To want to be fluent in French

[Subeccoo]

I'm pretty good at French but don't have the opportunity to practice speaking much. I've done a test with the institut francais which places me at B1 which is intermediate.

I'm booked on a 5x Saturday course in London to progress but it's not for a while, and I don't actually live in London so it's a pretty big deal. Where I do live there is nothing, no French speaking conversational groups, no night classes, not really any tutors although private tutoring isn't really what I want.

So I'm reading books, listening to audio lessons in my car, practicing duolingo every day, etc etc
Anyone have any more tips? I work in a school so was gonna look for a summer job in France (?? Don't know if they exist!) But my daughter is having a baby this summer so can't do that this year!

Merci!!

What about iTalki? This can give you the speaking practice you need.

Post on your local FB or similar for any native speakers who would be willing to do some conversation practice with you

Podcasts. I teach French and German, but am teaching myself Spanish (from total beginner, but obviously my French gives me a big leg-up). I find listening to intermediate to advanced level podcasts really good. I also have an app which allows me to listen to loads of different Spanish radio stations.

Thanks!! I'd never heard of italki, interesting I will look properly later.
I'm off out for the day so won't be able to reply much but really appreciate any suggestions!!

Came on to mention italki too - I use it for one-to-one skype lessons. Means I can study a language where there are no classes outside London or the country itself. Prices vary according to language and teacher, but you can schedule lessons more or less frequently depending on budget. There is language exchange too, and that is free.

I’ve had a few different teachers now, and couldn’t recommend it enough.

Absolutely loads of stuff on YouTube (lessons, grammar, TV programmes) for Spanish so I presume for French as well. You can often switch subtitles on, either in English or the language you’re listening to - apparently if you’re hearing the foreign language but reading the subtitles in your own language it helps you improve your comprehension more quickly (or so my Spanish teacher said).

An intensive language course in a French city. If you could spare the time/ afford a two week course you'd improve hugely. Also on these courses they tend to arrange afternoon activities with the teachers so you really are submerged for the whole time. I'm fluent in French and I'm a B1 in Spanish when I want to get fluent. I've just done a week long course in spain and can't believe how much I've learnt. I'm hoping next summer to book up for 3 -4 weeks and I think I'll be fluent by then.

Watching with interest as I’d love to improve mine, though am a bit time poor with two tiny DC!

We had booked to go to a language school in October (Coeur de France in Sancerre) but now I’m bloody up the duff so we cancelled (cost and I don’t know how tired I’ll be). Reviews I’ve seen have said that 2-4 weeks solid French speaking really helps accelerate the fluency.

I also do a class once a week. There are five of us and the teacher is French. That’s also helped.

I think once you’ve got the grammar then all you can do is speak, speak, speak. I also try and alternate novels and films French and English. If you’re B1 you should be able to manage some novels.

I live in rural France and use an online classroom called Lingoda it's with native speaking French teachers and each class is an hour, as you know your level it'll be pretty easy to get registered too, can use the discount code (9pfmvr) will get you €50 off your first 10 classes I think 🙂 honestly I love it and it's helped give me confidence and also keeping me speaking French on days when I'm in my English speaking house so I don't get rusty.
As for summer jobs it depends, if you're looking to get paid not sure but websites like work away have jobs where you work and get food & accommodation usually at someone's home helping out and doing language exchange etc.

Sorry, had to post too soon as catching plane. The 2 Spanish courses that I have done also offer accommodation with a host family as an option. I didn't want to do this but I imagine that it would be even better if you did - total immersion; like a school exchange but for mums! I went with an organisation called Golearnto and on both courses the teachers were amazing. I'm sure if you Google there will be lots of other organisations that do it though. I liked the fact that you can choose to do other things in the afternoon though e.g. Spanish cookery, flamenco dancing etc. I had also expected everyone else to be really young but there was a real mixture of ages - I guess that's just pot luck though.

I would also advise you to get a good grammar / exercise book - I like Collins and try to work through it every day. Also, if you've got Netflix watch as many French series and films as you can.

The main thing is that you are motivated to learn and so it is perfectly possible for you to become fluent even as an adult.

Bon courage!

On the Duolingo forums there are sometimes offers to meet up with other people interested in the same language