Most days, I love living in a French speaking country. But some days, my French just doesn’t work. On these days, I have to really make an effort to put myself in situations where I will have to encounter French. It’s not enough to simply exist here.
Speaking beginner French in Switzerland
In Lausanne, most people speak French to me even when they hear how American I am (spoiler: very; my French accent is basically nonexistent), which is helpful. The vast majority of people I encounter while trying to do daily tasks treat me as any other customer, and for that, I am grateful (except for that one doner kebab guy who was a giant jerk when I used the wrong pronoun, but I chalk that up to his individual personality more than anything else). Lausanne is a good place to be if you want a lot of practice talking. In Geneva, most people switch to English right away. I can’t blame them — they might assume I’m a tourist or think that it’s kinder to not watch me struggle.
Progress, not perfection when speaking a second language
Learning a language is not about perfection, which is hard for me. It’s about trying and seeing what happens. If I strive for perfection, I won’t ever try. I don’t love the uncertainty of how an interaction might go, but I do love the feeling of accomplishment that comes with a language win, no matter how big or small. Sometimes my win is big, like I managed to get a prescription from the pharmacist while asking follow up questions. Sometimes the win is small, like asking where the bathroom is and then actually being able to find it based on how I understood the directions. Now that I think about it, maybe that’s a big win too. I guess it depends on how dire the situation is…
Anyway, the point is this: take the win. Maybe making the effort at all is a win some days, and that is totally okay.
Speak it into existence
- Go to the farmers market in La Place de la Riponne on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Visit five stands and speak French for as long as you can.
- Go to the Ouchy promenade on a sunny day and order an ice cream cone in French, but first, ask questions about the other flavors in the case.
- Visit Cafe de Prelaz for happy hour and order a drink. Take a French book with you to study.
- Every time you visit a grocery store, ask where a product is. Even if you know where it is, ask. You need to practice.
- Visit the library and browse the extensive graphic novel section. It’s pretty big and includes many different reading levels. And it’s right next to the English section, in case you just want some comfort books too.
- Listen to live music at the farmers market in Prilly. You might hear French lyrics sung by the musicians, or during announcements made by the organizers.
- Order a pizza from the medieval oven in Prilly. When you pick it up, you’ll be able to speak French.
- Go to Osio for a snack. The staff doesn’t speak much English, so you know you’ll have to speak French. Take your study materials too — their cafe is big, airy, and has lots of tables on two floors to enjoy.
- Take a yoga class in French! Place your mat in the middle of the class so you can watch other people if you get confused. Plus, yogis are used to people doing their own thing in class, so no pressure to listen perfectly.
- Don’t put headphones in the next time you take the bus. Try to eavesdrop. Not like I do this or anything. An absurd suggestion. It would just maybe probably work.
- Watch a French Netflix show — my favorite is Plan Cœur — and write down all the words you don’t know to look up later. Then actually look them up. (That last sentence was more for me than anyone else.)
- Take those Lidl mailers and circle the words on the American food section you don’t know, look up the definition, and then go to Lidl and buy some of them. Have a good laugh with your pizza donut. (I’m pretty sure they mean pizza bagel…?)
- Write a note to your neighbor in French introducing yourself. I’ve gone months without seeing my neighbors at all, so it’s a nice gesture. And you’ll get to practice writing full sentences.
- Take yourself clothes shopping and ask for help finding something. Tell the employee what you like and what you don’t like. I’ve encountered shop employees that are happy to help and very understanding. Bonus: you get to work on your European wardrobe while practicing French.
- Take a cooking class in French. L’Ecole-club Migros has a whole list of classes that change every few months. I attended a class where I got to learn how to make Alpine macaroni, a Swiss winter staple. Think super rich mac and cheese with potatoes, onions, and bacon with a dollop of applesauce on the top. It’s heavenly.
American Girl in Switzerland 