How Charlie Encouraged Me to Start a French Conversation Group in Omaha
One of the first things I recall Charlie from Street French telling me was that I needed to practice speaking French with others. We'd just met over Skype for a private tutoring session, and I was beyond nervous even attempting to say, "Bonjour" and "Merci."
"But I don't really speak French," I told him.
"That's exactly why you need to practice," he said.
Sure, I'd dabbled with a few language-learning apps, but beyond that, my ability to speak and understand French was limited to watching French films with English subtitles. Which is to say, the idea of attempting to speak French to anyone other than Charlie was beyond anything I could ever imagine doing.
But over the course of a few more Skype lessons, Charlie would remind me that one of the best things someone wishing to speak French can do, is to speak it.
But I would put up roadblocks, make excuses.
"I live in Omaha, Nebraska," I would say. "There probably aren't many people here who want to speak French."
"I'll bet you'd be surprised," Charlie would say.
After poking around online, I found a French group that met quarterly, but their events also seemed to be connected to bringing a homemade dish. How on earth could I focus on conjugating "manger," at the same time I was, well, eating?
I was also vaguely aware that Omaha had a chapter of Alliance Française. But the mere thought of an "official" French organization was almost as scary to me as pondering the subjunctive tense.
Charlie persisted that I get out there and practice. "Why not start your own conversation group?" he asked. "Not only will you improve your French, but you’ll also help others, too."
My. Own. Group?
But I kept telling myself that I was the last person in Omaha (or on earth) who should start a French group. Still, his logic resonated. After all, I was already beginning to see improvement in my ability to communicate in French with Charlie, from having practiced during our online sessions. I got to thinking: what is it like to speak French in person?
And so, not quite four years ago, despite thinking myself foolish, I launched Café et Conversation—Omaha.
The idea was simple: to meet weekly at a coffee shop or bar. The events would be free. I'd stress the importance of kindness and community, a place to make mistakes without judgement.
I created a Facebook group and posted the first event at a local café. No one came. So I sat with my earbuds and notebook, listening to a French podcast and attempting to scribble down what I was able to understand. I even tried saying a few French words out loud, hoping that others around me would assume I was speaking to someone on the other line, rather than some crazy guy talking to himself in bad French.
Still the idea of speaking even poorly-pronounced French, in a public place was—invigorating.
I was hooked.
Wherever I went—social engagements, the grocery store, work—I would ask people if they wanted to speak French. I became obsessed, spreading the word.
Often, I was surprised by how many people either said yes, there were interested, or they had, at one time, studied it but hadn't in a long time. "Why not come and practice with us?" I'd say, making it sound like "we" included more than just me.
Eventually, however, the group did grow. And grow and grow. Soon we were at twenty members. And then 30. We'd meet at art museums, and, of course, coffee shops and bars. But also, we'd eventually meet for hikes and even for talent shows, highlighting the musical abilities of our various members.
An now? We're nearly 300 strong. In fact, our group has done so well, our local Alliance Française took notice and asked to partner with our group (as it turns out, there was nothing scary at all about our Alliance. It's made up of wonderful people also wanting to help others speak French. Indeed, I've since become an Alliance board member!).
Not only does our conversation group continue to attract beginning students, native and near-native speakers come, more often than not offering encouragement and helping those who ask for it. Who knew there were so many francophones in Omaha?
Over the last few years, in large part thanks to Charlie's suggestion of getting out there to practice French, I've noticed that my French has, indeed, improved. Just as he said it would. I now can't imagine my French-learning journey without Café et Conversation. Not only for improving my French, but for the community and friendship.
Does that mean that you also have a start a group like this? Not necessarily. Check for local meet-ups and other organizations and your Alliance Française, should you happen to have one. Not to mention there are some great language apps that Charlie's talked about (I've used those, too, and they're great).
But hey, there's also nothing stopping you from starting a group.
A heartfelt merci to Charlie for encouraging me to do something I never dreamed possible.
Jeff Koterba is an award-winning creative whose cartoons appear in over 800 newspapers around the globe. His original drawings have also flown around the globe—on space shuttle Discovery.
His cartoons have been exhibited in Paris, and elsewhere in France, including alongside Picasso.
Jeff is also an avid francophone. He began studying French four years ago and now leads a French conversation group of nearly 300 in Omaha, Nebraska.
You can find him at jeffreykoterba.com