Mon Voyage Linguistique, My Language Journey

Bonjour, mes amis ! I have to admit that I haven’t shared much for the past few months, so it’s time I share a little update with my friends.

I finally decided to sign up for French classes in September, so I’ve been immersed in improving my French. I’ve been taking online classes with Lingoda three times a week. After researching countless platforms with tutors and found that this format suits me best. Their courses are organized into chapters by language level, and each lesson includes live online practice with a teacher.

LINGODA:

To be completely transparent, I started this blog post just to give an update and realized that since I really do support the Lingoda format for language learning, I might as well reach out to them to find out if I could affiliate myself with them. They responded positively, so if you have a New Year’s resolution to learn a new language or level up on a language you are familiar with, I have an offer for you! Click on the orange link below:

One of the things I love is the diversity of the teachers. They’re based all around the world, so I rarely have the same instructor twice in a row. One class might be led by a French native living in France, another by a French native living in Thailand, Mexico, or even a Francophone African from a country like Cameroon. This exposure helps me get used to different accents and teaching styles, making the experience even richer. 

To make the most of the classes, I spend time reviewing and studying the material beforehand. Classes are kept small, with a maximum of five students, but often there are fewer. Lingoda also offers the flexibility to exchange group class credits for private lessons (three group credits equal one private lesson), which I’ve done several times.

I tested last year at an A2 level (elementary proficiency) and I decided to begin at my comfort level for a thorough review. Much of the material felt familiar—I had learned it in high school—but that was decades ago, and we barely practiced speaking back then. With these classes, I’m already improving my speaking flow so I can express myself without overthinking. The conversational practice has been invaluable, and I’ve also noticed real progress with my listening skills.

One highlight of my experience was taking three consecutive classes with one of my favorite teachers, a French native living in Thailand. She encouraged me to push myself and suggested I try higher-level classes. While I was hesitant at first, Lingoda’s flexibility allowed me to experiment. I booked two B1-level classes (intermediate proficiency) on the theme of the environment. These sessions featured longer paragraphs and more complex speaking exercises. Although I understood everything, it was definitely challenging—unlike the A2 classes, where I feel like a genius!

The B1 classes were a success, but they left me feeling slightly overwhelmed, so I decided to mix in A2 classes for balance. This way, I can challenge myself while still building confidence. 

As the year comes to a close, I’m feeling grateful for the progress I’ve made and excited for the opportunities to keep improving in the months ahead. To all my readers, whether you’re learning a language, pursuing a dream, or simply navigating life’s twists and turns, I hope you find joy and success in your journey too.

Wishing you all Joyeuses Fêtes (Happy Holidays) and a Bonne Année (Happy New Year)! May 2024 be filled with happiness, growth, and new adventures for us all.

Merci beaucoup for following along, and I can’t wait to share more updates with you in the year to come. À bientôt !