If your first French words of the day happen in front of another human, of course they feel rusty. Your mouth has been in English (or silence) for hours. Warm up like a singer—30–60 seconds: Step 1: vowels—A, E, I, O, U—exaggerate the lip shapes. Step 2: one short sentence with a tricky sound—I like “Petit à petit on avance.” Two wins: your articulators wake up, and your mindset calms (“step by step” is the perfect mantra). Then go have your conversation. Want more low-effort tools that make you