Hi all. September 2017 i moved from London to Saint Nazaire with my French partner. I spoke very little French before arriving
When I shared little worries or nerves with family & friends over learning the French language, all said ‘you'll pick up it up easily, no worry!' and back in September my French in laws said ‘en trois/quatre mois tu parleras très bien, c'est pas grave!'. It's five months on and I feel all is pas très bien! Im at basic level and have simple conversations.
I am improving, slowly; I go to French classes three mornings a week, speak in French at home (we have to keep dragging ourselves back to French as we always slip into English unknowingly!), I read kids books from the supermarché, practice writing etc. But I feel I'm not picking up this beautiful language quickly enough to adapt and inttergrate well here, or learning as quick as others seem to learn a new language.
I like France, I enjoy so much living in the country side, so happy to be with my partner, think the food is fab, have met lots of lovely new family, yet I'm still very much struggling to adjust to the new life. I feel the language barrier is a huge part of it.
Do others feel the same? And how did you overcome the difficulties? Would love to hear of others experiences, hope I'm not the only one who has found it a little tricky at the start.
Thank you