Speaking Activity

Select one speaking activity from the suggestions in the article, or come up with an activity to practice speaking in your target language. Spend at least a half-hour (all at once, or spread out over several days) on the speaking activity.

Write one to two paragraphs about your speaking activity. Describe your activity, with whom you spoke, how you think you did, and how you felt about speaking.

I chose to speak French with one of my fellow French students, Greg. I felt very uncomfortable in the beginning, as I have trouble thinking and speaking off the top of my head, but the longer I speak French the more it seems to come naturally and I begin to actually think in French rather than in English. I find that I tend to keep going back to the more comfortable words/phrases—the ones I learned years ago—rather than the new ones we’re learning in class. My grammar seemed to have improved since my last real French conversation, but I took a little more time thinking about things (because we’ve learned so many new “rules” in class this year). My accent has improved GREATLY, mostly because I’m becoming less embarrassed about speaking after having practiced in class.