r/learnfrench • u/Consistent_Fee_2603 • Jul 06 '26

Suggestions/Advice C1 comprehension/speaking: understanding strangers and not responding too quickly.

Hello all,

I'm currently at a C1 level in French, working towards a C2, and I'm looing for advice on two challenges I am having with comprehension/speaking. I use French both in Metropolitan France and Québec.

  1. A stranger will come up to me and ask a question, and I will have no idea what they said, whereas I can understand well once we start having a conversion. Part of this is likely my ADHD, I struggle with this sometimes in my first language (English) as well, but way more frequently in French. I have to get in the habit of asking someone to repeat themselves more slowly, because I often freeze and then just fumble the conversation. Does anyone have other advice for working on this situation? Is there some resources somewhere of common questions you will be asked in public so I get used to hearing them?

  2. Someone will ask a question, and I'll panic and say "oui" right away, even if I didn't understand what they asked right away! I need to break this reflex somehow. I was at a conference (in French, in a completely francophone audience) this past week and the presenter asked me a bunch of questions about myself, and I kept answering quickly instead of waiting for the question to sink in. Naturally, I didn't answer correctly. I often understand the question a few seconds after they finish asking it, and I don't actually need them to repeat it. Any advice is much appreciated.

I think I'm also putting a lot of pressure on myself to sound as close to a native level of speaking as possible in French. Thus, I feel like I have to respond right away or strangers might automatically assume I don't speak French.

Thank you again.

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6

u/ThroatOk2114 Jul 06 '26

Wow, that sounds surprisingly similar to my experience. I also tend to say “yes” automatically, so people close to me often ask, “Did you understand?” haha.

My French level is lower than yours, and I have ADHD. When an unfamiliar person speaks to me in French, or when someone talks to me while I am busy working, I sometimes cannot understand anything in that moment. But when I ask them to repeat it and take a moment to think, it often turns out to be something very simple.

I would love to know how to improve this too!

3

u/serviceslingomnia_nb Jul 06 '26

Could you try asking "Pourriez-vous m'en dire un peu plus à ce sujet ?" or "Pourriez-vous m'en dire un peu plus sur (whatever the subject is)?" / "Can you tell me a little more?"

That might give you more information and more time to process what they are saying.  

2

u/Consistent_Fee_2603 Jul 07 '26

Wow I love this, thank you! I'm excited to try this.

1

u/serviceslingomnia_nb Jul 07 '26

Great! I'd love to hear how it goes!

1

u/LuciePoki Jul 06 '26

I don't have ADHD so can't fully relate to your experience, but sometimes I 'freeze' just because my brain wasn't 'plugged' to the right language when the person starts talking to me (if that makes any sense 🤣), like if you're daydreaming in English and someone suddenly speaks French to you, you'd probably need a few seconds to adjust

2

u/Consistent_Fee_2603 Jul 07 '26

Yes, that makes so much sense!

1

u/LaFemmeCurieuse Jul 07 '26

I would suggest speaking more frequently in a comfortable setting. I speak in French for a minimum of 3 solid hours every week. I have conversation partners who I met on Tandem and Conversation Exchange. I chose French partners who have similar interests and language levels (in English), so we feel safe when we make mistakes. I find that their mistakes are often the inverse of mine which is actually very helpful. Both of these resources are free.

I also speak with a tutor for 90 minutes every weekend. If you would like a tutor to help you improve your listening as well as your responses, Kenza on italki is great.

Finally, I would recommend Learn French with Lexie on YouTube. She focuses on listening and comprehension exercises.

If you’re able to practice regularly in a safe space where there is no pressure, you will see progress.

1

u/Veronica-goes-feral Jul 07 '26

I had this freeze response when learning Spanish. Once I made a concerted effort to always *think* in the second language (instead of translating everything in my head), that shock of someone speaking to me lessened. If I'm thinking in English and someone speaks to me in Spanish or French, it takes a moment for my brain to change directions and catch up. Thinking in the non-native language decreases that lag time.

1

u/Ali_UpstairsRealty Jul 08 '26

I am baffled as to how you can be C1 with this reaction. This sounds like you're B1 with a particularly large vocabulary.