Belonging in a second language is a space we inhabit, and one that we can choose to create for ourselves.
Oftentimes though, as second language speakers, we feel that as long as we have an accent, or as long as we keep getting asked “where are you from?”, a sense of belonging in that second language feels impossible.
I love the way that anglophone-turned-francophone Canadian writer Nancy Huston wrote about accents in her book Nord Perdu (1999).
What would it be like to approach accents from Huston’s viewpoint? Rather than using accents to measure one’s sense of belonging to a specific place, what if we recognized their power to convey unique linguistic journeys?
Picture yourself speaking in your second language, accent and all.
What would it feel like if you met your accent with appreciation and acceptance, rather than judgement?
How would that change how you show up to conversations with native speakers?
Interested in finding out more? Book a free consultation with me to see how I can help you speak French with confidence: