Too scared to talk in English?
- Miss Marilena
- Feb 7, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 10, 2023
Part of the series Learning Easier
Are you an adult learner? Are you just learning how to speak, write and understand English? Usually the most difficult part in learning a new language is the speaking part. Here are some tips to help you get rid of "the speaking shame".
1. Talk to yourself
Start by talking to yourself in English while you are driving. It sounds crazy but hear me out. Speaking to yourself is easier than speaking to others. You can act out dialogues for both sides, make mistakes and no one will judge you for it. You can act as the buyer and the seller of a shop. You can be the waitress and the costumer at a restaurant. You can be the queen and the servant. You can be anything you want as long as you practice in English.
2. Listen and repeat. Listen and repeat. Listen and repeat.
Memorization is not the goal when learning a new language. But it is a big part of learning. When you memorize key phrases, such as "I'm fine, thanks and you?", "It's not my cup of tea", "What a shame" you can then use these phrases when someone is talking to you without even thinking about it. You can have few standard phrases you use in different situations that will make you sound more proficient than you are. Fake it until you make it, am I right?
These next 3 steps involve a tutor. Tip: Get yourself someone you feel comfortable with.
3. Find a tutor you like and feel comfortable with
Tutoring can help your learning experience go to the next level. It is not impossible to learn on your own but many people need some guidance and that is okay. Try researching and asking for a first-impression-lesson where you get to meet a Language teacher and see if you can have a lesson with them. You need a safe and relaxed environment where you can speak freely, make mistakes but not feel judged or rushed.
4. Play interactive games with your tutor
Games are fun and easy to make you talk. You can listen to your tutor and repeat things or make up your own things to say. Having a good tutor means having someone who will not constantly correct you and give you many opportunities to express yourself without judgement. It's important to remember that making mistakes is part of the learning process, and it’s okay to make mistakes. Practice speaking as much as you can, even if you are just repeating phrases and basic words.
You should feel comfortable and at ease with your chosen tutor.
5. Act out dialogues with your tutor
Your tutor should be a sounding board for you and help you practice your pronunciation. Start by acting out real life dialogues. Model a ready one first and then make up your own as you get better and better. It will take time and practice to become more confident and fluent, and it’s okay to take you time.
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You can check out this post for more learning tips.
I hope these ideas inspire you and that you try them all out. Let me know any other ideas you might have in the comments. That's all for today. See you at the next one. Toodaloo!
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Great post!
Speaking is one of the most difficult things to accomplish when learning a new language. I suggest talking to natives. They tend to speak faster but you will learn the language correctly. You can also find out more slang than any other way by talking to natives.
I will try!
Speaking is the most difficult thing. Great ideas. Thank you for the tips.