I was wondering if anyone (perhaps any second language teachers out there?) knows of a good workbook or something, or some other method for practicing French? I haven't taken any French since high school (5 years ago), and I'm trying to brush up for employment purposes. I'm fine with reading and writing, I've already taken the Government of Canada second language proficiency tests in reading and writing and did quite well, but if/when I am under consideration for a more permanent job, I will also need to be evaluated for speaking, and I'm just not confident in my ability. I looked online, on Amazon.com, for French review books, but most of the ones called "better communication" or something similar seem to focus on grammar, and that's not really what I need, I just need to improve my ease of speaking, not having to search my brain for the right word, etc.

Ask Bruyere, she might be able to help.

I'd go on Craigslist for Ottawa and get myself a real tutor GG.
I just doubt that any program or book will give you the live feedback you need for what you've just mentioned.

I wish I were closer as I'd be up for it.

Yeah the private tutors are VERY expensive though, and considering that this is such a bilingual city, the City of Ottawa offers very little in the way of French classes, if you're not a very beginner. I know you're right though, live interaction with a Francophone is the way to go for practicing speaking ability. I think that's even why I'm not that confident with my ability to speak French, because even though I was in French immersion from kindergarten through to grade twelve, the focus was on learning basic vocabularies, then in later years, reading French books and learning how conjugate verbs, rather than just speaking in French. Most of the French speaking I did in school was via oral presentation, planned out in advance, not spontaneous conversation like I would need if I had to, say, work in a call centre and serve people in French.

Maybe make a real point of going over to Hull to do your shopping, eating out, etc?

I would suggest you make some new French-speaking friends!

http://french.meetup.com/96/

Does Ottawa have a French TV station?

You might be able to locate a used set of video cassettes of the clown "Sol," originally broadcast over TVOntario in the late 70s.

Not bad ideas, I was thinking about that at work today, perhaps trying to just "re-immerse" myself in French - read a book in French, check the weather station in French, use the French user manual for electronic gadgets, etc. Still isn't a lot of me speaking out loud, but reading or watching tv in French should help rebuild my vocabulary and help me remember expressions that I used to know and stuff.

I also may take one of the classes offered by the City, even though I'm at a more advanced level than what they're offering, it's not super duper expensive (unlike private lessons), and it can't hurt, really.

Thanks for the suggestions