u/Current-Tell-6711

I’ll be entering seminary in about two years with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP). Their seminary is in Italy, but since the institute has French origins, fluency in French is required for instruction.

The challenge: I currently have no experience with French, and I’ll be in college for the next two years before entering. From what I understand, I’ll essentially be immersed in a near 100% French-speaking environment from day one.

Given that timeline, what would be the most effective way to reach functional fluency in two years?

I’m especially interested in:

• What kind of daily/weekly study structure actually works
• Whether formal classes vs. self-study is better (or a mix)
• The best resources for grammar + speaking
• How to realistically build listening and conversational ability from zero
• Any advice from people who’ve reached fluency on a similar timeline

I’m willing to be disciplined and consistent, just want to make sure I approach this intelligently from the start.

Is this timeline feasible?

Thanks in advance.

Salve,

I’m currently a high school senior in the United States, and over the past years especially, I’ve come to a growing certainty that I am being called to the priesthood. This isn’t something that came all at once, it’s been building through prayer, the sacraments, spiritual reading, and a steady interior pull that hasn’t gone away.

As I’ve been discerning more seriously, I’ve found myself particularly drawn to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP). What first attracted me was the beauty and reverence of the Traditional Latin Mass, but what has kept me interested is everything that stands behind it:

- A strong emphasis on the glory of God through beauty (their spirituality of the glory of God expressed in sacred liturgy and culture)

- Deep fidelity to tradition

- A structured and serious common life and formation

- A clear identity rooted in classical Roman spirituality and Thomistic theology

I’ve also been in contact with the American vocation director, which has been a great help so far, but I wanted to reach out here as well to hear from a wider range of people, especially anyone who has experience with the Institute, knows someone in it, or has gone through seminary formation in general.

I’d really appreciate any advice on things like:

- What I should be doing right now (as a high school senior) to prepare well

- What ICKSP seminary life and formation are actually like beyond what’s publicly available

- How best to discern this specific call vs. a general call to the priesthood

- Anything you wish you had known before entering seminary

- Spiritual practices, habits, or disciplines that are especially important going in

- Practical things (french language prep, academic expectations, etc.) that I should be aware of

I’m trying to approach this seriously, I don’t want to rush, but I also don’t want to ignore something that seems to be a real call.

Thank you in advance for any guidance. I’d genuinely appreciate your prayers as well.

TL;DR: High school senior in the U.S. who is strongly discerning a call to the priesthood, particularly with the ICKSP. Already in contact with their vocation director. Looking for advice on preparation, seminary life, and anything helpful for discernment.