When you’re speaking in French with francophones, be very easy on yourself. Let your thoughts come out and pay no attention to your mistakes in that moment.
(And for goodness sake, don’t worry about whether your French is sufficiently québécois or not. I know that some of you worry about this, but there’s no need to pass for a native whatsoever.)
There’s a time and place for paying attention to details — when you’re studying at home and making a deliberate attempt to improve your French, for example.
But when you’re maintaining a conversation in French, turn that part of your brain off altogether. Don’t look at conversations as speaking practice or moments of truth. Just communicate. Forget about being eloquent.
Ironically, once you remove the obligation to speak beautiful French during conversations, the more likely you are to approach it.
If you free yourself of unreasonable demands, you’ll seek out more conversations in French and become experienced in communicating. You can’t do that if you’re always beating yourself up for bad French and shutting down because of it.
It may take practice shutting your critical self off during conversations. But once you learn how to do it, you’ll feel a huge weight lifted off your shoulders.
I LOVE this entry! I have just come across your blog and it is perfect
I am in Montréal for my year abroad and I am obsessed with all things québécois so thank you so much for taking the time to write all this!
Hope you don’t mind me sharing this post on tumblr!
Thank you, Andrew. Hope you’re enjoying your time in Montréal.
It’s like you read my mind when speaking French lol !! Great post !!!
Thank you, Matt. I feel that trying to be perfect is one of the worst things we can do when learning to speak another language.
I’ve been putting your advice into practice this past month and I honestly feel like it’s getting easier or perhaps I’m getting less anxious about it! Thanks for the great blog!
Glad to hear it, Agnes. As you go along, your confidence will increase and you’ll feel less anxious.