Coucou les French learners,

Are you ready to speak French this year? I know you probably are but you may have this fear of speaking and making mistakes.

I have the answer for you.

Remember, you speak when you feel ready to. Do not force yourself to speak if you are not ready yet. You will feel it in your gut! #trusttheprocess

To overcome your fear of speaking French, start by reading aloud.

When you read a text aloud, you are in the comfort of your home. Nobody will judge you. You are safe.

You do not need to think about what you want to say because you are reading French content. You just need to comprehend what you are reading. And when you understand what you read, you brain acquires the new language, the new words and structures.

In the last Instant Thé I share with you 3 steps to make reading aloud efficient so that you overcome your fear of speaking French.

These 3 steps are based on a method developed by Doctor Roger Vittoz in Switzerland to help his patients overcome nervous illnesses. You can find more information about this method in this French article.

You can also read Vivre pleinement l’instant – La méthode Vittoz by Martine Mingant.

Lis à voix basse

Choose a story. Even if you are at an advanced level of comprehension, I would suggest you start with an easy story. When you are a member of our community, choose a Baby Story to start with. It will boost your confidence.

Sit comfortably. Take the time to breathe and relax and be in the moment. My Dear Man and I have designed breathing videos for the Community Members to relax and focus before starting a French session.

Read quietly. Make sure you understand what you are reading. Acquisition happens then! #inputaloneissufficient

Lis à voix haute consciemment

Read the story aloud. Be aware of your mouth, your tongue, your lips, your voice.

How is the sound of your voice when you speak French? Where is the tongue in your mouth? How are your lips? How do they move? Notice all these new sensations.

Lis à voix haute devant un public

Read aloud again. Pretend you are reading in front of a public. Read as if you were telling the story to someone or an audience.

If you feel comfortable, you can read the text to someone you trust.

Ask yourself what you remember from the story. You can try to retell the story (without looking at the text!) or you can say a few words about the story. You can also change the title of the story.

Following those 3 steps will boost your memory, enhance your concentration and develop your critical-thinking skills. You will become confident to speak French.

Let me know how it goes!

Review of the week

Terry shared:

I did want to tell you that my French teacher, who I Zoom with each week, has been very pleased about how much my understanding and speaking has improved. I have been watching Alice’s videos twice a day almost every day. I am so pleased. This program is working very well for me!