6a

Recording 6A

I’m a French teacher, but I remember when I first started to learn the language, I really struggled with it. I didn’t really have a problem with the pronunciation like the other kids in my class, I was just overwhelmed by all of the vocabulary.

But I persevered and soon I was scoring ten out of ten in all of the tests. By the time I got university I could produce essays and translate 18th-century texts without much difficulty and I actually enjoyed learning the grammar rules.

Then, as part of my university course I had to go and live in France for a year. That’s when I learned that communication was more important than accuracy.

As soon as I arrived, I realised I didn’t know how to order the type of coffee I liked, and trying to find accommodation was a nightmare. I called people about ads in the paper, but I had to keep putting the phone down because I couldn’t understand a word they were saying − they all spoke so quickly!

There was a very real language barrier. I could see then that there’s no point in just knowing words if you can’t hold a conversation with a native speaker.

Fluency is what helps you to function properly − it’s what helps you get a job, hold a conversation or just buy the things you need.