I Understand French but Can’t Speak or Write It

Hi everyone,

A few years ago, I was introduced to French music by a friend who lived in Morocco for over a decade. He often spoke French with his friends, and I found myself inspired to dive into the language on my own. What started as casually translating French rap lyrics turned into a much deeper journey.

Over time, I’ve learned more French than I ever thought possible. I immersed myself in the language by: • Translating full songs to understand the meaning behind the lyrics. • Watching French movies and TV shows with French subtitles (and sometimes English). • Switching my phone and apps to French to absorb the language in everyday contexts.

This approach has given me a massive vocabulary—probably at a B1 level. I can understand about 80% of spoken French during conversations, with the rest being filled in from context. I can also read fairly long paragraphs and understand them fully.

But here’s the problem: I can’t speak or write.

Where I’m Struggling • Speaking: Despite my strong comprehension, forming sentences in French is a major challenge. Even though I know a lot of vocabulary, I can’t seem to recall it in the moment or structure it properly. It takes me a long time to put thoughts together, and by the time I do, the conversation has already moved on. • Grammar: I have a basic understanding of A1-level grammar. I know many verbs and can recognize their meanings when I read them, but I don’t know how to conjugate them properly in conversation. If someone says or writes a verb, I understand it immediately, but recalling the correct forms when I’m speaking feels impossible. The problem isn’t limited to verbs—I also struggle with sentence structure. When I read a paragraph in French, I can understand it fully, but if I had to write it myself, I wouldn’t know where to start. I have trouble figuring out: • The correct order of words. • Which words to shorten (and when). • How to handle things like prepositions and articles. • All the little rules and nuances that make French what it is.

It feels like there’s a huge gap between what I can understand and what I can produce.

What I Want to Achieve

At this point, I want to become conversationally fluent in French—not perfect, but good enough to hold everyday conversations with confidence. I want to be able to express myself clearly, both in speaking and writing.

Why I’m Stuck

I know I need to focus on grammar and sentence structure, but I have no idea where to start or how to build a plan. For example: • Should I focus on mastering the present tense first and then move on to past and future? • How do I integrate grammar practice with speaking and writing? • How can I balance all the different elements of language learning (grammar, vocabulary, speaking, listening, and writing) without feeling overwhelmed?

I’ve tried watching YouTube lessons, but the playlists are often unstructured. I’ll find dozens of grammar videos, but there’s no clear order or logical progression. I also started using apps like HelloTalk to connect with French speakers, but I feel awkward because I take so long to form responses.

How You Can Help

If you’ve been in a similar situation or have experience learning French, I’d really appreciate your advice. Specifically: 1. What’s the best way to structure grammar learning? (e.g., Should I start with present tense verbs and gradually add more complexity?) 2. Are there any resources (books, websites, or apps) that provide a clear, step-by-step learning path? 3. How can I incorporate speaking and writing practice into my routine, even though I feel unprepared? 4. Any tips or strategies for bridging the gap between comprehension and production (speaking and writing)?

Why This Matters

I’ve come so far without a formal plan, and it amazes me how much I’ve learned just through immersion. But now I’m ready to take the next step and turn my understanding into active skills. I’d love any guidance, resources, or encouragement you can offer to help me find structure and make real progress.

Thanks so much for reading and for any help you can provide! I apologize for the long read, but I think it is an interesting story and I would love to discuss with people that have been in the same type of situation and can lend me a helping hand. ✌️✌️