5 Tips to Help You Overcome the Fear of Speaking French
Many of us dream of communicating in French fluently. However, the reality is that a lot of us reach a block at some point of our language learning journey, and it’s usually when it comes to actually speaking French. Because the truth is, it can be scary!
If you find yourself freezing when it comes to having a conversation in French, either with natives or non-natives, the first thing to know is that this is completely normal.
Our nerves can get the best of us at times, and constructing full sentences can feel really difficult at first.
Thankfully, there are ways to ease your fears of speaking, so that you can feel more confident communicating in French. Here are some tips to help you if you are struggling:
1 - Accept that you will make mistakes
I know that this is easier said than done. We humans don’t like to make mistakes. But the quicker we let go of the need for perfection the quicker we will see results. The truth is everyone makes mistakes when we’re on our language learning journeys (yes even your tutors did when they were in the process). Besides, mistakes are often our best teachers! Nobody gets it completely right the first time round.
2 - Practice speaking in front of the mirror or record yourself
You don’t have to jump straight into speaking with other people. You can practice on your own first. This is especially useful for shy people who feel self-conscious around others. Why not practice constructing sentences in front of the mirror? This will help you get used to the sound of your own voice and improve your pronunciation. You can also record yourself speaking French on your phone and then play it back to yourself. In this way you can identify the mistakes you make and then correct them.
3 - Slow down when you are speaking French
When we’re nervous, it feels like our brains turn to jelly and our words come out sounding… weird. A good way to avoid freezing mid-conversation is to really take your time when speaking. I know you want to speak like a native (and some French people speak very fast), but sometimes slow is best. It gives you a better opportunity to pronounce the words correctly and think about what you are actually going to say without blabbering something that makes very little sense.
4 - Learn French with a private tutor
Sometimes the best thing you can do is to get someone to help you with your speaking. If you don’t feel comfortable in a classroom environment, working with a tutor may be a good idea. Having one-to-one support means that you can really focus on your weaknesses and begin to build your confidence with someone you trust.
You can find a highly experienced and personalized tutor at French à La Carte. Your tutor will make you feel as comfortable as possible when speaking French. They will also help you to build your vocabulary and grammar so that you feel more confident constructing phrases in French.
5 - Practice speaking with other people
You will eventually reach a point where you will need to practice speaking with other French people (that’s the whole point of learning a new language right?). There are many ways you can do this. You can join a local language class where you live, or even book a trip to the country where the language is spoken and practice speaking with foreigners.
Another option is to download a language exchange app such as Tandem. Tandem is a wonderful tool to pass on your own language knowledge whilst also learning another language from someone else. It’s a win-win scenario. You are also both in the same boat in your language learning journey so that should ease your nerves when it comes to speaking.
So here you have five tips to help you combat your fears of speaking French. Remember that learning a new language is a journey and that mistakes will inevitably be made. Try to speak slowly and practice speaking by yourself if you don’t quite feel ready to speak with other natives just yet. Remember to never give up, and that the outcome is worth all the effort!
Learn French with French à La Carte
Whether you are in Paris for a short stay, on business, building a new life in France, or are based anywhere around the world, French à la Carte provides tailor-made private French lessons to match your specific linguistic goals.
Lessons in person in Paris, immersion in the city for French learners, lessons online, there is an option that meets your linguistic goal.
Conversational French
business French
French for visitors
Preparation for examinations
Language immersion in Paris
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For all these options our teaching approach is focused on your specific needs, and will include the skills you need to practise: speaking, comprehension, and writing.