I'm finding this course the hardest thing I have studied. I understand what I read and I understand the grammar in the lessons. But my mind seems to move so slowly. What makes sense in theory, refuses to work in practice. I feel like someone watching an ice skater effortlessly glide around the rink. It looks easy. I step on to the ice and fall on my face and all I can do is hang on to the wall at the edge or crawl on hands and knees.
I listen repeatedly and sometimes I understand in the first attempt, sometimes two or three times later, I still don't get all the words. Reading is relatively straightforward. The words wait patiently on the page and I can move at my own speed. Speaking is daunting and I find myself making stupid mistakes, forgetting things I know perfectly well. Writing is painful and frustrating as I feel this area at least should be less challenging. The simplest description becomes wooden and repetitive.
I've left my comfort zone far behind, in this attempt to speak more than holiday French.
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If you love the subject, I'm sure it'll all click into place soon! You sound like you're making a fantastic effort!!
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Thanks Ruth.
This is my first blog and I am finding really useful to reflect on what I am finding difficult and what's going well. It makes me stop and think about the learning experience. I hope when I get to June 2015 and re-read my early posts, I will be amazed how much I have progressed.
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Good luck. I'm on L120 and struggle with the grammar big time. I can never understand 'why', only that one thing souns right and the other doesn't - this means a huge amount of immersion so that things drop into place naturally. Like learning to dance. I can't dance either
A little magic does start to happen, as if a fog clears to reveal the landscape beyond and you find for the very first time you think and even dream in French without realising it, or you read or hesr a bit of French which is so easily understood you are certain it was in English.
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Thanks Jonathan
I find grammar is just one of those things you have to accept without question. There's only one answer to Why? - It's "Just 'cos". Like the answer to a small child with lots of questions. You are quite right, it's all about immersion as much as possible, until it happens without thinking.