This week I went to buy my French textbooks. I've been studying it for years. I've read academic papers, watched news programs, and played video games in this language. I can figure shit out. But I'm still too nervous to use it in real life. So when I went to the clerk I asked for the book in English. And the guy just gave me this look that said, "Seriously? You're in this advanced class and you're still communicating with me like a bastard Englishman?" and spoke to me in French during the entire transaction as I sweat nervously.