How do I conquer speaking anxiety?
I have been studying french now for a few months. I paid for a class, I hired a community tutor (we practice twice a week) and I am burning through the course content. Right now I am about halfway through the class, to which i devote about an hour a day. I am listening to french language podcasts and audiobooks several times per day and I am understanding more sentences and expanding my vocabulary everyday. Despite all of that, i feel that my speaking is not improving. When someone speaks to me in french, I open my mouth and the words dont come. My sentences are poorly put together and i cant remember any of the vocabulary that I easily use in my course. Then 10 minutes after the conversation is over I think of what I should have said. My tutor says it will improve over time with practice but how can i practice more if i cant think of how to respond to basic questions? I am getting super discouraged. Does anyone have any practical advice?