Hello everyone,
Let me tell you something learning a new language is sweet but speaking it in front of people that one na another level of wahala.
Back in secondary school they introduced French to our class me i was excited o, I started dreaming of speaking like those people in French films you know that smooth "bonjour" and “je m’appelle” that sounds like music i was even practicing small French accent when I greet my friends "Bonjouuuur Chidinma!" They go just look me like say I dey mad.
Then one day the French teacher called me out "Omolola, come and read this paragraph for us." My heart dropped but I told myself, “Girl, shine! This is your moment!” I stood up like a confident queen, opened the textbook, and started reading but instead of “Je suis une fille”, I confidently said “Jee swees un fileh.”
My classmates paused then laughter exploded like NEPA just brought light even the teacher bent down behind the desk like she wan faint from laughing. 😭
I was confused I thought I nailed it, One of my friends shouted from the back, “Abeg no kill our French, give am peace!” Another one said, “Omolola just used Ibadan accent to speak Paris language!” 😂
From that day, they started calling me Madam Jee Swees I couldn’t eat my meat in peace again but I didn’t give up I told myself, one day I will speak French so well that even French people will be asking me for lessons.
Fast forward to last year I downloaded Duolingo. Very nice app! The bird kept reminding me every day “Don’t forget your lesson.” I was serious this time. Every morning, I was saying, “Le garçon mange une pomme.” I even started correcting my kids when they speak English. “It’s not ‘apple’, it’s pomme!” 😂
Then one day, in one online business webinar they asked if anyone could greet in French my hand flew up like I was a language expert they gave me the mic i cleared my throat.
“Bonjouuur mesdames et messieurs. Je suis... je suis... ehmm... je mange le poisson et le riz!”
Dead silence.
Then someone unmuted and said, “Wait, are you greeting us or reading a menu?”
I nearly disappeared from shame.
After the meeting, one guy sent me a message: “Next time, just greet us in Yoruba, abeg.” 😭
But you know what? All these things make life sweet at least I tried I may not be fluent but I’m not afraid to speak again I still dey learn French slowly and maybe I will add Korean soon so I can finally understand what those K-drama actors are arguing about.
To anyone reading this if you have ever embarrassed yourself trying to speak another language, don’t worry you’re not alone. Just laugh, learn from it, and try again.
And please, if you hear me say “Jee swees hungry,” just mind your business. I’m bilingual like that. 😂
Thanks for reading
Pixelrise01.
Image AI generated
@powerpaul/engdeu-simple-as-that-stand-out-heres-why-and-how
