If you’re having trouble working up the courage to speak in French, especially in a group setting or in public, consider trying this:
Go to a public place. Challenge yourself to ask in French 10 strangers in less than 10 minutes where the public toilets are. Or where the post office is. Or where the metro station is. Or go for 15 people in less than 10 minutes. Or just 5 people in 20 minutes. You decide everything.
Nevermind the quality of your French. That’s not the point. The point is to work up the courage to say things to strangers.
Remember, you don’t know these people. Even if you mess up (and even if you feel a bit silly), you’ll never see them again anyway, so who cares.
Then,
repeat, repeat, repeat.
You can do this game or variations on it until it seems too easy.
You might now find it easier to speak up in French when you’re in a group setting because you’ve already taught yourself how to “launch” in French.
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