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>I think I'm one of them, to some extent. As I said in a different thread last week, I have a pretty good ear for the sound of a language. Hand me a book in a language I've studied, and I can do a pretty respectable job reading aloud.
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This is my 1st goal in French: to learn enough to read, even without understanding. Both of my daughters are very good in French. But when I ask them a question they brush me off; they think that at my age (!!) there is no way I can learn another language. I want to prove them wrong.

>I suspect in my case, it's more my timidity in using the language (Really, you can all stop laughing now. <s>), and perhaps a lack of fluidity.
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I hear you. We all have our comfort zones. But I think Charles is right, alcohol helps <g>

>>On a side note, since you mentioned the transit camp, if you have not, you might like the book "Sarah's Key" by Tatiana de Rosnay. I loved the book.
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>Just looked it up. Sounds up my alley.

I was so touched by the book that I found email address of the author (she is french but is bi-lingual) to praise her for the book. We exchanged a few messages back and forth.