Photo source: Modern Welsh Dictionary, ed. Gareth King, Oxford University Press
Hello again,
I frequently come across students who are really nervous about speaking English even if they actually speak English really well. In fact, I was a little like that too, especially when I was learning French. I read ‘Le Monde’ every day and developed a wide vocabulary. However, I hated making mistakes when I spoke. So much so that I rarely said anything at all in classes and even less when visiting France. I now see what a mistake this was. Indeed, I only really overcame this when I started learning Welsh and the teacher told me not to worry about grammar too much and that it was okay to make mistakes (thanks to the SSIW crew and Nia!). So, here are a few tips for those, like I used to be, anxious about speaking in another language.
- Practice Speaking: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Speaking is a crucial part of language learning. Find language exchange partners or join language meet-up groups to practice with native speakers.
- Create a Supportive Environment: Let friends and family know about your language learning journey. Having a support system can boost your confidence and motivation.
- Focus on Fluency, Not Perfection: Remember that language learning is a gradual process. Aim for fluency and effective communication rather than perfection. Perfection can come later, but it won’t come first especially if you are too anxious to speak the language.
- Learn from Mistakes: Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. Instead of dwelling on them, use them as opportunities to learn and improve.
- Have fun: Try and do something you like doing, reading, watching a TV series, or even just having a chat, but do it in your target language, not in your native tongue.
Hope you find these tips helpful. I look forward to any further thoughts or comments.
All the best!
Kevin
mondolingo 