Freaking out about French oral exam and studying abroad?

Parents Forum
1

<p>Hello everyone, </p>

<p>Next week, I have my oral exam for my French class, and I'm getting really, really worked up about it. I've posted on this forum before about my anxiety, and if anyone recalls that post, my French class is the one where I had an anxiety attack. I've been more uptight about French since then, but I've been trying to study harder and relax more to ease my nerves. However, I think I did terribly on a test I took earlier this week, and I feel more pressured to do well on the oral exam and the final.</p>

<p>I had an oral exam last semester, but I didn't do so well composure-wise. (I got really nervous in that my mouth got dry, my voice shook, and I started blurting out things that were wrong just so I didn't just sit there) I ended up getting an A anyway, but it was apparent that my professor was soft on me. I have her again this semester, but I don't know if she'd be as compassionate a second time. </p>

<p>How can I better prepare myself? I'm very good with grammar and with reading, but listening and speaking intimidate me. I also tend to just mumble my way through in-class speaking activities because I'm so embarrassed all the time. I'm one of the youngest people in my class, so I just feel weird about being "good" at French when they've been studying it way longer than I have. It's almost like a status-quo thing; the younger student just sits in the back and listens quietly. I know that's terrible, but that's how it works sometimes. </p>

<p>Also, this is a very big problem because I'm studying abroad in France next year. There's no way that I can shut down when I have to live with the language, so I need to get over this fear as soon as possible. My professor told me that she worries about this speaking anxiety, and I know that this is pretty much the only thing that is/could hold me back on studying abroad. </p>

<p>Does anyone have any experiences with this? Have any of your children? </p>

<p>Thank you so much for your time, and I'm sorry if this doesn't belong here. I didn't see a foreign language forum, so I thought I'd post it here.</p>

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<p>I don’t think your problem is with French. I think it’s with situations where you’re the center of attention and speaking. I think it’s likely you may not have the problem to the same severity just walking around France - but in the classroom? That might be different.</p>

<p>My daughter has issues sometimes with stage fright. I got her some private training for “feeling comfortable in your own skin”. The right kind of training can help you change the way you THINK about yourself and your audience, and that begins to help. It can also give you some tools to use - sort of like rituals to go through when you’re getting ready for one of these situations. For example, stretching, deep breathing exercises, clearing your mind, meditations, etc. It sounds sort of silly until you do it and see the results - but it really does help a lot of people. </p>

<p>You might google search " [your city] public speaking counselor". Give them a call and talk to them about your particular dilemna. They may be able to offer some help.</p>

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<p>I agree with cromette, that I think it’s the pressure of the oral exam that’s doing you in. I was always pretty bad at languages, but when I went to live in France (before college) and Germany (after grad school and part of one summer during college) I found the experience was 1000% better than school language classes. My younger son was having a terrible part with the oral part of Arabic classes in college, but I think his big problem is was in understanding more than speaking. </p>

<p>Does your college have anything like a language table. We used to meet once a week to speak French and usually had a French professor come and sit with us. That would give you a little more practice in speaking and listening in an unpressured situation. Otherwise I’d suggest finding tutoring or checking out an international club on campus. </p>

<p>As for being the youngest try not to let it make you feel intimidated. You have every right to get the same amount of practice as everyone else in the class, so try to speak up.</p>