Learning French through immersion: the first 48 hours

Arriving in France: the beginning of an immersion… and a change of rhythm

The first two days of a French immersion are often the most unsettling. Even for people who “already understand French quite well.”

Why the first two days are the most destabilizing

Jet lag and physical fatigue

The body learns too. And sometimes it needs time to recover

The body learns too. And sometimes it needs time to recover. First, there is jet lag.

That is why I always encourage people to arrive in France a few days before the immersion begins, whenever possible.

This allows the body to recover, find its bearings again, and approach learning French with greater availability and openness.

The stress of travel and change

There is also the stress of traveling. It is no small thing to arrive in a country you know, but not that well. To step into a family you do not yet know.

Even when it is a chosen adventure, a holiday, or an exciting project, fatigue and stress — often unconscious — are very present.

The language shift: an invisible mental load

Changing countries also means changing languages… and reference points

Changing countries also means changing language… and reference points.

Once you arrive in France, there is the language shift. Yes, of course — that is why you are here.

But it means being focused all day long. Listening. Understanding. Adapting. Without a real mental break. Learning French under these conditions requires a great deal of energy.

What we imagine before a French immersion

We often imagine a linear progression. Step by step

We often imagine a linear progression. Step by step.

Before an immersion, we tend to picture a fairly smooth progression.

We tell ourselves we will “get back into it,” that everything will gradually return, and that French will naturally find its place again.

And that is possible.

Some people experience this transition smoothly.

But for others, it is the opposite. They feel that everything becomes complicated, whatever their level.

And this phase is part of the normal process toward greater fluency.

What really happens during the first 48 hours

During the first hours, the brain works intensely in the background

During the first hours, the brain works intensely in the background.

In the first 48 hours, the brain is exposed to an unusual amount of information in French.

There are no real breaks anymore. No spontaneous return to the mother tongue. No mental refuge.

Even simple moments — breakfast, an informal conversation, a simple instruction — require focused attention.

The brain listens constantly. It compares. It translates. It anticipates.

This can cause:

• deep fatigue

• a feeling of confusion

• sometimes mild anxiety

• the impression of “understanding nothing”

What we interpret as regression is actually a shift in how the brain is functioning.

When the brain begins to enter the French language

Seeking meaning differently: through gestures, eye contact, and intonation

Seeking meaning differently: through gestures, eye contact, intonation.

During these first hours, the brain begins to let go of its usual strategies.

It can no longer rely solely on word-for-word translation.

It looks for meaning in other ways: through context, gestures, tone of voice.

It is uncomfortable. But it is exactly what allows the language to settle more deeply.

Why this phase is essential

The first 48 hours are a period of transition.

A moment when the old learning mode no longer works, and the new one is not yet fully installed.

It is an in-between space. Unstable, yet fertile.

The learning is not visible yet. It is preparing itself.

What changes after two or three days of immersion

After two or three days, something begins to stabilize. We enter a new rhythm

After two or three days, something stabilizes. A new rhythm begins.

From the third day onward, something relaxes.

The sounds become more familiar. Certain phrases return. Overall understanding improves.

We are not progressing in a “school-like” way. We are adapting.

And that adaptation is the foundation of everything.

A few essential reminders

Do not compare yourself. Do not minimize your fatigue. Congratulate yourself for having dared.

Starting a French immersion requires courage, openness, and a genuine inner availability.

And sometimes, learning French first means accepting to move through this phase… before things begin to feel easier.

Also read – Preparing for and experiencing your immersion in Provence

If you are preparing for a French immersion stay, you might also enjoy reading:

• Learning French in immersion: a typical day in Provence

  How French naturally integrates into daily life.

• Hiking Sainte-Victoire during an immersion stay

  Learning French while walking, breathing, living.

• Discovering Aix-en-Provence through language immersion

  Markets, heritage, and spontaneous conversations.

• Immersion in Provence: discovering the Calanques by kayak

  A sporty excursion between Cassis and Marseille, with useful French vocabulary.

  
  

If the idea of an immersion in Provence speaks to you, feel free to contact me. We can talk together and design a stay tailored to your rhythm, your level, and your wishes.

See you soon in Provence 🌿

Virginie in Provence