• Home
  • OffQc
  • About
  • Start
  • Off-quoi?
  • Listen to Québécois French

OffQc | Québécois French Guide

For lovers of French + diehard fans of all things québécois!

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« Cynthia does her eyes (#363)
Message d’un policier (#365) »

Confidence in a foreign language can be learned (#364)

19 December 2011 by OffQc

If you’re feeling hesitant, uncertain, even paralysed when you need or want to speak French, know that you are not alone! A few of you have written to me asking for help. I didn’t study psychology, but I feel certain enough to say that questions of confidence are things that we all struggle with in some area of life, or at some period in our life.

Learning a language happens in small improvements over a long period of time. Developing speaking confidence in a new language is no different.

If you’re struggling, please be kind to yourself. Start small and try not to overwhelm yourself. For example, give yourself one little challenge every day to build confidence. You can even start with something like saying bonjour in a clear, audible voice instead of mumbling it and looking away.

When your challenge is no longer a challenge, increase the complexity just a little bit more. For example, instead of just bonjour, this time try bonjour, ça va bien?, in a clear voice. And with a smile.

As you go along, take note of all your successes. At the end of the day, write them down. You can start slowly, like just one thing a day, but consider aiming for five a day with time. Write down your successes over a long period of time, like a few months. If this seems excessive to you, remind yourself that speaking confidence is something that you learn and work towards.

Increase the complexity in a way that provides you with a comfortable challenge, like it’s a game. If you’re feeling horrible stress, go back down a step or two. It should be just a little more challenging than last time, not a lot more stressful. Preserve your sanity.

Remember that you can learn to be a confident speaker. And in the same way that you don’t have to master French today, you don’t have to master confidence today either. Relax. Work on it a little bit each day. All of your little successes in confidence will add up over time and grow into bigger ones. You’ll look back and see the progress you’ve made over time.

If you’re telling yourself some horrible negative stuff in your head, why not replace those thoughts with something more friendly?

“That was really difficult for me, but I did it. Even though it was difficult, I feel I can do it again.”

“Hmm. OK. That didn’t go as well as I hoped it would. That’s OK. I took the challenge, and I’m willing to try again.”

“Even if I don’t say it right, at least I’ll feel good that I took the challenge. That’s more important than perfect French.”

“I did it! That feels really good. Hmm, maybe I can try to see the challenge of this as something fun after all.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Posted in Entries #351-400 | 3 Comments

3 Responses

  1. on 19 December 2011 at 09:09 John

    And there will always be humorous incidents that help smooth the path to learning. Here’s one I especially remember: Years ago, shortly after my wife and I arrived in Quebec City, we were stepping out of the house one day to go shopping. The lady next door was old, probably lonely, and loved to chat with people who passed by. I was locking our door and this lady was speaking very fast with my wife who was just beginning to study French at the time. I told the lady, “Madame, vous savez, ma femme ne parle pas très bien le français.” The lady, without batting an eyelash, shot back with, ”C’est pas grave. Moi, je ne peux pas parler l’anglais !”


    • on 19 December 2011 at 22:36 OffQc

      What you write reminds me of an incident in Istanbul. (I lived there for a while.) I was looking for a school that I needed to go to, and so I asked a security guard for help in the best Turkish that I could.

      In Turkish, I asked:

      “Can you tell me how to get to (name of school), please?”

      All he saw was FOREIGNER on my forehead, so he responded in English to my question by saying:

      “But I don’t speak English.”

      Oh! But do you speak Turkish, my friend? 😉


  2. on 20 December 2011 at 21:22 tc

    you sure you did not study in psychology? It’s good stuff you have suggested, thanks lots.



Comments are closed.

  • Books

    The OffQc bookshop is always open. See all titles here.

    Contracted French Put an end to not understanding spoken French by learning the most important contractions used in speech

    C’est what? Overview of common features of spoken Québécois French; pave the way for further independent study

    1000 Learn or review a large amount of everyday words and expressions used in Québécois French in condensed form

  • Follow OffQc by email. It's free. Enter your email address in the box below.

    Join 1,533 other followers

  • Read a random entry
    OffQc bookshop
    OffQc on Twitter
    OffQc on Pinterest
    • Listen to Québécois French: Almost 100 videos + transcripts
  • Number

    • Entries #1151-1200
    • Entries #1101-1150
    • Entries #1051-1100
    • Entries #1001-1050
    • Entries #951-1000
    • Entries #901-950
    • Entries #851-900
    • Entries #801-850
    • Entries #751-800
    • Entries #701-750
    • Entries #651-700
    • Entries #601-650
    • Entries #551-600
    • Entries #501-550
    • Entries #451-500
    • Entries #401-450
    • Entries #351-400
    • Entries #301-350
    • Entries #251-300
    • Entries #201-250
    • Entries #151-200
    • Entries #101-150
    • Entries #51-100
    • Entries #1-50
  • Month

    • June 2017
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
    • December 2011
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • July 2011
    • June 2011
    • May 2011
    • April 2011
    • March 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
    • December 2010

Blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.