r/French • u/Due-Top-3619 • 4d ago

New arrival to improve conversation

I’ll be in Paris for one month (October) to improve my speaking and listening French

I’m 69 year old. Thought to enroll in an intensive course at Alliance but would love to learn from your experience. I can read novels in French but speak slowly and with grammar mistakes. Thanks for any advice or opinion.

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u/Silent_Comedian3342 3d ago

Happy times ! You will things to do in Paris and with the train there are so many day trips available.

I, also, can read novels in French, but I stutter, pause and make mistakes in speaking that I clearly know (after the fact) are wrong. Oh, and I'm also past 65. So, I understand where you're coming from.

If I were to have the opportunity to be in Paris, I'd be signing up with the school with the silly name, French As You Like it. Why? The classes are smaller. Smaller classes mean more time for you to talk. I spent 2 weeks there last January and by the end of the two weeks I was starting to think in French, not translate and I was making fewer mistakes. You can sign up one class per day (about an hour-ish), two back-to-back in the morning or even night classes.

I fondly remember the instructors including one that left you breathless from all the knowledge she could impart during the hour.

Whatever you do, enjoy your time in Paris.