I recently attended a book club that I've been part of for a while now, that focuses on francophone Québécois writers. I chose this book club in particular because I wanted a space in which I could speak about a topic I love (literature) in a language that I love (French).
Before the very first meeting I attended, it was a bit daunting to put myself in a space where I was the only one whose mother tongue wasn't French. I was thinking about my accent, and my French, and I was feeling stressed leading up to the discussion.
Over time and thanks to becoming a coach, I've been able to transform my mindset so that when linguistic insecurities arise, I can acknowledge them and still move forward with my intention. This is the power of building linguistic resilience, and it's something that I'm grateful to be able to help my clients with, too.
Have you ever been the only one with a non-native accent in the room? Perhaps in a meeting at work, or at the dinner table with your extended family? When this happens, it's so easy to feel like the odd one out, and to feel insecure about our abilities. That's why I wanted to share a small but powerful reframe to work towards: what if your singular presence, your accent, your way of speaking differently, was actually an inspiration to those around you?
Whenever I'm in social situations, or professional contexts, and I hear someone with an accent speak up and contribute to the conversation, I feel admiration. There's something inside of me that lights up when I witness another person claim their voice in another language.
So next time you're that person, courageously speaking up even if you feel stress or uncertainty, remember this: there is at least one person who sees you and is cheering you on. :)
Interested in finding out more? Book a free consultation with me to see how I can help you speak French with confidence: