Okay, so here’s the thing about learning French when you’re kinda shy. It’s tough, right? Speaking feels like the biggest hurdle. I wanted to share how I went about it, what worked for me, and what didn’t.
Getting Started Felt Weird
First off, I decided I really wanted to learn French. Don’t ask me why exactly, maybe the movies, the sound of it, whatever. But the idea of actually talking to someone? Nope. Big nope. My palms would get sweaty just thinking about saying “Bonjour” out loud in a class.
So, I did what most shy people probably do. I downloaded a bunch of apps. Duolingo, Memrise, you name it. They were okay for vocabulary, building up some basic recognition. I spent a lot of time just clicking buttons, matching words. Safe. No talking required, mostly. But I knew deep down this wasn’t really learning French, not in a way I could actually use it.
Trying Different Stuff
The apps had those speaking exercises where you repeat phrases. I skipped them. A lot. Or I’d whisper them when no one was home, feeling like an idiot. It just wasn’t working for the speaking part.
Then I thought, maybe books? I picked up some simple French readers, like kids’ books. This was better. I could read at my own pace, look up words, no pressure. It helped with understanding sentence structure and getting more vocab. I also started watching French movies and TV shows. First with English subtitles, just to get the gist and hear the sounds. Then, I got brave and switched to French subtitles. This was huge. I had to pause a lot, rewind, look things up, but it forced me to connect the sounds with the written words.
- Started with apps, mostly passive clicking.
- Moved to reading simple books – less pressure.
- Watched lots of French content – subtitles were key.
- Focused heavily on listening comprehension.
The Texting Breakthrough
Okay, the real game-changer for me was finding ways to interact without speaking immediately. I found a language exchange app. The cool thing was, many people were happy just to text. Phew! I could type out my sentences, check them, use Google Translate for a word here and there (don’t judge!). It felt way less intimidating.
I spent weeks, maybe months, just texting with a couple of patient exchange partners. We talked about simple stuff – hobbies, food, what we did that day. It forced me to actually form sentences, use the grammar I was sort of learning from the reading and apps. This built my confidence slowly. I was communicating in French, even if it wasn’t out loud.
Baby Steps Towards Speaking
After a long time texting, one exchange partner suggested sending short voice messages. My stomach dropped. But, okay, it wasn’t real-time conversation. I could record it, delete it, record it again fifty times until it sounded halfway decent (or until I gave up and just sent it). The first few were probably terrible. Super short. “Salut, ça va?” But I did it.
Listening to their replies was also good practice. It was like a mini, controlled conversation. This was my bridge. Texting -> Voice Messages. I still wasn’t ready for a live call.
I also started talking to myself more. Just repeating phrases I heard in movies or from my voice messages. Sounding out words. It still felt awkward, but less so than imagining talking to a real person.
Where I Am Now
So, am I fluent? God no. Am I still shy about speaking French? Yeah, pretty much. But it’s different now. I can understand a lot more, written and spoken. I can write basic emails or messages. And if I absolutely had to, I could probably stumble through ordering a coffee or asking for directions, even if my face turned bright red.
The key for me was finding low-pressure ways to engage. Focusing on input (reading, listening) first, then moving to output in the least scary way possible (texting), and then very slowly adding voice elements. It’s a slow burn, especially when you’re shy. But it’s possible to make progress without forcing yourself into situations that just shut you down completely. You gotta find your own path, the one that feels manageable, even if it’s not the fastest way.
