” Is This Normal? Or Am I a Lost Case? ” This is a question I sense very often in discovery calls, even when it isn’t said out loud.
What I also notice is that many people tend to censor themselves a little, almost out of fear of “scaring me off” because they are struggling to learn French.
They don’t always dare to say things like:
😬“I don’t really know anything about grammar.”
😣“I’ve been living in France for years and I haven’t really done anything to improve my French.”
🫣“I don’t do anything to practice French in my daily life.”
🤭“I didn’t enjoy learning French with my previous teachers.”
😣” I’m afraid I’ll be forced to do things I don’t like in French classes.”
🤫“I find textbook activities boring.”
🫣“I get bored in French classes.”
🥺“I’m not sure I’m capable of learning this.”
And I want to tell you something very clearly: none of this scares me.
In fact, I’ll tell you why: YOU-ARE-NOT-ALONE.
1- Struggling to learn French doesn’t make you a lost case!
Most of the people who come to me are not experiencing smooth, natural, effortless learning… quite the opposite.
A large part of my clients come to me because they are struggling with French in one way or another:
- → lack of motivation
- → no clear strategy or not knowing what to do to improve
- → speaking blocks
- → fear of not being able to learn
- → having tried many types of courses without success
- → motivation damaged by past “failures”
- → feeling lost or panicked when grammar comes into the picture
These difficulties are not unusual. Many adults struggle to learn French or any other new language, especially when it is their first real experience of language learning.
So there is no need to hide your doubts, frustrations or lack of progress when you start looking for support.
2- Your difficulties are information
There is no shame in expressing your doubts and difficulties. In fact, it can be the starting point for finding solutions that actually work for you.
Your fears and frustrations are not obstacles to hide from: they are information.
And inside that information, there are often clues about what needs to change.
Maybe you don’t need another traditional class. Maybe you need a different way of practicing. Maybe you need a clearer strategy. Maybe something about the way you have experienced language learning in the past is affecting how you approach it today.
You don’t need to have all the answers before asking for help.
3- Where you are today is not the final picture
It can be easy to look at your current level and assume that this is simply how things are going to stay.
But where you are today is not the final picture.
There are ways forward, and very often they are simpler than what you imagine.
You don’t have to arrive at a discovery call with the perfect explanation of what is wrong, a clear learning strategy, or a list of things you are already doing well.
You can simply show up with your doubts, your frustrations, your questions and your “I don’t know what to do anymore.”
That is enough to start.
You don’t have to figure it all out alone
So, if you are struggling to learn French and ever wondered:
“Is this normal? Or am I a lost case?” I hope the answer is clear.
You are not alone, and your current struggles don’t define what you are capable of learning.
If you’d like support with your French journey, let’s talk.
Sending a virtual hug to all of you who are struggling right now.
I’m with you, and I’ll keep sharing support and tools to help you slowly, gently, put one word after another.
