I don't have any major problem with fluency (I am at C2 after all), just in some kinds of moments, but I am not sure whether the less smooth parts will improve. I am already good at stuff I do reasonably often, and I won't do the "rare" stuff too much anyways, so I don't know. The same applies to the vocabulary. But perfectionism can be harmful, I'll try to be more kind to myself
The thing is, that any real progress in the language now might be really expensive and time consuming (tons of hours with an extremely exceptional teacher. The immersion might actually even hold me back)
The residency is not for six months, it is just the change of hospitals or at least services within the hospitals that happens every six months. It's a little like the musical chair (the last one doesn't get eliminated, I just get the worst spot nobody else will want). I'll spend at least four years in the country.
In my specialty, the excessive hours are not too common, we are well defended by our representatives. Some specialties are much worse. But even the overworked doctors by the french standards are mostly nowhere near the czech or american "norms"
..................................
About my beloved Samples in my Lab:
My bf's favourite tool so far has been
Kwiziq. Unlike
Speakly (which he might return to later), it explains the grammar really well, and the exercises are addictive. Let's see, whether he can finally tackle the Progressive books. I bought him a few for my birthday
He had originally tried Duolingo, but didn't like it (too inefficient). It was a very nice gesture though.
....
A friend of mine wanted advice on his French learning two months ago. He needs to pass a B2 exam in a few months from now. He ignored almost everything during that conversation and pushed me to tell him the name of my teacher before DALF. I don't know why people think it is all about the teachers? Why does everybody seem to think I must be just a naive and too proud moron, who doesn't want to give credit to some awesome teachers, who surely pushed me to my level?
I warned him, that self-study would be necessary, and told him both the advantages and problems of that teacher. Well, he is now complaining about that teacher and finding out I was right
Why I took lessons with that particular teacher years ago:
-there were no resources on Dalf writing available
-a native speaker, who claimed to have previous experience with language exam preparation (a claim that was partially proven false much later)
-there was nobody else willing to take an advanced learner
-speaking practice is always a nice thing (even though I just got rid of the rust during the first lesson and then it was a plateau)
-I was not confident enough to do this on my own and I didn't know enough about any skype learning opportunities.
What I liked about those lessons:
-the writing feedback. yes, it was in some ways not too detailed ("why?" "there is no rule, we just don't write it like that"), but it was still much more than I could get anywhere else
-a speaking opportunity, with what I thought was feedback (nope, he was far too lenient. but speaking was still nice)
-writing homework between the lessons
What I hated:
-his attempts to make me waste my time on the grammar exercises I could do on my own
-too easy assignments sometimes
What I was still doing on my own:
-The whole grammar review with Progressives
-Reading one book a week (or half a book, if it was a long one)
-Tons of tv series watching
A few years later, he is using me and the other DALF student from those days as shiny pieces of his marketing strategy. And this friend of mine is much less stubborn then me. So, in the end, they are spending the paid hours on doing random grammar exercises without previous explanations (the "teacher" doesn't know the rules very probably), rereading them again and again (the "teacher" believes in memorisation of the exercises as the best language learning method. but without explaining the mistakes.), and not really doing anything else. The friend is very frustrated by this and by lack of any well thought out curriculum or a lesson plan he could prepare for at home.
So guys,
this is a great example of what I've been saying for years: Don't trust teachers too much, don't let them make your plans, don't believe vague promises, and never underestimate the importance of self study.
And another thing: The teacher was useful only because I insisted on it. I am actually rather disappointed by him now, and I feel a bit guilty about recommending him to this friend.
