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In episode 11, the first of a two-part series, Mimi and Suzy share their personal journeys learning French both before and after moving to France. They reflect on the challenges of grammar, pronunciation, and cultural expectations, as well as the emotional and practical realities of trying to become fluent in a language that often feels endless. With two very different learning paths—one self-taught through immersion, the other shaped by years of formal study—they discuss what helped, what didn’t, and why learning French is about more than just vocabulary and verbs.

Keywords

Learning French, French language, living in France, French grammar, language learning, subjunctive, French pronunciation, identity, classism, Duolingo, French culture, French integration, moving to France, bilingualism, French language trauma, French language tips, Beauty and the Beast, foreigners in France, multilingual life, French vocabulary, French fluency, cultural adaptation.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction & Listener Shoutout
01:30 – Why We’re Talking About Learning French
02:30 – Language Test Stress
04:00 – Is French Hard to Learn?
05:20 – The Subjunctive Struggle
06:45 – Mimi's Self-Taught Journey
13:00 – Suzy’s Structured Language Path
19:30 – Time, Fluency, and Frustration
22:30 – Language, Identity, and Confidence
26:00 – La Dictée
30:00 – Grammar and Class in France
36:00 – The Culture of Eloquence
40:30 – Tools That Actually Helped
47:00 – What to Avoid When Learning French
51:30 – Looking Ahead to Part Two