It’s spring break week for me, and I’m going to Paris. I will hang out with friends and do some prep work for Paris Sketchbook. Don’t have your seat yet? Get in on the fun here.
I’m looking forward to hosting an apéro dînatoire(1) in my rented apartment. April 28 is Independent Bookstore Day, so we will celebrate with a white elephant book exchange. All this will be a welcome break from the desk. But I’m most eager to practice my French.
In this boost, I share my love of languages and how I keep my learning alive.
To a glorious spring week for you, wherever you are,
Cynthia
(This essay was originally shared as a Boost, my regular boosts sent to subscribers. Get yours first here.
Love of Learning and Languages
I’ve always wanted to learn a lot of languages. Alas, I’m only fluent in French and English. I’ve studied Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian. I’m competent in tourist speak in those languages.
Because I go to France every year, I’ve had the good fortune to keep up my language and culture studies. In France, people tell me, “Mais vous parlez très bien le français!”(2) It’s fun to surprise people with my fluency, and even more, that no one ever guesses that I am American.
When I lived in Lisbon, I took Portuguese classes. But it didn’t stick. Last summer, I dove back in, using the great app Practice Portuguese. Like a miracle, I was able to have conversations everywhere in Portuguese. Sure, it was rudimentary and probably awfully incorrect. But people were patient with me and I believe that most appreciated the effort.
I never considered buffing up my French. Why would I? I am fluent. I learn more every time I speak to a French person. But when I came home last year, I wanted to go further. I know I make mistakes. I know I can be better. Why not have French in my life more than just on my trips?
To be clear, my desire to speak better French isn’t from a drive for perfectionism or even excellence. It’s just pure fun to learn. It’s a blast to speak French – it’s a magic trick that I only get to pull out when I am in France.
Studying French and Portuguese now
So I joined the Alliance Française. I hosted a booth to sell my books at their Holiday Market. But I haven’t taken classes or attended events in the way I had hoped.
Listening to podcasts – Little Slow Talk in French and Les Pieds Sur Terre – give me the chance to hear it and learn more. But speaking – that’s where I need practice.
I discovered italki. This website hosts tutors in many languages. I connected with Mathilde, a young Frenchwoman who lives in Portugal. At an initial meeting, we clicked. Now we meet weekly to discuss a podcast episode or just chat about life.
This is so much fun! Getting practice with moving my mouth’s muscles in French makes a huge difference. I am learning more vocabulary and also getting a sense of my real fluency and blind spots.
This summer, I will delve back into Practice Portuguese and work with a tutor on italki. I’ll be back in Portugal to go on an art retreat, and I will have the occasion to practice. I can’t wait!
If you have a language that’s getting rusty in a closet, italki is a great way to connect with a native speaker and get practice. It’s surprisingly affordable, and the italki platform is easy to use.
Things like this – making little efforts to keep a passion alive – make my life better in ways that are hard to describe. I’m not better-looking. I don’t make more money from this learning. But the best hobbies are just for us, replenishing our joie de vivre(3) and sense of purpose.
1 apéro dînatoire = In France, an apéro is a cocktail party with light snacks like nuts and chips. An apéro dînatoire has more food, similar to tapas.
2 “But you speak French very well!”
3 joy of living
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