How to stop freezing in French conversations
- Samantha
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Let’s start with something important: It’s completely normal not to know everything in French.
Actually… it’s normal not to know everything in any language.
Even if I speak English fluently and I’ve been using it daily for more than 10 years , I still sometimes stop mid-sentence because I can’t find a word.
It happens. I replace it. I rephrase.
And that’s the key.
Because fluent speakers don’t speak perfectly. They adapt.
And that’s exactly what reformulation is.
Reformulation means:
Saying the same idea in a different way when the word doesn’t come.
Instead of freezing, you keep going.
Instead of stopping, you find another path.
Instead of thinking “I don’t know the word, so I can’t speak”, you think:
“I can explain it differently.”
"I can describe it.”
“I can use a simpler word.”
“I can give an example.”
And suddenly… you’re still speaking French.
That’s confidence.
That’s progress.
Why do we freeze when we don’t know a word in French conversation?
Many learners believe they need:
the perfect word
the perfect grammar
the perfect sentence
But real communication doesn’t work like that.
In real life, your brain is trying to do so many things at once:
remember vocabulary
apply grammar rules
pronounce correctly
translate
stay polite
stay natural
think about what to say next
So when one word is missing, the brain often goes into panic mode.
And the result is:
“I don’t know the word… so I stop.”
What your brain is actually doing when you reformulate in French conversation :
When you reformulate, your brain is not “failing” but is doing something extremely powerful.
Reformulation activates several important cognitive systems at the same time:
You strengthen your memory networks
When you try to express an idea without the exact word, your brain searches for:
related vocabulary
similar expressions
synonyms
examples
context
This activates your meaning-based memory system.
And neuroscience shows that retrieval effort strengthens memory.
So when you struggle a little to find another way to say something, you are literally building stronger connections in your brain.
You train cognitive flexibility
Reformulation forces your brain to switch strategies quickly. That’s called cognitive flexibility. It is the ability to adapt, change perspective, and find alternatives.
This is one of the main skills behind fluency.
You reduce anxiety and build automaticity
The more you reformulate, the more your brain learns:
“It’s okay if I don’t know the exact word. I can still communicate.”
That lowers stress.
And stress is important because when we feel anxious, our brain activates survival mode and it becomes harder to access vocabulary and grammar.
So reformulation helps you create a positive cycle:
less stress → easier access to French → more speaking → more progress
You practice real-life communication
In real life, people don’t stop a conversation because they forgot a word.
They:
describe
gesture
simplify
rephrase
give an example
laugh and continue
Reformulation is not a “student technique” but a communication skill.
It doesn’t just help you survive French conversations.
It makes you improve faster because it forces you to:
reuse vocabulary you already know
manipulate sentence structures
think in French instead of translating
develop “communication reflexes”
And that’s exactly what most learners are missing.
Many learners spend years studying vocabulary lists… but still freeze in real conversation.
Because fluency isn’t only vocabulary.
Fluency is strategy + practice.
Want to practice reformulation in real French conversations?
That’s exactly what we do in my Online French Conversation Classes.
In my French conversation sessions, you will:
practice speaking in real situations
learn how to reformulate naturally
stop freezing when you miss a word
build confidence and speaking reflexes
receive feedback and corrections
And most importantly, you will speak French regularly.
Ready to speak French with more confidence?
If you want to stop freezing and start communicating, I’d love to have you in my classes.
You can book your Online French Conversation Class here: Book Online | ExperiencetheFrench
To conclude this article I would like to insist : If you forget a word in French, it doesn’t mean you’re bad at French.
It means you’re doing something normal because even fluent speakers forget words.
The difference is: they keep going.
And you can too.
Hi, I’m Samantha! With Experience the French, my goal is to help you experience French a way that feels real, useful, and motivating :
online French conversation classes : speak and improve French in small groups and focus on practical, everyday topics. Perfect if you are looking to practice speaking
10-week program “French Conversation Boost” is a hybrid learning experience created to help you gain fluency, and feel confident in real-life situations. It’s ideal if you’re looking for a clear structure, guidance, and visible progress over time.