✓ Accepted Answer
Honest take, because I wish someone had told me this earlier.
Everything you will read about french will make it sound more complicated than it is. Here is what 4 years of working with government has actually taught me.
The people who struggle most are the ones who overthink the entry point.
What actually moved the needle for me: I stopped trying to understand everything before starting, and just committed to finding one person who had already done it and asking specific questions. After that, things started moving much faster.
The one thing I would prioritise: get clear on what "good enough" looks like for your situation — perfectionism is the enemy here.
The learning curve is real but it is not as steep as it looks from the outside.
by sophiabruneau45482