[wes1350]

What you say is very relatable. I did a bit of reading in French after this article, though I haven’t kept up with it. A huge motivation for me while learning was that I wanted to experiment with living in France for at least a year or two after finishing school, to be able to experience living abroad, while speaking a foreign language, before “life happens” and I get too rooted here in the US. That didn’t end up happening (which in hindsight was very fortunate, as my time in France would’ve been severely compromised due to COVID), but is still something I would consider in the future. Of course, visits will certainly be an option in the future.

I’d definitely still say the experience was worth it, given that I still have much of my previous ability and can probably relearn it rather quickly. It certainly is a bit sad to see your skills degrade over time, and this has certainly contributed to some fear of picking up the language again, but that probably goes for most skills and hobbies anyways.

And as you said, I have the same experience whenever someone asks me about my language learning experience —- I always mention how rusty I am these days, and there’s a nagging feeling I need to shake off the rust so I don’t have to say that anymore. But in the end, I guess we have to settle for doing whatever we think is best in the moment, and if it’s important enough, we can always pick it up again some day.

[lhorie]

Native speakers are often very forgiving about rustiness (even enthusiastic that you've taken the time to learn the language at all). I tend to think of rustiness as a function of how actually invested I am in the culture.

At this point, I suffer from the opposite problem: I've invested so much of my life into english (which is a second language for me) that I'm now losing vocabulary in my native tongue. I don't even regret it that much; language isn't really about the bragging rights, and how one feels about language shouldn't center around their ability to use it as a party trick IMHO. Instead, I think a healthier way to think about languages is to just see them as what they are: tools to communicate with the people around you. What you said about doing what's best in the moment is pretty spot on. Live in the moment, and let your language skills reflect from that.

[VSerge]

Hi, first off thanks for sharing, both the original post, and on your practice / rustiness since. Would or has any game-based learning made sense for you? I mean by this either playing RPG or story-rich games in French for practice, or playing games made for learning/practicing (like Conjugo Speed for conjugation).

Bravo et bonne continuation!