Tobias Cook

Tobias Cook has built strong proficiency in French through a combination of immersive missionary service, continued academic study, and consistent, intentional practice. He began learning French in 2019 when he was called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Republic of the Congo. Like many missionaries, Tobias had minimal exposure to the language beforehand and picked it up through day-to-day experience in a fully French-speaking environment. A temporary seven-month reassignment to New Jersey allowed him to maintain some language engagement—primarily in English, with occasional exposure to Haitian Creole. After returning from his mission in 2021, he continued studying French at Brigham Young University, taking formal classes to strengthen grammar, vocabulary, and writing.

Ongoing immersion played a key role in Tobias’s continued growth. Following his mission, he lived for about a year and a half in BYU’s French Housing, a foreign language residence that encourages full-time use of the target language. He describes the experience as highly effective and recommends it to others looking to maintain and build fluency. At home, Tobias and his wife—who is a French major and fluent speaker—regularly speak French together, sometimes for days at a time. Creating a home environment that supports language use has been one of the most consistent contributors to his long-term retention.

Tobias draws on a variety of strategies to improve his French. He prioritizes speaking and seeks out opportunities to practice specific grammatical points—such as the subjunctive—by intentionally using them in conversation. For listening, he explores French pop and rap music, which not only exposes him to informal expressions but also gives him insight into cultural context. Watching French-language shows on streaming platforms has further helped him understand regional accents and speech patterns, particularly those he encountered in the Congo. For reading, Tobias used a comparative method early on: reading the Book of Mormon in English and then in French. Reading aloud with feedback also helped him refine pronunciation. He keeps a journal in French and frequently noted unfamiliar words or slang in a notebook, later researching them or asking native speakers for clarification.

Mistakes have been part of the process, and Tobias has learned to embrace them. As someone who initially struggled with perfectionism, he came to realize that consistent improvement matters more than flawless execution. His experiences with native speakers—both during his mission and at BYU—showed him that most people are patient and supportive. Accepting corrections and continuing to speak, even when unsure, helped him build confidence over time.

Tobias approached the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) with focused preparation. To simulate the pressure of the test, he practiced mock OPIs with his wife, who asked him spontaneous questions on a wide range of topics, including politics and hypothetical scenarios. On the day of the OPI, he warmed up by having a phone conversation in French, which helped him transition smoothly into the interview setting. Having taken the OPIc (the computer-based version) earlier in his academic journey, he was already familiar with the format and expectations, which helped reduce nerves.

Looking back, Tobias identifies several key factors in his language development: persistence, humility, and meaningful support. He credits his mission experience with giving him a solid foundation, but emphasizes the importance of continued effort afterward—especially through classes, conversation, and self-directed learning. A message he heard from Elder Holland during his mission also left a lasting impression: the idea that language learning is a stewardship, not just a skill. That perspective continues to motivate him today. His wife’s interest in French and their shared commitment to speaking it at home has also been a major source of encouragement.

For Tobias, French has become more than just a language learned on a mission—it’s a meaningful part of his life, relationships, and future goals. His journey reflects steady commitment, real-world application, and a desire to keep improving over time.