Jake McCoy

Jake’s experience with the French language began in middle school, where he studied it for two years, then continued for another year in high school. While these early classes laid a basic foundation, his real breakthrough came later during a mission in Quebec, Canada, which he describes as the place where he truly learned the language. After his mission, Jake continued to strengthen his skills at BYU, completing the required French courses and earning a language certificate. Although his schoolwork helped reinforce grammar and structure, he credits the immersive, daily use of French during his mission as the turning point in his language development.

Jake has found creative and personal ways to stay connected to French. He occasionally attends French endowment sessions at the Orem Temple and had a particularly memorable experience on a FrontRunner train, where he struck up a conversation with three Quebec college students. That unexpected connection sparked a friendship and gave him a fun, natural opportunity to keep speaking French.

Staying motivated post-mission has had its ups and downs. With few French-speaking opportunities nearby, Jake finds group conversations challenging and prefers one-on-one settings where he doesn’t worry about excluding others. He reflects fondly on the strong motivation he felt during his mission, especially in the beginning when everything felt unfamiliar. That early struggle kept him engaged, and over time, consistent study and practice paid off. For Jake, learning for the right reasons—especially service—makes all the difference.

To strengthen his listening, reading, and writing skills, Jake enjoys listening to French music, and he pays close attention to patterns, especially in science and technical vocabulary that often overlaps with English. Watching news sources like France 24 and CBC en français has helped him expand his vocabulary beyond the missionary world. These simple habits keep his language skills growing steadily. Jake emphasizes the importance of first mastering the structure of the language, believing that a solid grasp of grammar and rules lays the groundwork for everything else. Once the fundamentals are in place, vocabulary tends to come more naturally through context and exposure. Without this foundation, progress can stall—but with it, language growth becomes both steady and rewarding.

Like many learners, Jake has wrestled with the fear of making mistakes. However, he’s found that when he approaches French with a more relaxed attitude, he usually performs better than expected. Over time, he’s learned that progress matters more than perfection, and that even fluent speakers—including professors—make mistakes. This mindset served him well when preparing for the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). Keeping things simple, he focused on real-world practice, chatting in French with a Haitian man during a car ride to the temple and attending a French endowment session the Saturday before the test.

For those preparing for the OPI, Jake offers this advice: “Get your French in the best state it can be, wherever it’s at”. He believes it’s more valuable to speak imperfectly about a variety of topics than to deliver a flawless response on just one. Staying informed about current events is also important, he notes, as global issues often come up during the interview and can show your ability to discuss real-world subjects.

Jake’s story is a joyful reminder that language learning is a journey—not a race. From school desks to train rides and temple sessions, his French skills have grown through a mix of curiosity, purpose, and a willingness to keep trying. Whether you're preparing for the OPI or just beginning your language adventure, Jake’s experience shows that progress comes with patience, passion, and a positive mindset.