How to Speak French Without Feeling Stupid

[@martinlawrence1431]

When I speak French and the person replies back in English I feel that they are trying to save me from making a bigger fool of myself.

[@haniehnaderi5390]

:))))))

[@matthewhopkins8032]

Merci Géraldine I lose my confidence when a French speaker switches immediately to English but what is worse is when I say a phrase or word perfectly and still get a blank stare

[@chrisreid1644]

Mois aussi

[@christinescorey7406]

I've only ever experienced that once in my many years of visiting France. Most people are kind and understanding!

[@da96103]

Tell them: Parlez pas en anglais si vous ėtes à la France.

[@slappy8941]

@@chrisreid1644 "Mois" means "month".

[@rmacapobre]

happened to me as well. when i was trying to impress the teacher by asking the time (que l'heure est-il). it was most likely my accent. and i had ot point to my watch before she was able to finally get it. and even then she seemed annoyed hahaha .. oh well ...

[@FrenchTwist]

Traveling through France, I found that everyone was so kind, friendly and appreciative of my attempts to speak French. A smile, and an attempt is so warmly welcome and received.

[@bmr1295]

We travel to France two times each year just because the people are so kind. Love them!

[@ivantellez9217]

Linda weddle and bonnie Reeves, you two had very nice experienced travel to France. I never been in France but if I travel there I don't think I will have the same luck of you both it would be the other way around I guaranteed that.😊

[@kirklurkpu4470]

@Hugy Ugy He's saying the two people who shared their experience on their travels to France won't be as good as for him, if he were to go there.

[@marina5d]

Mon Dieu, I have all of those mental blocks 🤦‍♀️ I understand a lot when I read and listen, but I don’t have a habit to use all of those words in conversation. The other day I was telling a small story and I forgot words like “drive” and I’m already in the middle of B1. I admire people who don’t afraid to make mistakes and just talk, practice... I’m seriously thinking about moving to France for at least a year pour améliorer mon niveau de français

[@SoyNelsonMiguel]

Salut! C'est très normale d'oublie des mots en français. Je travaille dans une entreprise française en République Dominicaine, et aujourd'hui ma collègue oublie comment écrire "A tout a l'heure". Je ne connais pas beaucoup le français, mais avec les vidéos de Géraldine en Comme une Française, et "working in a french environment", mon français s'améliore chaque jour. :) Merciiiiiiiiii

[@SoyNelsonMiguel]

@Ric O’shea De rien

[@da96103]

Understood your message except for the word ameliore

[@LynnBabakr]

@da96103 s’améliore means improves

[@NewCastleIndiana]

I did the iOS app duolingo for one month, doing every lesson before travelling to Paris. I went from zero hours of learning and understanding to feeling like I at least know some basics. Have not really done much past that. But these videos are helpful. Nelson, I understood everything, but did not KNOW the word ameliore (except for english ameliorate), but totally understood it in context. But yea, I cannot SPEAK worth a darn. Fast French LISTENING>.. forget it... too.

[@CorinneIsIn]

Vous vous êtes très bien exprimé, Nelson!

[@suspendedfromthemoon]

A situation I often lose my confidence is when I am in the middle of a sentence and I can't think of a word I want to use. I have learned to say "comment dirais-je...." which allows me some time to think, or the other person to fill in my sentence. Thanks for the great video :) Je suis très reconnaissant.

[@JanetteHeffernan]

I enjoyed your lesson. In France, I find speaking French almost impossible as the French want to try out their English on me. I speak wonderful English but I can never find a French person to speak English to me in railway stations. There it is French only and I am so surprised I forget "ma droite de ma gauche!" or the French attendants rattle off times and platforms and how much does it costs tres vite and I then have to work out the French numbering system and anything over 60 scares me stiff. I had to say "eighty four" in French It takes time to work out four twenties four and 1999 is even worse. Let me try mille neuf cent quatre vingt dix neuf? It was only on my fourth visit to Paris I found out I had paid much too much for my paper as when I asked how much? the price came out so fast I just did not understand. The one phrase I really needed in The Gardens of Versailles and was unable to come up with was "Cet homme me suit pastout". That is the one phrase every girl needs. I was lucky I found two young students who spoke delightful French to me as I insisted back to the Palace but I was extremely lucky as it was scary. They said I was quite good mais jsuis nul en francais! This actually is a good opening line. One day my French will get better.

[@annsephton1258]

I was recommended to your webpage by my French teacher as she thought it was so helpful and I have enjoyed it for quite a few years thank you

[@robinmcgann3777]

I don't get embarrassed enough to stop speaking and making mistakes. I just laugh at myself and go on, even if I've tied myself in knots trying to get an idea across. I also think that if I like their accents in my language, they will like mine in theirs (no matter which language I'm massacring at the time :D). That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Love your channel, just found it.

[@cristinacoppola9417]

I would like to say that I am loving this channel and I have subscribed. I used to speak French at an intermediate level but I have been living in the UK for the past 6 years and I completely forgot the spoken part of the language. I am preparing for an interview which won't be specifically in French but it will be with a French speaking interviewee and this specific lesson is making me feel much more comfortable knowing I won't be as near as good as I used to be!

[@DillonJoseph]

Where I keep making mistakes in French is putting all the small words together, "Je ne souviens plus" Au lieu de -> "Je ne ME souviens plus".

[@TMD3453]

I was asking for something in the bakery "au dessous" when I meant "au dessus." People were helpful! Good thought about not only knowing the language but knowing how to use it! Merci!!

[@wudgee]

Dessous and dessus sound exactly the same to me, so difficult having such similar words for opposites.

[@knucklehoagies]

@@wudgee the "ou" sound and "u" sound are completely different. "ou" sounds like the english "oo". The French "u" sound doesn't exist in english. It's more of a sharper sound that you need to tighten your lips in order to make.

[@rushdialrashed9627]

The number 1 problem with French is the amount of the unpronounced letters ! U go like : blah blah blah and I go like : huh? What ? Then u write it and I am like : oh! Ok. That’s easy! 😱

[@uktanker]

Thanks a lot! Really helpful. I am studying French for quite a while, but still speaking fluently in French is a challenge for me as I don't have much speaking practice. For me, mental blocking is a usual thing when I'm trying to say something in French, quite a long process and I feel myself a dummy). I think that the most scary thing for me is to talk on the phone with someone in French. It implies additional problems as there may be problems with connection, you might not hear everything clearly and it's obviously hard in this case to explain something using gestures or describing something very long. That's why I wonder if there are any useful tricks for phone conversation except asking a person to contact you via email). Thanks !

[@CristianeLira]

J'étais à Paris et je voulais à emporter un café au lait à ma mère, qui se reposait à l'hôtel. Je ne savais pas comment demander et j'ai essayé de parler de la même manière que nous parlons en portugais (Brésil): je voudrais un café au lait ... "voyageant"? La réponse était: oui, bien sûr, un café au lait voyageant (et elle agita les bras comme des ailes). Après la blague, elle m'a appris à parler correctement: un café au lait à emporter. Je n'étais pas fâché. Ici, on dit généralement "je perds mon ami, mais je ne perds pas la blague".

[@anthonythompson5959]

Hahaha! C’est tellement drôle! Je ne pouvais pas m’empêcher de rire!

[@CristianeLira]

@@anthonythompson5959 😄😄😄

[@edwardkenna3744]

Super helpful advice, Géraldine. Merci! In general, if a friend is speaking French to me, often times they think I understand every word they’re saying. In these circumstances , their speech pattern is lightening fast, so I don’t even know where to interject the concern that I’m not understanding. I often feel pretty stupid for not being able to keep up. And when the person resorts to English, I feel even more dumb.

[@BTheTrue]

When I'm talking to my friend's bilingual children and they look at me like I'm crazy and then they switch to English to speak to me. . Confidence GONE! 🤦‍♀️

[@yulianaecheverripineda7214]

Children are rude and selfish. Do not worry! Keep on with what you've done so far.

[@BTheTrue]

What?! No! Most Children are lovely! My friends kids are not rude at all... I was just being silly with them... Thanks for the support though . x

[@da96103]

Tell them, aujourd’hui nous parlons en français. Demain, nous parlons en anglais. (Please read the 2nd sentence in future tense) parlerais?

[@ThorASic]

Voici ce qu'il faut faire. Vous souriez de joie et vous vous exclamez "Vous parlez anglais!" And then you start talking like this as fast as you can get the words out: _I gather from the way you transitioned to my preferred method of locution that my French aptitude may necessitate some edification. It would seem apparent, however, that this approach would only serve to hinder my progress, however deliberate. Nevertheless if this represents your preferred method of communication, so be it._ _So to revisit my original interrogative, could you please elucidate an expeditious means of conveyance to the most renowned collection of art and antiquities in Paris?_ Pause and wait like you expect an answer. There will likely be a look of confusion and terror. If they don't switch back to French, keep using the most esoteric words in your English vocabulary. When you start to feel bad for them, smile and say "On peut parler français si vous voulez"

[@BTheTrue]

@@ThorASic 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Savage!!!!!!!! That would work!!!!!!!!!!

[@grc7759]

Dear Géradine, thank you for your video! This has been so helpful. And I have a story to share: I remember a slightly embarrassing and funny situation. Once, I was introduced for the first time to a newly moved in french housemate (his mum was there too). I was a little nervous and a little eager to practice my french. However, at the introduction, instead of asking him « comment tu t'appelle ? » I said to him « comment il s'appelle ? » In my head, I was probably thinking to myself in english "what is this new guy's name" so then arrived at the wrong form of the question. At the instance though, he froze for a little bit and thought I was asking about his mother at first meeting!!! I feel quite embarrassed, but only for a little while. It was in fact rather funny actually :)

[@armoricain]

But you know what, Grc?... the way you asked the question wasn't totally wrong because sometimes when you aren't sure whether you can "tutoyer" or have to "vouvoyer" somebody, it is a clever, albeit rare, way of making sure you are not going to offend the person you are talking to.

[@arnievolatina7044]

Bonsoir Madam Merci Beaucoup pour tout le videos. Thanks a lot my sweet teacher, God bless you forever 🙏

[@christineallen9013]

I find it difficult when at the reception of a clinic at the hospital. I have been learning French for some time and find that speaking to a stranger who speaks very fast I get completely lost and forget the most basic words in reply. This lesson is very helpful, thank you

[@josedosanjos2200]

Thank you so much for that french video lesson ! Merci !!

[@jinushaun]

I often feel very rushed in Paris, especially in certain restaurants and certain vendors in a street market. I guilty because there is a long line behind me in the store.

[@rapfr2037]

je suis français, c'est ma langue maternelle, et je m'exprime (j'espère) déjà très bien à l'oral, mais je reste fasciné par la qualité de la prononciation de Géraldine. Lorsqu'elle parle et qu'elle articule, autant en anglais qu'en français, c'est une musique pour mes oreilles :) Merci pour ces vidéos, c'est un vrai plaisir de les voir / les revoir. Et moi ça m'aide avec la prononciation anglaise.

[@maxdminimalist715]

Bonjour Geraldine Your videos are so informative and welcomed. I had an embarrassing moment en vacance in DR. A woman was complimenting my baby and asked her name. I did not understand and she looked at me like I was stupid because I said I could speak French une peu. My comprehension skills are even worse than my speaking skills which are minimal at best.

[@dollysharma9946]

When people in front of me speak more fast than me, I forget all the things I know how to speak, specifically the fear blanks me out, however I understand almost all what they speak but can't utter anything.

[@lisawhite1548]

We tried ordering a dozen donuts at duncan donuts in Quebec, they spoke no English. Of course we were in the drive through and we said une douzaine donuts please. Everyone on the other end laughed out loud it was very funny because I hadn't had any French practice since high school, we just repeated it again and laughed along with them. It is a great and funny memory of our trip.

[@Liflecken]

Salut, Geraldine! Cette lesson est très intéressante!

[@polyanna025]

Bonjour! Je vous remercie pour cette video! Pour répondre à la dernière question: j'ai des difficultés et je m'inquiète quand je fais un appel téléphonique et la personne ou moi-même ne comprennons rien. C'est plus compliqué dans le cas où on ne peuvent pas regarder les gestes des autres.

[@clairecharmassonarmstrong1560]

C'est tout à fait le cas pour moi...j'ai l'horreur des appels téléphoniques.

[@sketchur]

I really needed this video, and I also love how you pronounce "vocabulary !" 😁

[@suninmoon4601]

Super encouraging lesson ☺ You reiterate several times how difficult it is to learn French 🤔 Is this a French conceit? I suspect that, given sufficient time, learning to SPEAK French is no more difficult than any other language. Leaning to read and write French, however, is another matter entirely! Not trolling, but French seems to be an excessively self-conscious language with a grammar that signifies more than its meaning 🤷‍♂

[@sugarfree1894]

I was in the butcher's in Paris. I had just learned the French word for frying pan and wanted to practice using it. As the butcher gave me the steak, I asked "Est-ce que je peu le cuisiner a poile?" He replied, "Madame, vous pouvez le cuisiner comme vous voulez." Frying pan = poele. Butt naked = a poile.

[@maxotat]

Merci pour cette leçon. Vous avez presenté une question: “What is a specific example of when you feel foolish speaking French?” Pour moi, j’ai découvert que je peux parler bien, je peux prononce très bien certaines phrases. Par example, “Bonjour, comment ça vas; ça vas bien?” et “Je voudrais deux croissants, s’il vous plaît.” Mais depuis la personne française pense que je peux parler la langue très bien, alors elle parle rapidement et je ne comprends pas du tout. Ainsi, j’oublie touts les mots, je ne me souvenir pas du tout! Je ne peux pas comprends et je ne peux pas parler. En lyçee mon professeur expected that we pronounce everything very well, so I learned to do that; but I didn’t learn how to converse or comprehend well at all. C’est si embarrassant. Maintenant, je suis une femme vielle. J’aime toujours la langue française, et j’étudie chaque jour, mais quand j’attends un groupe conversationnel, I freeze! (Excusez-moi pour les erreurs.)

[@mybp5]

J’adore votre manière enseigner! Merci merci merci beaucoup pour votres vidéos!

[@rmacapobre]

c'est tres utile .. mil merci

[@Antoniathinks]

I am so grateful to find your lessons!! Wow, very very helpful!!! Je vous remercier, Geraldine!!! J’habite en le Languedoc-Roussillon et le Françoise ici en peux different comme l’autre dans l’ecole. On doix pronouncer the é au fin des mots et aussi temps du temps en g sûr loins et mots qui se fins avec -ions.

[@dhesg8561]

Thank you. Such a huge help. Those were my fears that stop me from having conversation with French native.

[@MyHowHowHow]

Thanks for your excellent video!. Something you might want to check out: I can hear static with headphones, maybe it is the mic you are using.

[@CedricSantizo]

This helps a lot!!! Merci!

[@cafiend]

Merci.

[@shirajilav]

Merci beaucoup mademoiselle for giving such useful tips.

[@katherinemarsh784]

Bonjour Geraldine. Pas tired. Bonne apres midi. : ) Katherine MARSH

[@jenriv89]

Still very much a beginning French learner, but I'm fluent in Spanish. "Un" is frustrating me right now because my instinct is to say "un" like you would in Spanish. "Une" is easy, though.

[@marvinraphaelmonfort8289]

j'aime l'ordinateur mini avec "comme une français" =]

[@RosemaryN]

I was taught ‘comment dit-on ____en français ?’ . Is the inversion no longer used?

[@katherinemarsh784]

Pas panic. Pas situation/scenario. Pas de problem.

[@meghancroft6689]

I need to rewatch this video a couple times so I remember these phrases

French complaining about some letters not being pronounced :-D That made my day!

[@melitakyriakou399]

This is SO helpful. And you are so cute! I love your channel.

[@suewright1299]

Merci beaucoup, vous êtes magnifique!

[@MassanPlayez]

hey i like ur vids they help me but wont u have ur phone with u to find the meaning of a word?

[@ladyautonauta]

Merci beaucoup! ❤️

[@marlinpals4233]

I can understand titles of Mireille's songs , but only a few words of the songs.

[@afindisfamily1730]

Merci bien

[@gabrielbiniam7900]

Good!

Don't know/forgot some word in French? Just say and mutilate the word in English and you'll be fine :) Just yesterday we were talking about food and I was supposed to say shrimp and oyster and of course I didn't know it (they were not in the vocabulary), so I tried them in English and it worked! :o))

[@johntribe177]

I understand that nouns are feminine and masculine (la,le) but is it regarded as totally ridiculous if you get them mixed up, eg le table la chien)? What does it sound like to the French?

[@CraigDG]

Merci pour une autre superbe lecon.

[@katparent8783]

Ça m'arrive souvent que je parle avec mes collègues ou mon gérant, et elles me demandent de me répéter. Ça ce peut qu'elles me n'avaient pas entendu, mais ça me donne l'impression que je l'ai mal dit (soit avec vocabulaire, grammaire ou prononciation) et je me répète en englais pour être sûre qu'elles me comprendent. Surtout parce que je vie au Québec et mon ville est divisé également en des anglophones et des francophones, alors je me doute si le mot que j'ai dit est un vrai mot en français or une anglicisme

[@Crystalthe1st]

When I forget the gender of a noun, or i get it wrong and I know it's wrong, or I stop the whole sentence just to figure out if it's feminine or masculine. I've been learning French for 18 years but I still don't know these things

[@martinwright4125]

observation and question: your syllabification of the word "vocabulary" is not seemingly falling into the rule for french pronunciation, in which English studying french are told to cadence the syllables w/ equal time and weight. essentially when I pronounce vo cab u lary i and most English speakers would pronounce as heard and spelled out in the instant case. you, however, seem to be giving a faster rate and unequal emphasis to certain parts of the syllabification of this word. I appreciate your help and your wonderful teaching methods, but do you think you could take a look at this particular word and make an assessment of the use of English and french. thank you for any help or comment. sincerely.

[@zhanwang9814]

Great video

[@petrbrazda88]

all has been said already ... I am in France, not even in Paris, I go to resto and try to order, waiter switches to English even though I still speak French to him. I felt like a tit that day :D

[@dormantrabbits]

I ordered Harry Potter stamps at the post office in Paris. They didn't know what I wanted, so they brought another older gentleman and he still didn't know. Then they brought out every piece of Harry Potter merchandise they had. I was melting inside, but they made it fun!

[@lisalu910]

Okay, here's my question: What is the least annoying way to ask for the gender of a noun in the middle of a conversation? Usually I get to the noun whose gender I don't know and say "Le/la dictionnaire?" or "un/une souris?" or whatever. I always hate to interrupt the flow of a conversation to ask a gender of a noun, but that is a huge stumbling block for most English speakers.

[@BreakingBad13]

A french would say : désolé mais on dit "le" ou "la" dictionnaire ? (désolé is because you cut the conversation)

[@bijoymgeorge]

Bonjour Geraldine, j'adore vos videos. Ça m'aide beacoup. Quést-ce-que vous sugérez pour continuer apprendre la langue? Vous avez une series de videos que je peux utilise pour ça? J'avais une exprience mauvaise chez pharmacie à Paris. Je souffrais avec une grippe et je suis allé à la pharmacie. Il y avait plusiers persoones dans le que attendant le pharmacien. j'ai décideé demander l'aide d'une cliente lá pour choisir des medicaments. Elle était très ennuyée et m'a dit quelque chose que je n'ai pas compris. jái senti mal. Il semble qu'elle m'a demané de consulter le pharmacien. Ma femme est brasilienne elle a diviné la situation en contexte. Elle a expliqué la pharmacienne que c'est commun au brezil de demander l'aide de personnes n'importe oú. La pharmacienne était sympa, elle a sourit et nous aidé.

[@eliseobrien7709]

My husband and I worked for hours to compose French text to ask about a train trip in France. As my husband began speaking, the person stopped him and called an English speaker to deal with the matter. We felt really stupid.

[@Commeunefrancaise]

Oh no... I'm so so so sorry Elise. They tried to be helpful (or we rude, but i hope not). People don't realise visitors WANT to practise their French in France...

[@CraigDG]

Ah yes, number two, that is me. When people ask me to speak French or say something in French, I get scared and only say a few words, though my vocabulary is quite good now. I fear I am going to baulk or get words wrong, so I purposely not say a lot of words at once.

[@SDunforddesign]

Bonsoir Geraldine, Merci pour votre video, How to speak french without feeling stupid. J'ai une probleme que j'ai trouve une francais est quand Je parle avec le -- A' toi, A' elle A' lui. Comme ca, Je le donner ou un pue dur -- Je l'explique . Je peux voir le lettre "switch et couper .. mais unlike english. C'etait complique a parler. Peut-etre vous pouvez travaille un peu trick a faire facile. Merci. Stephen

[@jennahmirrim3787]

I was talking in French with a very handsome Québécois guy at a bar. He kept trying to buy me a drink, I keep saying , non, j'ai mal au éstomach. As I had too much food at supper. He keeps trying. So I say, Non merci, ne pas des boits. I was so embarrassed. I said no boxes, instead of no drinks ! Then I say to him, ugh! I just said "no boxes" instead of "no drinks" he just smiled.... But he finally understood me. I gave up trying any more French after that night. But I have since learned how to talk French with anyone who will let me.

[@mawnimrod3596]

I SPEAK SPANISH AND ENGLISH, AND WHEN I THINK I USE BOTH BUT WHEN I TRY TO SPEAK FRENCH JUST TO SPEAK IT, MY MIND GOES BLANK!, LIKE RIGHT NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO PUT IN FRENCH HAHA

[@truchretienne8889]

J'suis timide en parlant francais parce j'ne comprendre ben le francais oral puis j'ne parle ben.

[@goergelimjoco8420]

vous etes celebataire ?

[@kennedysoita915]

Pronouncing water (l'eau) in french has been such a head ache

[@cafiend]

You want to hear fast French, go to Quebec. Holy cow!

[@emanbadr8030]

1000000 like to this vedio❤

[@Mila-wz4pu]

How to Speak English Without Feeling Stupid :-( Suivre le modèle n'est-ce pas ? :-)

[@tafarixcx]

What makes me lose my confidence is when I know the word and I try so hard to remember it that it creates an awkward moment in the conversation

[@jakobauger6805]

French is like the second easiest language to learn for English speakers after probably dutch(frisian).

[@susie2251]

Far from true. Spanish and Italian for example are much easier than French. גיאכ כרבאכ

[@jakobauger6805]

@@susie2251 I disagree.

[@BlackXSunlight]

English has so much more in common with French and German than Spanish or Italian.

[@user-ou6ps8je2b]

Whats your point?

[@k.5425]

Spanish is easier

[@judyanddavid]

O

[@kiffrancis]

How can we make fun of ourselves a little in French when we make mistakes?

[@rpenguinboy]

hearing someone talk french fast and just not understanding any of it

[@safouan6849]

Why don't you explain yr course in French? I think that would be more beneficial.

[@katherinemarsh784]

Suis pas fou alors.

[@arto1789]

Je vous remercie pour votre vidéos, mais franchement moi, je trouve que les vidéos avec explications en anglais sont seulement pour les députants. Moi, Comme intermédiaire, je préfère les vidéos sans langue anglaise.

[@typingcat]

Sacre bleu, her mouth is big.

[@buckrogers5331]

Dang, you must spend twice as much on lipstick.

[@davemattia]

I know that I can SAY anything in French, but I have to take a long route to make my point because I do not know any of the direct ways or common-speak ways. For example, if I were to describe my occupation to a French person, I would say, "I am a writer. I live in the United States and I write about horse racing for a magazine that is very popular." I do not know how to say, "I'm a horse racing writer for a well-known publication." Usually, it's far more complicated than that example." Sometimes, on your channel, I see the way you say things and they are very different from the way I would say them because you say it in real French and I say it in baby French. What's really crazy is that I learned French when I was a baby, ( my grandmother and aunts spoke it) so when I speak, I have almost no accent, but I don't know the words of a grown up person so I sound like a mentally slow person. That causes me a lot of anxiety.

[@2002RM]

"...so I sound like a mentally slow person" Haha, you are being way too harsh on yourself. But at least you made me chuckle :-)

[@voltape]

@@2002RM Let me try - I'm a student of French - I think I'll say: J'écris sur les courses des chevaux dans une revue très connue - Does it sound any French??

[@ericlind6581]

I’ve noticed in French will just break things up into short sentences or phrases. I’d just say “J’écris pour une publication. C’est très connue”.

[@davemattia]

@@2002RM LOL - but it's sadly true. If I had an Anglo-American accent, people would understand why I speak haltingly. But without any accent, I sound like a simpleton. People murmur, "What's wrong with him?"

[@davemattia]

@Melissa Streeter Thank you - :)

[@nataliekrauss6565]

I’ve studied French for a long time and am finally living in France and this video brought tears to my eyes! I wish I watched this my first day off the plane. It’s so embarrassing when you don’t understand someone right away in French and it’s really hard to get your confidence back afterwards. J’aime vôtres vidéos!!

[@armoricain]

Forgive me for correcting you, but it is "J'aime vos vidéos!!" "Votre"(singular, both masculine and feminine) and "vos"(plural, both masculine and feminine) mean "Your" and "Le vôtre"(singular masculine), "La vôtre"(singular feminine) and "Les vôtres"(plural, both masculine and feminine) mean "Yours".

[@evan.5967]

i think natalie more experienced in spoken french than written

[@karoliinakaita]

When we had a French student - pretty small child like 10 years old - staying at our home because my children study French at school. We have had an exchange like that for several times now. Those children didn't speak English and I asked like million times for some very simple words and they patiently repeated but I felt stupid. And to be honest disappointed with my French skills. With adults you can ask 'Comment on dit a chair en francais '. With children you cannot use that as they don't speak English. Each child stayed about one week or so. Extremely stressful and extremely satisfying still. Very nice kids, we had a lot of fun. After a couple of days with the first one I found myself thinking in French at work: J'ai besoin de ... Speaking French had 'gone into my system' although I still didn't know very many words. All you said in the video I can assure is true, because I tried that with those kids. We went outside (winter time) and I said 'On peux faire...' and paused and the exchange student continued ' ...un bonhomme de neige'. That's exactly how it works. Deducing from the context.

[@tomkins7382]

I really struggle with knowing when and how to use the word "en" - like, "j'en voudrais..." Could you maybe explore this in another video, if you haven't already? Merci bien ! :)

[@alduine7986]

It kinda means “it” Je (ne) sais pas : I do not know J’en sais rien ( or je n’en sais rien ) : I know nothing ( about it, about that topic ) Je voudrais... : I would like... J’en voudrais : Yes I want it too ( works as an answer to someone offering smth) J’en veux a quelqu’un also means I blame someone

[@BreakingBad13]

There is one use for quantities : J'en voudrais -> I'd like some J'en prends -> I take some Tu en as ? -> Do you have some ? Il y en a -> There is some It is also used as a substitute to "about something" J'en ai marre -> I'm fed up about this J'en ai parlé -> I talked about this J'en rigole encore -> I'm still laughing about that J'en chie (vulgar) -> I'm struggling with it Also used like "in", "inside", "within" C'est en moi -> it is inside me (rare / literal) It could be a location (country or region) indicator : Je vais en Normandie ou en Hollande -> I'm going to Normandy or to the Netherland (doesn't work with cities for a reason). Also used to indicate a moment : Q : Le saumon est servi quand ? A : En entrée -> Q When will be the salmon served ? A : As an entry En première partie du spectacle -> In the first part of the show Or a transport mean : J'y vais en train -> I take the train (in the sense I will use the train to go there) J'y vais en bus -> I'm taking the bus Also used to indicate something that you're doing while doing something else (+ ...ant) : Je mange en regardant la télé -> I'm watching the TV while I'm eating Je me douche en chantant -> I'm singing when I take a shower It could be a state of someone or something : être en retard/to be late Être en joie/to be joyful (rare) Être en panique/to be panicking (not sure about the translation :/) La voiture est en panne/the car is broken And I'm sure I missed some. ..... So yeah, it is maybe one of the most difficult word in french.

[@clairebrowning4645]

en usually means 'some' so when you say j'en voudrais = i would like some ..

[@andro4384]

Arnaud Nyme bless you

[@9UaYXxB]

@@BreakingBad13 Very generous response, Arnaud.....many many thanks

[@FrenchTwist]

And..... listening online to French radio stations helps to keep ears in tune to get familiar with the language. And the music is wonderful with artists we don't hear in in the US.

[@mrgreendot4784]

Linda Weddle I learn a lot from French music actually

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

You might get AM radio from Quebec at night. AM 940 has music.

[@glenysmorgan9065]

I completely fall apart on the telephone in French ! Even when I ask the caller to repeat their sentence I often continue to be unable to understand them.

[@rorymacgregor2084]

My biggest issue with speaking french in pronunciation of words. Because my first language is English, my brain brain wants to pronounce every letter, lol

[@truchretienne8889]

14:01 I paused to read the whole thing. ROTF! OMG! I can't wait to share that with my french class.

[@camelopardalus]

I feel embarrassed when I use the wrong article - "le" for "la" or "une" for "un" - and make like gender errors with modifiers.

[@jennahmirrim3787]

I found out that most French are guessing some times for the articles too.

[@filipo9093]

Even French people sometimes use the wrong gender for a word : ask a French person which article to use with : aparté, astérisque, après-midi,... and so on

[@rmacapobre]

c'est fun quand un mot est feminin en francais et masculin en espagnol par exemple. la voiture = el coche .. le lit = la cama. je suppose que ca depends aussi sur les langues on parle deja .. et puis en anglais il n'y a pas le gender.. the car. the bed

[@vanouille3444]

Nous aussi ça nous arrive de nous tromper, surtout sur des mots qu'on utilise pas souvent, t'inquiète pas pour ça ;)

[@SlimBarista]

I sometimes say "n' ", "l' ", "d' " etc as a sort of contraction to cover up any potential embarrassment haha.

[@Yellowblues3]

I studied abroad for a semester in Aix-en-Provence. I remember that one day, when I visited the pharmacy, I couldn't find what I was looking for, which meant I'd have to ask. But I forgot the word for "toothpaste" and ended up asking for "the thing you use to brush your teeth." They understood after a while and we all chuckled about it.

[@luciabueno328]

Bonjour! Je vous remercie pour cette video! Pour répondre à la dernière question: j'ai des difficultés et je m'inquiète quand je fais un appel téléphonique et la personne ou moi-même ne comprennons rien. C'est plus compliqué dans le cas où on ne peuvent pas regarder les gestes des autres.

[@FelipeVime]

I'm scared about speaking in french when I'm actually in front of a French person... I don't understand them clearly and I immediately feel they won't understand me either. I've studied french through Duolingo only for a year :(

[@ivantellez9217]

@MirrorSpiritus that's not encouraging. I'm trying to learn the French language by listen music radio KZbin's etc

[@jonnyr5049]

Juan I Mendoza that’s the one of the best ways to learn a language! I use French you tubers such as Cyprien or squeezie to learn French more fluently

[@danielmugambi1019]

I have a problem... I know how to write but its a bit tricky speaking. .. I form a sentence in my head but get confused when delivering the speech

[@carlyleroad]

I was checking in at a hotel in Reims and managed a two sentence conversation with the man behind the counter about my reservation and the weather. He then spoke two or three sentences very quickly. I asked him "Vous me pouvez la repeter, s'il vous plait?" - he sighed deeply them said it again slowly in English but with an impatient tone! It turned out he was telling me the breakfast times, where my room was and how the parking worked but I felt so embarrassed and ashamed. I avoided him for the whole of my stay.