– How’s your French coming along, bout de chou*? 🥬

– Meh. I know it’s lurking somewhere in my brain because I recognize stuff when I listen to it, but I can’t speak much yet.

– Have you tried writing?

– I’m not writing for now, actually. I just listen, speak, and read subtitles if I need them. Did you know there’s a ton of research about the harmful effects of correcting language learners?

– What? How would we know when we make mistakes if we don’t get corrected?

– Sooner or later, I suppose. The thing is, I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. That’s why I’m approaching French differently. I used to have an English teacher who seemed good at the time, but the more I learned, the more I realized she was puzzling me.

– I can’t relate. Mine was great.

– How do you know?

– Because we didn’t do drills and there weren’t any assignments.

– Is that how you assess English teachers?

– I passed with flying colors.

– Good for you. I think I’m going to steer clear of French teachers and corrections for now. There’s nothing more discouraging than getting corrected every five words, especially in the early stages.

– I don’t mind getting corrections.

– You do you. I prefer being a happy, motivated low-level French learner to a miserable, frustrated intermediate one.

– You take that too seriously, cochonette.* Just relax.

– That's exactly what I'm doing. What do you think I'm eating this crossant for?

- Errr...

- I know I said it wrong, but I don't care —  it tastes the same.

*bout de chou: little cabage

cochonette: little piggy