Why we are afraid or embarrassed to speak English
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2024 7:23 am
Are you afraid or embarrassed to speak English? Well , welcome to a club with thousands and thousands of members, you are not alone! We are going to remedy that with some tricks and tips that I promise you will work to overcome the fear of speaking English. If the idea of speaking English with friends, at work or in public terrifies you, read this article, it will be very useful.
Let's see:
What to do with mistakes in English
How to learn more vocabulary
Tips to overcome the fear of speaking English in public
Why am I afraid or embarrassed to speak English?
First, let's understand why there is this fear of speaking English. It is not a whim of fate.
Fear of speaking English can have many causes, ranging from fear of being business owner database embarrassed to worrying about making mistakes (check out some common mistakes in English to avoid them!). It is important to stop for a moment and identify and understand which of these reasons we are afraid of. This is the first step to remedying the fear and thus overcoming it.
Another very important thing is that fear is a natural emotion in the process of learning a language, so the first thing to do is to accept that it is normal; the simple fact of being afraid or embarrassed when speaking English does not put you in an inferior position.
I'm embarrassed by my English accent
This is one of the biggest obstacles and most typical fears faced by English learners and it often causes a great fear of speaking English.
Having an English accent says a lot about you, your background, and it also indicates that you are making an effort to learn the language.
The accent is not important, the pronunciation is.
It is very important to differentiate between accent and pronunciation . Accent is the particular way of speaking influenced by geographical and cultural factors, while pronunciation focuses on the accuracy of individual sounds in words. In other words, understanding in English is due to pronunciation, not accent. Learn more about pronunciation and accent in English in this post.
In addition, there has been a recent demand for the Spanish accent in English. More and more actors and actresses are not trying to hide their accent and are proud of it.
I'm afraid of making mistakes in English
We all make mistakes when learning a new language (and in our own native language!). It's a natural part of the learning process . That said, there are a number of things you can do to make fewer mistakes and overcome your fear of speaking English.
Expose yourself to the language as much as you can:
Constant practice will help you feel more comfortable and confident. Knowing the 4 dimensions of learning English will help you understand the importance of practicing them and how to do it.
Find opportunities to speak English, such as conversation groups, English-speaking friends, or language exchange apps , or practice with an English teacher.
Start with simple sentences:
We know it's very frustrating to speak like a child when in your native language you are an adult who can communicate with a rich vocabulary and fluency. But you are not a native English speaker, you are in the process of learning.
If you don't feel very confident with your grammar and vocabulary, start with simple sentences and gradually increase the complexity as you feel more confident.
Listen and repeat:
Listen to native speakers and try to imitate their pronunciation and intonation. Watching movies, listening to music or podcasts in English can be very helpful, especially if you do it in an active way. There are two ways to learn, active and passive , and both can be your allies. Our article will explain how you can use active learning to speed up the learning process.
Let's see:
What to do with mistakes in English
How to learn more vocabulary
Tips to overcome the fear of speaking English in public
Why am I afraid or embarrassed to speak English?
First, let's understand why there is this fear of speaking English. It is not a whim of fate.
Fear of speaking English can have many causes, ranging from fear of being business owner database embarrassed to worrying about making mistakes (check out some common mistakes in English to avoid them!). It is important to stop for a moment and identify and understand which of these reasons we are afraid of. This is the first step to remedying the fear and thus overcoming it.
Another very important thing is that fear is a natural emotion in the process of learning a language, so the first thing to do is to accept that it is normal; the simple fact of being afraid or embarrassed when speaking English does not put you in an inferior position.
I'm embarrassed by my English accent
This is one of the biggest obstacles and most typical fears faced by English learners and it often causes a great fear of speaking English.
Having an English accent says a lot about you, your background, and it also indicates that you are making an effort to learn the language.
The accent is not important, the pronunciation is.It is very important to differentiate between accent and pronunciation . Accent is the particular way of speaking influenced by geographical and cultural factors, while pronunciation focuses on the accuracy of individual sounds in words. In other words, understanding in English is due to pronunciation, not accent. Learn more about pronunciation and accent in English in this post.
In addition, there has been a recent demand for the Spanish accent in English. More and more actors and actresses are not trying to hide their accent and are proud of it.
I'm afraid of making mistakes in English
We all make mistakes when learning a new language (and in our own native language!). It's a natural part of the learning process . That said, there are a number of things you can do to make fewer mistakes and overcome your fear of speaking English.
Expose yourself to the language as much as you can:
Constant practice will help you feel more comfortable and confident. Knowing the 4 dimensions of learning English will help you understand the importance of practicing them and how to do it.
Find opportunities to speak English, such as conversation groups, English-speaking friends, or language exchange apps , or practice with an English teacher.
Start with simple sentences:
We know it's very frustrating to speak like a child when in your native language you are an adult who can communicate with a rich vocabulary and fluency. But you are not a native English speaker, you are in the process of learning.
If you don't feel very confident with your grammar and vocabulary, start with simple sentences and gradually increase the complexity as you feel more confident.
Listen and repeat:
Listen to native speakers and try to imitate their pronunciation and intonation. Watching movies, listening to music or podcasts in English can be very helpful, especially if you do it in an active way. There are two ways to learn, active and passive , and both can be your allies. Our article will explain how you can use active learning to speed up the learning process.