Bonjour! French was my second language of choice in high school, and I have always loved learning new languages.
After graduation, I lived in Quebec City for a year. I was discerning what to do with my life, while at the same time using the language I had learnt by immersing myself in a French-speaking city. It took some time, but my fluency improved once I got over the fact that I wouldn’t sound perfect and would sometimes make mistakes.
My mental health was stable at the time as I continued to take the prescribed medication that my doctor had given me. The mental stimulation of learning a language was amazing for me as I was able to experience new cultures and meet new people. It boosted my sense of self-worth, and I began to think I could do anything I set my mind on.
The first few weeks after my arrival, I nodded my head a lot and said “oui,” which means “yes.” However, over time, I became more comfortable and could speak in full sentences. I even joined a choir and sang in French!
I met my friend Isabelle at the convent I was living at in Quebec City. She took me under her wing, and I learned so much from her. She was like an older sister. We would get into trouble if we sat beside each other during vespers. We would fall into fits of laughter with something setting us off, and one of us would have to leave quickly.
We had so much fun in the snow during the winter and the sun in the spring. We would walk to the Diocese of Quebec, where I was working to help prepare for the 49th Eucharistic Congress. There were days of really bad weather with ice covering trees and roads or snow constantly falling. One of my favourite walks was to the Plains de Abraham. There were beautiful gardens flowering in the spring, and it was not a far walk from the convent. It was through this friendship that my knowledge of French really flourished!
Once I was back in British Columbia, I signed up for a conversational French night. Taking the courses was something I enjoyed and where I made a friend named Sophie. This new friendship allowed me to practice my French, as when we met up, we would only try to speak in French.
Lately, I listen to a Duolingo French podcast that has a host narrating the context in English. Through this app, I learn about many different people living in France and other French-speaking countries. On the podcast, I heard a story about someone who won the honour of baking baguettes for the Prime Minister and Simone Hérault, the voice of France, who does voice-over for the national French railway.
My world has expanded and opened up to many new people and experiences that I couldn’t have had if I had stuck with one language. It has also helped me empathize with others who are learning to speak English.
I want to continue to get better at speaking French, but not only French – Spanish and Italian also! I love the idea of being a polyglot, someone who speaks several languages.
The most valuable thing about language learning for me is the mental stimulation and feelings of self-worth that I receive from it. Not only does learning to speak a different language allow your mind to grow, but your mental health also improves. It’s a win-win opportunity.
Currently, I am reading a board book to my daughter called “Baby Go, France.” It is a cute book with French words spread throughout. My favourite words to speak out loud for her are from la boulangerie (the bakery), “Babies eat un croissant, deux macarons, trois pains au chocolat, quatre beignets et cinq biscuits”, as the pictures make me hungry for baked treats.
My hope is to pass on my lifelong love of learning to my daughter and for her to enjoy language learning too. It’s not just about learning the language, but how the mind works when you discover more ways to speak.
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