Should Know Better But French, Spanish and Japanese

[MorkTheFiddle]

Pop singer Jewel was famously so down on her luck she lived in her car.
Actress Charlize Theron was living in an LA dive practically starving to death when she was discovered.

[Carmody]

Sarafina
I just went to be able to say that I am fluent in French with confidence. It's beyond embarrassing studying a language at uni and not being able to be fluent in it. Although my interest in language learning is at an all time low. I feel like I have a good idea of how I am going to get that level- it's just a matter of me being consistent and following through with my plan.

Sarafina, please think carefully about what you say when you say: I just went to be able to say that I am fluent in French with confidence.

With all due respect, that is a very big Ask. For me it is frankly something that is very difficult to come by; it just takes an awful lot of time and effort. Really. Fluent is different things for different people. You sound like a slow learner and since everyone here knows I am a slow learner, I feel totally and absolutely qualified to tell you that it takes some people longer than others. The mountain top is there and it is not going anywhere; so there is no rush as to getting altitude fever in the rush.

Maybe if you could allow yourself a moment to examine what it is you want to do with French that would help. For me, for now, I am happy to be reading and listening to podcasts in French and with time I will get better. But to speak fluently is a whole other story and requires a different set of resources and much time and effort.

I dropped out of college for a semester and my parents went into cardiac arrest. However I eventually returned and finished.

Don't let others set your goals or standards. Proceed at your own pace....

[Jim]

… It's beyond embarrassing studying a language at uni and not being able to be fluent in it.

I know this feeling. I did a degree in music, but I still can’t read music for toffee or improvise to save my life. I cringe when I tell people what I studied and have to qualify it with “it was more about music production and the music industry” (it wasn’t). I did do a module on music industry law and contracts, which I found very interesting. After finishing my degree I did a conversion course for law and haven’t looked back. Roll forward 20 years and I’m a partner in a law firm (and no one ever asks me to sight read or improvise anything). I know what it would take to get better at music, but I don’t have the motivation to do it at the moment. I still watch music theory videos on YouTube from time to time, but it is not with any aspiration of getting better, it’s just that I find some of them interesting. If you want to improve your French and you enjoy it, then great, but really do question whether you’re doing it for the right reasons, because ultimately it won’t be sustainable (and may even be mentally quite damaging) if the only motivation is simply validating your degree. My only recommendation would be to do what you find interesting - you don’t need to worry too much about motivation if you do.

[Sarafina]

With all due respect, that is a very big Ask. For me it is frankly something that is very difficult to come by; it just takes an awful lot of time and effort. Really. Fluent is different things for different people. You sound like a slow learner and since everyone here knows I am a slow learner, I feel totally and absolutely qualified to tell you that it takes some people longer than others. The mountain top is there and it is not going anywhere; so there is no rush as to getting altitude fever in the rush.

Maybe if you could allow yourself a moment to examine what it is you want to do with French that would help. For me, for now, I am happy to be reading and listening to podcasts in French and with time I will get better. But to speak fluently is a whole other story and requires a different set of resources and much time and effort.

I dropped out of college for a semester and my parents went into cardiac arrest. However I eventually returned and finished.

Don't let others set your goals or standards. Proceed at your own pace....

Sometimes I debate if things would have truly better if I take a year out. My university gave me the option to take a year out and my personal tutor strongly encouraged me to take that option. But my parents were deeply against it. Also, I felt really burdened by this degree so I hated the idea of having to face it in 2023. Honestly if I took a year out I might never come back to finish it.

I am not sure if I would describe myself as a slow learner although I wouldn't say that I am the most giftest either. In my case, I was extremely burnt out and could not study at all or have the motivation/willpower to submit anything.

I have been reflecting on why I even continued with French and what I want to do with it. In my past logs, I used to describe it as being in an arranged marriage where I want to try to make things work out. But that being said, I just really enjoyed my experience working and living in France in 2020. It was honestly the most content that I have ever been in my life. I had a wonderful time and I still look back at the time fondly. I'm planning on returning to France next year September to work for at least a year. I want to get to a point where I feel more comfortable with using French in a professional environment or being able to navigate in a French university in the event that I want to continue my studies in France without being completely lost.

Thanks for the encouraging words. I appreciate it.

[Sarafina]

… It's beyond embarrassing studying a language at uni and not being able to be fluent in it.

I know this feeling. I did a degree in music, but I still can’t read music for toffee or improvise to save my life. I cringe when I tell people what I studied and have to qualify it with “it was more about music production and the music industry” (it wasn’t). I did do a module on music industry law and contracts, which I found very interesting. After finishing my degree I did a conversion course for law and haven’t looked back. Roll forward 20 years and I’m a partner in a law firm (and no one ever asks me to sight read or improvise anything). I know what it would take to get better at music, but I don’t have the motivation to do it at the moment. I still watch music theory videos on YouTube from time to time, but it is not with any aspiration of getting better, it’s just that I find some of them interesting. If you want to improve your French and you enjoy it, then great, but really do question whether you’re doing it for the right reasons, because ultimately it won’t be sustainable (and may even be mentally quite damaging) if the only motivation is simply validating your degree. My only recommendation would be to do what you find interesting - you don’t need to worry too much about motivation if you do.

Thanks for the advice. It's something that I am reflecting about.

[Sarafina]

I've been feeling more excited about language learning. I still have the goal of sitting DALF. I have a full time job so I can afford having a tutor that specialises in helping people to pass the DALF exam. I always enjoyed Italki lessons and it's been both useful and fun.

I am planning on working in France in September 2023. I had a wonderful time working in France in 2020 so I am eager to go back. I want to get my French to a high level before I go.

I still love setting lofty goals that are outright delusional and generously optimistic. I plan on getting a DALF tutor in either November or December. I want to do the exam in July 2023. I am curious to see how I will do whether . I actually paid for a DALF exam a couple of years ago but I could not attend because I didn't do the homework regarding the logistics. I hope to pass but it's not particularly essential and the job that I have in France does not depend on it.

I still want to learn Japanese and Spanish. I feel like I am always delaying it for when I feel like I am somewhat fluent in French. Some part of me is still tempted to try to juggle it with French.

[Sarafina]

Things are looking up. There is a really exciting job offer in Switzerland that I'm applying for and fingers crossed that I'll get it. My uni seems confident that I will get it. I don't want to get my hopes up but I'm really hoping that it will turn out well. If I get it then I will be in Switzerland from August 2023 to July 2024.

This has given me extra motivation to want to do the DALF exam before I leave. I think that it would wonderful if I can get my French to a C levels before I go to Switzerland. I don't know if I'll actually pass it- there's a realistically 30-50% chance that I will even pass it. I only have 6 months. My French is really rusty. I would need to get a Italki tutor that I will be meeting up at least 1-2 times a week. This will probably be an another entry in a long list of ambitious and borderline delusional projects that wouldn't go anywhere but it's always fun trying anyways

I just don't feel comfortable investing lots of time in learning other languages when I don't feel like I have reached even a high level in French. I feel like I am perpetually delaying learning other languages.

I'm considering doing one of those summer courses usually done by French universities that are designed for non native French speakers who want to do a masters in France. I've been considering furthering my education in France at some point in the future.

[MorkTheFiddle]

Things are looking up. There is a really exciting job offer in Switzerland that I'm applying for and fingers crossed that I'll get it. My uni seems confident that I will get it. I don't want to get my hopes up but I'm really hoping that it will turn out well. If I get it then I will be in Switzerland from August 2023 to July 2024.

Good luck!

[Sarafina]

Things are looking up. There is a really exciting job offer in Switzerland that I'm applying for and fingers crossed that I'll get it. My uni seems confident that I will get it. I don't want to get my hopes up but I'm really hoping that it will turn out well. If I get it then I will be in Switzerland from August 2023 to July 2024.

Good luck!

Thank you

[Sarafina]

I don't know whether it is worth sitting the DALF exam in June. Last week it went from being a 30%-50% to now 5-10% of me actually passing it. It seems like it would just be like a waste of £160. I liked using DALF exam as an external validation of my French skills and an objective goal to strive towards to.

I realistically need at the very least a year of focused prep time. I have less than 5 months if I was to sign up for June exam. I haven't spoken or practiced French since my final oral assessment which was June. I listen to the occasional podcast or YouTube video in French and every now and again I see some French tweets. The deadline for enrollment is May. My goal is try my best to get to a high level by May and then realistically assess if I have at least 50% chance of passing. I am doubtful as to how much progress one can make in 4-5 months especially now that I am working full time.

I don't know when I can give myself permission to try to learn other languages. I feel guilty even thinking about dabbling in other languages when I haven't gotten a level that I am proud of in French.

I submitted my application for Switzerland sometime ago. I am so excited and nervous. Fingers crossed that I get the job. I should find out before May whether I should get it or not.