I’m still deliberating what to do next year in my French learning journey and come to the realisation that at an intermediate level now, I’m STILL not speaking enough of it. On the other hand, I’m listening to a lot more (and proud to say understanding most of it – when they’re not speaking slang) but my intention was to be able to SPEAK it fluently.
On Monday I will finish B1.3 with the Alliance Francaise and then it will be a deciding point as to whether I go on.
My classmates asked me if I’m going ahead with it but in all honesty, I don’t feel that doing the formal education to go through each of the B1.4 through to B1.6 is enough. I need to be continually speaking it in order for me to continue.
The classes use an exercise book and activities book that helps people talk about various topics. There’s a bit of grammar and audio exercises as well. Initially it took a while for me to understand how it was set up because it was nonsensical but after completing A2.4, A2.5, A2.6 then B1.1, B1.2 and B1.3, you start to understand how it is structured. At about $450 a term, it’s also quite expensive.
So after having thought about it a bit, I have decided to change tack. I’m thinking of doing an intensive 5 days French Bla Bla conversation course in January which is 10 hours in the week and then for ONE term, every Monday night for 2 hours continue to do my own studies.
I’ll keep to the time I had with the Alliance where every Monday 1815-2015 was for French however this time, I’m going to create my own plan for learning.
My idea is that I will continue to use the Practice Makes Perfect books which have been excellent. I have three:
- Comprehensive Grammar (which I have completed)
- Conversations
- Reading and Comprehension
My intention is that if I spend 2 hours on dividing my time with the above, I can also supplement it with various YouTubers content. In particular, the following YouTube accounts:
Add to this, I have an additional 2 hours of chats with my friends Emma and Renee who are helping me with French and I with their English. Along with using Hello Talk as my app of choice for writing and conversing in groups.
There is also a conversational French group in the local area that meets every Thursday on my day off at a nearby cafe. I figure that with all these additional French exposures, I’ll be speaking a lot more which would then hopefully, assist me to continue formally with the studies in higher intermediate later on in 2022 or 2023.
Failing that, if I just go and live in France for a couple of months, I’d be fluent.
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