for anyone learning a foreign language. 👍And I would add: do not be shy to ask the person you're talking to to repeat or to speak slower. I do not think anyone would take offense. Et bonne continuation!

[@christines1924]

As a speaker of 3 languages, you have hit the nail on the head!!

[@brianhaughton5457]

I’ve watched your videos for a couple of years and this one really hit me. I’m in my third year of Duolingo French and I slowly learned that while it’s good for learning to read, it is terrible for conversation. Just as you mentioned in your past before you moved to France, I thought I was doing well only to realize I wasn’t and I needed more, so I got a tutor. Btw your videos keep getting better - keep them coming!

[@christianjambou8208]

Hello Diane You have learnt French like I have learnt english. My English exploded when listening to radio. There is no pressure if you didn't get it. Eventually I filled n the gaps of sentences. Suddenly my english exploded. The spelling came after and I could keep up in conversations. 😊I love your videos. Chin up keep going.😮

[@melissalyons6936]

I relate to everything you mentioned. I am at a B1 level yet everything still seems so hard and it’s exhausting. My husband and I always speak English and I kick myself every day for not pushing myself to speak French instead. You help me to not feel so alone in my struggles, thank you! 😘

[@Juniper79]

Just wanted to say thank you for all of your fantastic content. It is very educational and relatable. You're honestly one of the most down to earth content creators that I have come across and your personality is amazing. Very much appreciated. Keep it up.

[@CindyAshton]

It was so great to hear your story and insights. Like you, I was B1 when I moved here and felt completely lost most of the time. I have now been here just under 4 months but the progress is slow and your tips are very helpful. Thank you.

[@susanbartone1347]

I will never relocate to France. But with many blessings I have a former colleague (in VA) who loves all things French and with her encouragement I happily connected with 2 lovely ladies who live in the South of France - near Toulouse and near Avignon. So since we email, I have allowed myself to get lazy on my comprehension skills. But for me that is probably ok b/c I don't really have a budget to travel to France....but I digress...what I truly meant to write was that I hope most people realize that today, in the 21st century, there are so many FREE opportunities to listen to French conversations. One does not have to take a course if time/budget is prohibitive. Unlike when Diane 1st moved to France (I am guessing here) the online podcasts/free movies, etc. are plentiful. So I have to give myself a shake and listen more often. Who knows when it might come in handy!

[@EnnVee959]

Exactly right. The content out there is so abundant that we all have a chance to improve listening comprehension, even without talking regularly to a native speaker.

[@thedavidguy01]

I agree wholeheartedly with everything you said about learning French. It took me literally thousands of hours of listening to get to the point where I understand everything or almost everything in content for native speakers. That’s obviously easier if you live in France but is possible even if you don’t. I listen to French podcasts every single day. I watch French news and entertainment shows and movies. I read French novels and newspapers. I have conversations with French language partners. If you stick with it long enough you will eventually get to an advanced level.

[@jml4774]

Love your glasses! We are in Nice for 2 months. We have used information from your blog and from your ebook too. Thanks so much! It has been very helpful.

[@OuiInFrance]

Thanks so much and thanks as well for picking up the ebook!

[@wallykaspars9700]

Interesting video! Often I find learning verbal French is a struggle and I feel stupid. But to encourage myself I keep in mind that millions of people in the world speak fluent French and not all of them are smart. Then I trudge along and make some progress.

[@JD987abc]

Bonjour Diane. Another excellent posting. Very practical tips. When I lived in Annapolis I was an active member of the Alliance Franchise. But here in Cape May there are no similar opportunities to interact with others who would also like to practice their French speaking skills. So I listened to French broadcast and KZbin blogs about cooking and things of interest in France. Movies too. I have met someone who fancies themselves as a francophone but they can’t converse. But i still try. Im looking forward to a return trip but not during the Olympics. Please stay well and give my best to Tom. You constant friend, Joe Di Primio.

[@Belaziraf]

Right on point with this video. I've tried testing my English with the European system and always end between B2 and C2 level while I judge myself being around B1. And here lies the problem. Higher level in written and read English. And barely able to really communicate verbally. So you're right. Vocabulary and grammar are important, but you'll probably need a deep knowledge only for specific work. A basic level is enough as even most native French don't fully understand administration forms. Even the civil servants themselves. So yes. Just talk and learn from whatever mistake you could have made. Being able to communicate in everyday life is much more useful as you can always easily find a way to get through the other needs.

[@mediumrick7667]

Agree 100% on the conversational aspect. That's what I disliked about foreign language back in school, the overwhelming focus was always on perfect grammar and pronunciation. I just saw that as a waste of time and effort that could be better spent on just learning to communicate.

[@candaceclark4427]

Excellent advice Diane. All my study before we moved and my classes after we got here 2 years ago educated me but didn't help me feel comfortable conversing. I was understood and have a pretty good accent so people would reply in a whirlwind of French that baffled me! I'm improving but I still get caught up in the grammar when listening and end up losing the thread of the conversation. Un de ces jours....

[@KevinPeffley]

I can totally relate. I’m currently 74 years old and I’ve been working on my French for six years now. I study about an hour or so every single day. One of the first things I noticed was my ego saying to me that I couldn’t learn French, it was too hard, too different, especially the pronunciation and the grammar. But I pushed through and soon I learned that I could eventually get it. And yes, it’s always a work in progress. I have a French girlfriend, and I’m always saying, Quoi?, and Je n’ai pas compris, and Lentement s’il te plaît. Listening comprehension will always be my weak spot, but I notice that I’m getting better. So my advice, don’t listen to those critical voices and push on. You’ll be surprised at how much you’ll progress. Stick with it. Love your videos. Thank you so much.

[@dev5963]

Bonjour Diane! Another great video. Your advice is very grounded and helpful. As adults, we don't like to look "stupid". Learning language is a lifelong experience. I'm a 62 yr old native English speaker who still have to double check my grammar and I continue to learn vocabulary...in English. I watch French TVs/movies (including those for children). It helps to just be familiar with the sounds - I don't understand everything but it doesn't sound alien. It also helps putting words together with visual cues. I have a friend who grew up in Louisiana. She spoke French at home with her grandparents. She went to college in Paris. She was fluent! However, she quickly realized that she was nearly illiterate. She did not learn to read or write. While she quickly learned to read, she was not very good with spelling since she spelled like Americans do - phonetically. That doesn't work well in French. On a personal level, I dated a Frenchman many years ago. He insisted on speaking English so he could develop for professional reasons. I respect him for that. However, he told me it was painful to speak French with me, yet he had no desire to help me learn. We broke up after 2 years. I did become fluent when talking about "romance" in French. Not very helpful when trying to order in a restaurant or shopping but has come in very useful in several situations. As always, thanks.

[@yannrousseau5437]

Vous avez tout mon respect d'essayer d'apprendre notre belle langue de Molière 👍. Elle peut être si imagée parfois qu'elle en devient piégeuse. Le Graal serait de se frotter avec succès des films dont Michel Audiard s'est chargé des dialogues, style les Tontons flingueurs. « Tu sais pas ce qu'il me rappelle ? C't'espèce de drôlerie qu'on buvait dans une petite taule de Biên Hòa, pas tellement loin de Saïgon. Les volets rouges... et la taulière, une blonde comac... Comment qu'elle s'appelait, nom de Dieu ? » Je suis nantais 😉

[@maryswartzel2773]

Thank you so much for these tips. I've been trying to learn French for a few years now. It is a slow process, but I am having fun along the way ! ♥️

[@HollyInOccitanieFrance]

#3 was the best advice I got when I moved to France. Fear of making mistakes stops many/most people from even trying. I learned to get over that fear & my language ability improved substantially.

[@christianibarbia9380]

it is by making mistakes that you will learn my friend... I am french, and even my english level is not so ... bad, i hear a lot of english videos on youtube. and this way helps to correct me.. also with my US girlfriend, she is there to explain howto say, the meaning, and so on... as I do for her in french..

[@richardcorona3564]

When I learned to count to 10 on my first trip to visit my in laws in France, the children were so excited. lol

[@christianjambou8208]

Wherever I travel. I learn to say Hello, please, thank you and count. It always help!

[@richellewilliams2464]

Excellent video! I moved to France a year ago and can relate to everything you are saying. I joined a choir to subject myself to a steady stream of French from the choir director in between French songs, which was useful. As you say, joining groups who speak French can help one along immensely. Merci beaucoup, Diane!

[@GorgieClarissa]

Bonjour Diane! Merci vos vidéos parce que.... j'ai réussi le DELF b1 pour TAPIF! Je peux lire très bien, mais.... mon niveau pour écouter est très mal.... 7/25 mais pour le futur.... je le peux!

[@GorgieClarissa]

je peux le faire!***

[@frankd2301]

I was in a class in France with younger students who could write circles around me but I could speak with the locals

[@CathyDahut]

GREAT TIPS DIANE!!!! MANY THANKS!!!!

[@OuiInFrance]

You are so welcome!

[@rlavassaur5333]

Your the Best! Thank you for inspiring me to continue my french studies!

[@kerrylosi1595]

Coucou Diane. Thanks for this beautiful video coz it resonates to me and my friend too. Lol. I think it’s a myth that one will be fluent in 3 months or worse travel to Paris and expect to have a full blown convo with the natives. Lol. Reality check. Anyway I think it’s better to have at least A1 or A2 before going to France and try to have a chat or thinking you’ll come back and suddenly become C 1. Je parle assez bien français mais je n’ose pas de dire que je parle français couramment. Le plus important c’est qu’on peux communiquer avec les natifs ou bien les amis. Bon courage et bonne continuation. ❤ France and suddenly

[@H.O.P.E222]

I love your videos u inspire me

[@OuiInFrance]

So happy to hear that ;-))

[@kerryjames8791]

Love this video Diane! I’ve always wanted to learn French and have tried duolingo, watching KZbin videos, French movies, etc. Finally at age 72 I’ve started taking private lessons from a native speaker. I’m progressing but when she speaks in French I’m pretty much lost. Hoping at some point I can start to comprehend a bit but wow is it difficult. But I’m having fun learning and I’ll try to speak French when I travel to Nice in May. Thanks for the tips!

[@gloriagreen1123]

At age 65, I started private lessons with a native speaker from Marseille. She was wonderful and even helped me plan my first trip to France. I was terrified of speaking but she said just go for it, the French would love me and as soon as they heard me and realized I was not French, they would want to try their English with me. And that is what happened! I had THE best time ever, the French were so kind to me and so helpful in ways that supported my very limited French vocabulary! Not everyone knew English and in those moments, hand gestures saved the day! Now it is 11 years later, I have made 3 trips to France and I am dusting off my French once again as I prepare for a trip to the south of France to scout out a place for purposes of immigrating. I cannot think of a better way to color in my remaining time on this earth than with a life in France. One is never too old to make a new plan and one is never too old to be young!! I know you will have a wonderful time on your voyage in May. Bonne chance!

[@susanbartone1347]

EXCELLENT video. Thanks for sharing!

[@lindylee1139]

One year ago I started to try to learn French taking classes at my local college. It’s really challenging and a lot slower process than I want it to be. I hope if I just persevere eventually I’ll be able to comprehend and speak a little.

[@janeperanteau6129]

This is a great post. It put into words so many things I had been kicking around or feeling slow and stupid about. Have you written a book yet?

[@OuiInFrance]

So glad you enjoyed it. No book, just my eguide for tourists ;-))

[@punditgi]

Merci mille fois! ❤🎉😊

[@edwardhanson3664]

Education is a journey, not a destination.

[@OuiInFrance]

Exactly!!!

[@timotheelegrincheux2204]

I have been learning French since 1963 and learn new things every day by watching KZbin videos, watching TV5 on cable,and listening to apps on my phone such as France Info. TV5 has films almost every evening. I watch France2 news twice a day when I have time. Sadly, I have very few opportunities to speak to native speakers here in Florida. There are almost unlimited sources of French input in the United States.

[@pamelamcintosh5164]

So enjoyed your video. I too thought I was doing really good with my French, until I went to visit family in France. They were speaking to me but I couldn't answer. It was so frustrating. A friend here told me I needed to have real conversations with French people to practice. So now I will try that. You are right we need to speak it in real life!

[@rickchandler2570]

I’m having the same problems with Portuguese. From what i’ve seen, this is pretty normal for adult learners

[@malcolmmcclintick6787]

Bonjour Diane. I took two years of French in college, including a second-year class called "conversational French" in which we learned (supposedly) to speak everyday French. I've never been to France, but I love French movies (comedies especially) and watch them frequently, always with English subtitles. And what really jumps out at me is, even with the subtitles, I have no idea what the characters in the movies are saying. They speak rapid-fire French that I cannot match up with the English subtitles except for a word or two here and there. So I can imagine what it would be like to suddenly be in France and try to comprehend what someone is saying to me. Thanks for your video. I'll continue to watch my favorite French movies, but I've resigned myself to relying on the English subtitles for what to me sounds like high-speed gibberish.

[@micki7733]

Your video was quite helpful. I have been learning french, Im from the Caribbean so Martinique is a french speaking island so i take a trip there and I cannot tell you how anxious I get writting french and soeaking a very two different things.

[@lcflngn]

Took college level Spanish for a year, got As. The students who struggled most were beach fluent from Baja. I wrote dumb little perfect essays about Red Riding Hood, they couldn’t read or spell. I ended up at a K or maybe 1st grade level for writing. But they could speak & communicate! Academic & daily language are so different…

[@bjjack5760]

Merci😊

[@irenegryziec8052]

Really helpful! Merci!

[@OuiInFrance]

So glad!

[@juliefarrar3626]

Comprehension is my downfall. I can read so many things from the newspaper to simple books to directions for our home appliances but I have always had trouble with comprehension in learning any language. My vocabulary is large also because I’ve had to deal with roofing problems, appliance maintenance, syndics, and Al sorts of situations that require standard vocabulary and scripts. But my husband and I don’t live there full time so I’ve gotten lazy on comprehension. I absolutely can’t talk on a phone. I’m better face to face. But I’m embarrassed that I’ve had to lean on a good friend to make significant phone calls for me. Your video lit a fire under me to get back to at the least listening to more French tv and radio when I’m staying at our little apartment rather than firing up my American Netflix or Spotify.

[@jenniferherman8807]

‘Love your glasses, btw!!!

[@OuiInFrance]

Thank you!

[@mariecrawford2944]

Can you recommend the best intensive language school in France for an adult. I would like to spend June, July and August in a mid size city. Thank you!

[@martinasandoval5326]

I make the same mistake with my husband, we both speak French and English and we have a tendency to speak in English 90% of the time. When we are in France we speak French to each other a bit more.

[@jenniferherman8807]

Everything you said x 10000%

[@markbernier8434]

My French is not good, but I have found listening to French talk shows on the radio while driving seems to train my subconscious to hear entire phrases rather than words.

[@dallassukerkin6878]

:grins: Ahh, French ... the language of the oppressor! What? It's only been a thousand years, do you think we have forgotten the Norman Invasion already?! :) Oh, in case it's not clear, Englishman here :chuckles: One of the regrets of my life was not pursuing languages through school - I went the sciences route instead. A cultures language truly is the window into the soul of the country and without grasping as much of it as you can you'll always be lost as to what is actually going on. I know that the language courses in school are notoriously bad but at least I'd have some foundations to build on. Having said that, if it's written down then I actually can figure out more than you might expect - more in German than French admittedly. EDIT: Talking about this triggered a fifty year old memory of my mother teaching me to count to ten in French when I was a little boy. I never questioned it at the time but now it makes me wonder where she learned it from as, being from dirt poor Working Class roots, I doubt she ever came into contact with it at school (such as school was back in the forties).

[@dawnwalus6587]

I need to know where to stay that has not a lot of stairs would like air bnb seems cheaper then high end hotels. my a little disabled to stairs what area in Paris that’s safe would you recommend? like i’ve heard St Germaine is good area?

[@billglass5160]

Great videos! When will you do a video in French for them to learn more about American cultures and habits? Thanks

[@OuiInFrance]

Glad you enjoyed it! My channel primarily targets those interested in all things French, so videos here will all be in English.

[@frankd2301]

I was opposite of you in that I learned to speak and understand better than I could write

[@OuiInFrance]

That's the case for me now... as I get better at speaking, I didn't work on my written French at all

[@aquajosh]

I too am at a B1 level and have an opportunity to spend March studying French. My goal is conversational fluency for my job more than anything. I’m trying to decide between going to Bordeaux or Toulouse. Which would you choose?

[@OuiInFrance]

Bordeaux for me but that's just because I've spent more time there

[@edwardhanson3664]

This is a needed boot to the head. I need to learn how to read French fluently enough to absorb historical books and histories. I've already collected several.

[@carolweideman1905]

I was told by an English lady who has lived in France for years you should start by using the present tense when speaking. People will understand what you are saying.

[@nerdinium]

Do they have strong accents in Paris vs other parts of France? As a naitive speaker, I have trouble sometimes with New York accents - Yo - fuggedaboudit! I can hear two french Canadian radio stations at night in the US. I know a little french, but got virtually nothing of what the announcers were saying, even allowing for the different pronounciation. ☹ I remember the Voice of America used to broadcast the news on shortwave in "slow english" - reduced speed and reduced vocabulary.

[@martinasandoval5326]

Backwards, you will find stronger accents outside of Paris.

[@OuiInFrance]

Parisians will you the "real" accent is either up north or down south.

[@chrisdavis6264]

I moved to Gabon Jan 2023- Now… I still struggle with understanding what the Gabonese are saying Its HARD

[@OuiInFrance]

Give it a little more time and don't be afraid to ask people to slow down and repeat themselves

[@Lilbopprrr]

I'll be visiting Paris and will be sure to say bonjour to everyone. My question is is it expected to follow that up with a. How are you doing? Comment ca va?

[@OuiInFrance]

Absolutely not. Way too familiar. If you don't know the person, a simple bonjour will suffice. ;-)

[@Lilbopprrr]

@@OuiInFrance Merci!

[@Lilbopprrr]

It's going to be hard not to do that because we do that in America all the time. Hi how are you doing?

[@Lilbopprrr]

I guess I also should have clarified that I'm talking about people that are providing me a service, not just the random person on the street.

[@OuiInFrance]

If it's a professional interaction like a supermarket cashier, waiter, pharmacy employee, you do not say Ca va or ask how someone is doing. Save that for your neighbor and people you see regularly (and it would probably be comment allez-vous for someone you see regularly in a professional context. Ca va is for friends basically, it's familiar)@@Lilbopprrr

[@christianjambou8208]

Speaking English at home is important too. (That from a Frenchman) You need to be able to speak like an adult once in a whilst....

[@matthewjay660]

Bonjour Diane. PREPOSITIONS! Penser vs. Penser à vs. Penser de . 😬🙄 I was a foolish teenager for blowing those off and now, 2 university French degrees later, prepositions STILL bite me in my derrière AND IT'S ALL MY FAULT for having to consult the dictionary this late in the game over a little "en" or "à" or "sur". 🙄😲😮‍💨😤🇺🇸🤝🇫🇷 My spoken French is stronger than my written French.

[@OuiInFrance]

SO tricky, totally agree

[@siewheilou399]

Merci beaucoup. I also have problems understanding spoken French in real life, like they say all the words without any gaps, 😵‍💫. And don't talk about my accent, just ....

[@OuiInFrance]

It really takes a while to train your ear to recognize the words and speech patterns. It was SO hard at first

[@TravelUrsul]

I would add that once you reached a certain level while living in that country, it does not have to be sitting with a book to learn or even going to French classes. It has to be a conscious effort but it can be watching French shows or movies on device where you can stop and look up the expression or word. Also when talking with someone that you feel comfortable with, ask them to explain something you don’t understand or ask how to express something you are not sure of. At some point it is no different than your first language where you want to know more and be able to express more and so you need to make some effort to learn it - be more educated in your own language.

[@sarahnd]

Same thing here with a French-speaking spouse whose English will always be better than my French... So my French and the kids' French will always be weaker than our English, since we were in the U.S. during their childhood and my working life. 🤷‍♀

[@christianjambou8208]

When you say chien and chiant I hear mt Irish wife. Lol

[@patrickwatson4888]

Je suis aux Etats-Unis (avec un clavier american). Mon francais est terrible. J'essaie avec mon collegues.

[@prasuntiwari2872]

Bonjour Patrick! Je suis Prasun et je suis Indien. Maintenant, j'apprends Delf levelA2. Si vous voulez, nous pouvons pratiquer ensemble seulement vous êtes confortable

[@christianibarbia9380]

Diane, may I suggest you something ? you speak english one day, and your husband speaks french the following day.. and do this each day of the week..... your french level will increase easily..

[@BeachyKeen-ub9rg]

👍

[@user-yz1dl3eu8l]

Diane is a French name 😀

[@OuiInFrance]

The loveliest ;-)

[@kuschelirmel]

A Mormon church? Why a Mormon church out of all options (like joining a club of some sort or sports or a different church or...)? I'm really curious as I'm sure you (now?) know religion is usually not a huge part of the (today active) culture in Europe (exceptions do apply, but generally speaking in comparison to the US). So was it because from the US you were used to church being more of a thing? Was it because they befriended you (maybe hoping to convert you)? I know this is probably a sensitive subject, but I would love to hear the story if you are up to telling it! (if not I do understand)

[@OuiInFrance]

Bonjour, basically when I first came to France, my area had young American missionaries out and about and I'd always run into them when out walking my dog. It was refreshing to hear English in the early days and we were close in age. So when they invited me to their church (rented out space in a office complex), I went for the camaraderie aspect of it all. That's really all there was to it. ;-)

[@kuschelirmel]

@ouiinfrance :D yeah that's life, thanks for answering! I just found it so interesting because up until a year or two ago I didn't even know there were any Mormons in Europe.

[@CityLights-v6u]

Just want to point out: Just like how ignoring comprehension is a bad thing, it's _also_ a bad thing to try to completely avoid grammar --- which is unfortunately common advice given online. The problem with this is that it simply doesn't work at all for verbs if you don't understand the grammar behind them. If you don't understand about infinitive (or dictionary-form) verbs and how they change according to different situations (e.g. tenses, genders, whether it's singular or plural), then learning by immersion is going to be _super_ inefficient. You're not going to actually understand what's on your flashcards. I was pulled into the "just immerse bro" trend when learning Japanese, and it wasted SO much time because picking out words was very difficult, and even when I did pick up verbs they were never obviously in the dictionary form which I would actually find useful because it's the "base" of the word. Well, in Japanese, the dictionary form of a verb and the present tense form are the same, and verbs don't change according to the subject, but I didn't know either of those facts as a beginner who didn't learn any of the grammar so I was very confused while trying to learn about verbs using immersion! People say not to bother with beginner content and more traditional learning because it's a "waste of time", but it actually turned out to be the opposite for me. The guidance, structure and explanations given help me to learn much faster! Then, when I'm more confident in a language (at least knowing about infinitives and the present tense), immersion starts to become useful _alongside_ the rest of traditional learning.

[@peppertree8244]

What!? There's no osmosis!? Uh oh.... (tee hee) Wish there was, of course!

[@OuiInFrance]

Don't we all!!

[@acastro5197]

read French literature..

[@britt-sen]

the mormon church pause, lol! im christian and when id go to a church of my denomination, or close to it, they were very welcoming and patient. Of all the social groups one can join...church and a gym class you take just as religiously weekly...makes a difference. long...but, a differnce.

[@OuiInFrance]

I try to add a little humor if I can ;-)

[@britt-sen]

@@OuiInFrance and its great!

[@regatta2k]

Cheers, Dian As much as I value your opinion and experience in France, I think you are eggareting (spelling) the French people a bit. Meaning, they are MUCH nicer than what people think they are. IMO, the French people are super cool and super nice. Cheers 😀

[@OuiInFrance]

Hi, not sure I get what you mean. You think I exaggerate? I talked about things that I did that held me back and didn't say anything about French people not being nice! If anything, I get criticized for being TOO complimentary of the French.

[@regatta2k]

What I meant is, it's normal to have differences between countries.. Heck, even within the same country there are regional differences, too. It's a normal part of life :) That's what I meant by eggaration (bad spelling, yet again :)

[@JD987abc]

@@OuiInFrancehi Diane. Not to worry. You have real life experiences.