How to fail to become a fluent French speaker in 4 stages

Stage 1. Believing that picking up French will be no problem. [But being very very anxious about having to speak to French people]
Stage 2. Rapid disillusionment with 1, but believing that hard work (i.e. classes) will sort it. [Less anxious, but it's a struggle]

Stage 3. I’ve had several teachers, got half-way through an Open University course*. I’m stuck. I decide never to pay for any more French lessons. Either I learn more, or I don’t. And I can speak enough French to manage my life o.k. [I stop being anxious, but am a bit defensive about failure to improve]

Stage 4. [I stop being defensive, and am relaxed about the whole thing (most of the time, except sometimes in particularly tricky situations like **** Colissimo failing yet again to deliver a parcel (everyone else can do it, but Colissimo - no))]. So I herewith announce that I’m starting again, gently, to work through the rest of my OU course, and maybe even trying to read another French book. And I’ve ordered French for Reading. On verra.

* This was the best way of learning I tried.