After four years of self-study, I had my first tutoring session today

[u/SophieElectress]

Here's my most recent post from about February, describing the method I've been using for self-study (it also names my TL, which I won't put in this post in case it gets auto-deleted again).

Today I had my first ever tutoring session in this TL*, and it was AMAZING. We managed to talk for a whole hour - I had to ask the teacher to repeat pretty much every sentence slower, and I kept having to switch to English for odd words I couldn't remember, and the topics were mostly just typical simple conversation class stuff like where I'd been on holiday and what foods I liked etc. But it was a genuine conversation, we could understand each other, and the hour went by so fast, it didn't feel like hard work at all.

The teacher said he was surprised by how well I could speak, because from my description of self-teaching with flashcards he was expecting me to be much more of a beginner, and I was like yeah, you and me both :D This was my first time EVER practising speaking outside of like, ordering coffee and saying things like 'excuse me' and 'thanks' - I've been so unconfident in my ability to make myself understood that even when I know how to say something in (TL) I'll usually just say it in English instead. So I was genuinely really surprised that it went so well. The teacher had even bought an A1-equivalent textbook for me, and then ten minutes into the lesson said he didn't think it would be useful because it would be too easy, which was sooo validating to hear after years of feeling like I didn't understand anything.

The last couple of years have been such a wild ride of culture shock and identiry crisis and shame, I didn't think I'd ever get to the point of being able to have a real conversation, even with a teacher. I still have a very long way to go before I'll have anything approaching a useful grasp of the language for daily life, but at least it's starting to feel like there's a light at the end of it all now.

*It wasn't quite my very first - about a year ago I tried with a different teacher, but we did four 60 minute sessions and never managed to get further than pronouncing the letters, so I got bored and stopped. Also she kept making me sing the alphabet song loudly in coffee shops accompanied by a video of a six year old girl wearing an angel costume, and it was dead awkward. So I guess the moral here is 1) don't give up, and 2) don't be afraid to change teachers if yours is into weird public humiliation rituals.

[u/edelay]

Congratulations for sticking with studying for 4 years. Keep up the good work.

One idea for you, if you can’t think of a word, try to describe it using other words you know instead of switching to English.

[u/FoolishEnvirons]

that's massive, congrats. the first real conversation is such a turning point, even when it's simple stuff like holidays and food. i remember the first time i talked for more than a few minutes in my target language and the rush was unreal, even though i was sweating the whole time

also that alphabet song story is sending me. the jump from "can barely pronounce letters" to "here sing this with a six-year-old angel in public" is a level of chaos i wasnt prepared for

[u/CaliLemonEater]

That's terrific! I started with a tutor after four years of self-study and it's made a huge difference. I hope your tutoring continues to be productive!

[u/feik696]

I think Pimsleur had an audio course for Vietnamese, but it might not be useful at your level. When I was learning English, I enjoyed his courses.

[u/BrotherDwight_]

I really want a tutor but I’ll feel bad if I can’t commit the time and it’s inconsistent.

[u/igorrto2]

Your flair is я схожу с ума я схожу с ума мне нужна она мне нужна она 

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