[DemolitionRed]

When you can't translate your own well versed language into something fluid, its frustrating. People honestly do look at you like you're a bit thick sometimes!!

I agree with Ammi. When you listen to people speaking you can pluck that pronunciation out of the air. Studying and reading will never do that for you and so its crucial that we as foreigners or foreigners amongst us pay attention to what is being said.

Jamie, I can totally understand your friend. When you are speaking a foreign language all day long, being able to speak your own language now and again is wonderful. Even when you reach the stage of thinking in that other language, switching back to your own when you have the opportunity is too tempting to resist.