Stuck at Level 3 (Professional Proficiency): Sounding Native - Textbook vs Person on the Street
At Level 3, you can speak clearly, confidently, and even eloquently. But a native speaker listens not just to what you say—but how you say it. Take French. You're worn out. You say, "Je suis fatigué." Correct? Absolutely. Students learn that at very early levels in their textbooks and classrooms. Native-sounding? Not quite. In a casual context, a native speaker might say: “J’ai un coup de barre.” — I hit a wall. “Je suis crevé.” — I’m beat. “Je suis au bout.” — I’m at the end of my rope. These expressions signal fatigue—but they also signal insider status. They say: I don’t just know French. I live it. 📌 Why This Matters “Je suis fatigué” marks you as someone who learned French in a textbook or classroom setting. “J’ai un coup de barre” suggests you heard it in a café, in a story, in a moment of laughter or complaint. The difference isn’t just semantic. It’s social fluency—the ability to match tone, context, and culture. 🚧 The Level 3 Trap: Lexical ...