When I was a kid, there were no French Immersion Schools in our English Canadian education system like there are now. No, we learned French the old-fashioned way in scheduled classes, which were taught in English like our other courses. Not the most ideal way to learn a second language! When I graduated high school in 1975, I could read and write passable French, but I could not easily speak it at all. I had to stop and think too much about how to say things, which makes fluency impossible.
But a mere two months later, I was fluent in spoken French and able to take university courses that Fall (and subsequently) which were designed for Francophone students. How was that possible? I received a student bursary from the federal government to take a 6-week French Immersion Program that summer at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. We immersion students lived together in residence on campus and, in our own little educational world, spoke nothing but French 24/7. That's how you get past the mental blockage of overthinking and start to speak fluently from "muscle memory," as it were. In my opinion, there is no substitute for the power of immersion.
Anyway, fast-forward 51 years to this summer. I figured a dose of immersion would fast-track my return to fluency. So I signed up for a one-week "Adult French Immersion Camp" at Alliance Française in Edmonton. It wasn't a residential program, obviously, but it was Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 5:00, a full 40 hours of being in a completely French environment.
As the title to this post suggests, things did NOT go well. The problem was not linguistic, actually. The problem was that I'm pushing 70 and have been retired for nearly 10 years. I simply no longer have the mental or physical energy or stamina to function in a full-time, rigorous working environment. Plus I can't easily read printed materials now (even after cataracts removal), and there were xeroxed handouts we needed to read. Also, my agèd ears couldn't hear half of what was said most of the time.
So, long story short, I didn't even make it through the first day! I went home and didn't go back.
Of course, I moped around for a day or so following this unexpected blow to my self-esteem and self-image. But what the hell, I bounced back pretty quickly and figured out that I will just need to get to my goal in a less intensive, more laid-back kind of way. I began to make new plans . . . .
Stay tuned!
14 comments:
I've always thought that all you really needed to speak French was a head cold and a supercilious attitude.
Perhaps you could find a French cribbage or Scrabble club? Learning conversational French while having fun might be a possible solution. And think of all the new swear words you could pick up, LOL!
Good on you for the second try. I don't know if I could take, or enjoy, a full-on immersive class in anything after all these years out of school.
...and I still am struggling with English since I went to kindergarten in 1950.
Oh nooooo!
Love that you went to the AF but I’m amazed they do not have accessibility policies! We must have accessible materials for all students. Bummer! BTW age and language acquisition are not mutually exclusive. Anybody can learn a language at almost any age. And you already have background knowledge, so that helps.
I would recommend a more leisurely pace and making sure the institution has accessible materials.
XOXO
I wonder if they have something for those people who aren't 20 or 30 years old. I know exactly what you mean about not being able to speak it very well because you're thinking too hard about what to say. That's always my problem. I was very proud of myself once on a visit in France when we stopped at a hotel and I went in to see if they had any rooms. Everything was going perfect until the woman asked me who would be in the room. I could not think of how to say husband. So I froze. Luckily they really appreciated my attempt to speak and gave me a discount on the room, but I will never forget how to say husband ever again. :)
May I suggest a month in Paris, with breakfasts in pastry shops, and leisurely afternoons at sidewalk cafes, it might improve your French, it might not, but it would be fun all the same.
Can't wait to read about your solution....
Even with hearing aids, I can't always make out the words spoken by people I am around. I wonder if an online program would work for you as you could use closed captions or turn up the volume. Also, you could work at your own pace. Good luck!
I am finding that although there are certain things that I used to be capable of and no longer am, there are many things that simply take longer and require work-arounds and perhaps some more creative methods to achieve.
I am looking forward to hearing a happy ending, Debra.
Like Tundra Bunny said, but start a wine tasting club. It will loosen your tongue and you won't worry about what you don't hear. Sante'!
You were so wise to bail on the immersion class this time around rather than sitting quietly for the whole week being intimidated. I'm very glad that you are working on an alternate plan for reviving your French fluency.
I am attempting to learn to speak Swedish for the first time at age 75. It's certainly more difficult than learning Spanish & French were for me in my 20s but I think I am making progress and I really enjoy doing it. I know you will figure out a plan for your French that works for you. Sending you words of encouragement as you figure out what works best for you.
There's no arguing that aging totally sucks ... in any language!
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