As in our previous session, we kept English as our main language of communication throughout the meeting. This constant exposure helped reinforce my listening comprehension and my ability to maintain long, informal conversations without switching languages. I could feel that my fluency is improving, especially when talking about spontaneous topics like cooking, food preferences or personal experiences.
A significant addition this time was our decision to integrate French practice. We revised basic grammar structures, common expressions and some vocabulary that had become rusty. It was helpful to refresh items like verb conjugations, everyday phrases and pronunciation because both of us hadn’t been in touch with the language for a long time. Practising French in a casual environment made the learning feel less pressured and more enjoyable.
Cooking together led us to discuss how barbecues or outdoor meals are part of our respective cities, and we exchanged opinions on similarities and differences. Explaining cultural customs in English continues to challenge us, but it also helps develop the skill of presenting cultural ideas in a clear and accessible way.
This meeting felt different from the previous ones due to the more active, hands-on nature of cooking together. Preparing food required coordination and communication, which made the English practice even more natural. Instead of speaking only about abstract or personal topics, we also needed to describe actions, make suggestions and negotiate decisions, basically real-life communication.
Introducing French into the session changed the dynamic in a positive way. Switching between languages made me more aware of how differently I think and express myself in each one. I realised that even if I do not use French frequently, the knowledge is still there and simply needs refreshing. It also reminded me how important regular exposure is for maintaining a language.
Although we successfully practised French, we did not go as deep into grammar as we originally intended. The relaxed environment of the barbecue made it harder to focus on more structured or technical aspects, and we often found ourselves drifting back into English conversations.
Additionally, staying in English all the time was slightly more difficult when multitasking. There were moments when both of us reverted to quick expressions in our native language out of habit. Still, we did manage to correct ourselves and return to English after noticing.
Our plan included alternating between cultural exchange, language practice and skill improvement, and this meeting aligned well with those goals.
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