I've been learning french for a couple of years (at home) but now that I am studying the language at university, it seems to have got worse!!!
My confidence in the language has fallen considerably and I seem to forget how to say things in class that normally wouldn't be a problem. Ok, i've learnt some new vocab which is good but the rest...............
kI'm doing everything possible to try and improve my listenin as well i.e. Listening to french radio and even french music because as soon as someone talks at normal speed, I can't understand a word - maybe one or two hear or there.
I'm becoming so frustrated that i'm beginning to wonder if it's worth it to carry on. And my question (finally) is has anyone else out there had this kind of problem when learning a language? It seem to be a case of no steps forward and 2 steps back! Is this just something that will pass as long as I persist??? The frustration is also hindering my progress too but I'm finding it so hard. What to do?
2006-12-01 05:20:33 · 16 answers · asked by Wondering 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Hello! As a fellow language learner, I can understand your frustration. It sounds like your main problem is confidence, which may explain why you can't remember things in class that you know you can do. Just remember, you CAN do this, and there is no reason why you should feel that your French is worse than anyone else's (I'm thinking that you may be feeling intimidated by some of the others in your class).
Listening is always a problem until you go on your year abroad (which I imagine you'll be doing in your 3rd year - most uni's seem to offer this). I had soooo much trouble when I did my 6 months in France. It's normal. I felt the same during my German placement too, and I'm much more confident about my German than my French. What year are you in? If you're a 1st year, it'll be even harder, so try not to worry too much. You could try to meet some French students at your uni (e.g. French Erasmus students) - I'm at Salford uni, and we have a notice board where we can put an ad if we want to meet up with native speakers. It's likely that your university has a similar scheme too. By meeting native speakers, you can practise both speaking and listening at the same time, plus their level of English will often be much higher than your French (We find that with the Erasmus students this year, and we're in the FOURTH year!) which could be handy if you get stuck for vocab. You could also try watching French tv or films - hopefully your uni will have the facilities you need for this.
Looking for a summer job in France would be a very good idea, although it's a long time til summer and I think you may be considering dropping the subject before then. Living in France will certainly improve your language skills, particularly speaking and listening, as well as your range of vocab, but it's not exactly practical to tell you to go off to France right now with you being at uni and all.
What I think you need to ask yourself is do you really like French? How is your grammar? What kind of marks are you getting? Also, are you post-A level or ab initio? If you're with the post-A levels but you've just been learning at home, it's possible that you've been missing out on the practise, particularly the speaking practise, that the ones that have done A Level will have had. This will obviously put you at a disadvantage for the time being, but it's important that you realise this so that you don't feel so bad. However, if you've taught yourself, your knowledge of grammar may be much better than theirs. Have you talked to any of the others about how they find the course? I'm sure you'll find that you're not the only one to wonder if you're on track. I would strongly recommend that you talk to your tutor about how you are feeling. I imagine that your tutor will be a member of the languages staff, and so will be one of the best people to advise you. If your tutor is not a French lecturer, you can always go and see one of them if you feel more comfortable or if you think it would be more useful for you.
Obviously, I don't know you personally and I can't tell you whether your French is ok or not. All I can say is that I understand how you're feeling and I think it's perfectly normal. I really don't believe that you're anywhere near as bad at French as you think. Don't put too much pressure on yourself - you're only studying, your lecturers don't expect you to be fluent. Even after our year abroad, neither myself nor any of my friends feel like we're truely fluent in any of our languages.
Please please think about this carefully and seek advice from others in your class and from your lecturers before making any decisions. It would be such a shame for you to give up a subject that you love, are good at and work hard at just because you need a bit of a confidence boost.
I wish you all the best of luck!
2006-12-01 06:22:33 · answer #1 · answered by jammycaketin 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I first started learning Spanish (in a university course) I remember the first major reading assignment was so difficult that I literally got a headache. When I first started watching television in Spanish I felt like they talked so fast I often didn't even get the main topic of what the story is about. However, as time went on, things got easier and more understandable by degrees, and now I am a very proficient speaker and understander of Spanish.
Don't give up! It sounds like you are doing many things right. Just keep at it! It usually takes about a year or year and a half or so at the university level until you become reasonably fluent, all other things being equal.
Also, a recent article I read on linguistics said that it is quite common for someone to seem to "forget" grammar that they previously knew as they are trying to incorporate new knowledge into their growing grammatical system. But they get there in the end.
2006-12-01 19:05:53 · answer #2 · answered by drshorty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well they say the only way to learn a language fluently, is to submerge yourself in it, or in other words... go live in that country. I moved to France in September this year and I'm still here (for one more week) and I reckon that I've learned more in 3 months than I learned in 3 years at school. I've picked up useful stuff and because I simply HAVE to speak French, my confidence has soared. You could always come over here for the summer and get a job, etc. There is always a high demand for native-English speakers in large cities, such as Paris.
Good luck with your French!
2006-12-01 05:27:42 · answer #3 · answered by Sami 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah i agree French is damn hard but u probably only think u've got worse cos the content has got harder! As for listening, I find it impossible to pick up words when it just sounds like a torrent of random sounds- but u only need 2 be able 2 understand a few key words 2 get the jist. Please dont become frustrated with it, its so much easier 2 learn when u enjoy a subject. Ask ur tutors for advice & just get as much help as possible....& buy the fattest dictionary u can find too!
Stick with it mon ami
2006-12-01 09:36:02 · answer #4 · answered by Just me 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Immersion is the best way to learn. Try going to France or Quebec. When I was learning German, I went on an exchange to Germany and the school there actually had us attend Grade 4 classes. Their reasoning was that we were at the same level as far as learning the language goes.
2006-12-01 05:25:27 · answer #5 · answered by danielleb 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You made me smile because i could have posted exactly the same thing just changing 2 things..... I'm French and I'm still after years trying to learn English !! LOL
The best way for you would be to go to France as often as possible and really have to use french everyday/all day as i did for English....I live here now !!
2006-12-01 05:29:56 · answer #6 · answered by talkingformydog 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try working in France over the summer so that you can pick it up from Native french people. It will increase your confidence and motivation to speak french also as you will be forced to learn it!
2006-12-01 05:23:01 · answer #7 · answered by AngelWings 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have taken french for 4 years, It is very hard to go from learning at home to a university.
Just keep trying, French gets hard during your 4th year, but gets easier
2006-12-01 09:24:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Language learning is a frustratingly slow process. I am sure what you're going through at the moment is a just a passing phase and very soon you will recover your enthusiasm and learning pleasure.
2006-12-01 05:31:42 · answer #9 · answered by Chevalier 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think you should try living in france or canada for a short period of time. one of my foreign language teachers went to a school in the us where you were only allowed to speak french and got in trouble if they caught you speaking english. i mean, i grew up in my home speaking only italian and i'm fluent now.
2006-12-01 07:22:27 · answer #10 · answered by Alex 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋