It’s Never Too Late to Learn French: One Learner’s Story

Could learning a language change your life? Keith shares how studying French with Buckinghamshire Adult Learning helped him build confidence, make meaningful connections and achieve a long-held personal goal.

For many years, I kept telling myself, “I must learn French.” After all, I had been visiting France regularly for almost 30 years.

My connection with France began through my role as Secretary of my Regimental Association. Each year, I accompanied wartime veterans back to the areas where they had fought during the Second World War. During these visits, we were welcomed warmly by local French communities, whose generosity, hospitality and commitment to remembrance left a lasting impression on me.

As the years passed, more people attended the commemorations and I was often asked to speak on behalf of our group, expressing our thanks and gratitude. While I was honoured to do so, I always had to rely on an interpreter to communicate with our French hosts.

The language barrier became even more noticeable during the long, sociable meals we shared together. Although I wanted to join conversations and get to know people better, I could only do so through translation. Each time I returned home, I promised myself that I would learn French. However, life always seemed to get in the way.

Things changed when I formed a friendship with a French veteran who I met at many of these commemorative events. Despite our limited ability to communicate verbally, we became good friends. One year, we made a pact: he would learn English and I would learn French.

Determined to keep my promise, I started using Duolingo. While it helped me learn vocabulary and basic phrases, I soon realised that it wasn’t giving me the confidence I needed to speak French in real-life situations.

That’s when I decided to enrol on a French course with Buckinghamshire Adult Learning.

The course has made a tremendous difference. Having a knowledgeable tutor, detailed explanations and the opportunity to practise speaking aloud has helped me understand how the language works and improve my pronunciation. Just as importantly, it has helped me develop the confidence to communicate with others in French.

That confidence was put to the test during a major ceremony in France last year. I was asked to thank our French hosts following a presentation and, for the first time, I was able to deliver my speech in French. It was a proud moment, and I felt that my efforts were genuinely appreciated by those in attendance.

Since then, I have spoken in French on several more occasions and have even been able to write simple notes and messages when needed. These may seem like small achievements, but they have transformed the way I engage with my French friends and hosts.

Learning a language later in life certainly has its challenges. At 83 years old, I find it takes longer to remember new words and phrases than it once did. However, my experience has shown me that it is never too late to learn something new.

I have found the classes stimulating, enjoyable and rewarding, and the quality of teaching has been outstanding. Most importantly, learning French has enabled me to connect more deeply with people and places that have been important to me for decades.

And I’m not finished yet – I’m still determined to surprise my French friends.

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