How to Overcome Fear of Speaking a New Language

It is true that learning your desired new language can be very exciting.

But for many people, speaking it aloud is the most difficult part while learning.

The fear of making mistakes or being judged by others can make the learners feel nervous.

However, this fear can be reduced with the right approach and consistent practice.

In this blog, we will understand what causes this fear and how to overcome it easily.

Fear of Speaking a New Language

The fear of speaking in your desired language is quite a common feeling among the learners of all age groups.

It usually happens when a person worries about making mistakes while speaking. This fear may come from having low confidence and negative experiences.

Another major fear many people have is hesitation, as they feel their accent or grammar is not perfect. These types of thoughts stop them from practising speaking which slows their learning progress.

Why People Feel Nervous While Speaking

Many learners feel nervous while speaking a new language for certain reasons, like:

• One main reason that makes the learners nervous is the fear of being judged by others.

• Some learners may think that they must speak perfectly from the beginning of their language learning journey.

• Others may worry about forgetting the words or pronouncing them incorrectly while speaking.

  
  

All these things create mental pressure and affect the speaking fluency of the learners. Sometimes, when the learners compare themselves with fluent speakers, it also makes them feel less confident.

Importance of Overcoming This Fear

To continue progressing in your language learning journey, it is very important to overcome the fear of speaking.

If you don’t practice speaking enough, then your journey of learning a new language would be incomplete.

Once you overcome this fear, you will feel more confident and motivated throughout your journey.

After that, you can interact better with native speakers in real-life situations while going for an interview or travelling.

It also improves your memory and helps the learner connect with native speakers.

This thing helps you build confidence in speaking and builds overall fluency in the new language.

Start with Small Conversations

A great way to reduce fear of speaking in your desired new language is by holding small conversations.

The learners can begin by speaking some short and simple sentences.

It can surely help you become comfortable with your desired language even if you practice speaking for a few minutes daily.

You can practice how to greet others, introduce yourself or ask some basic questions in your desired language.

Your ultimate goal should be to speak daily without worrying about any mistakes, not to become perfect overnight.

These small efforts can lead to big improvements like helping you build fluency and confidence while speaking in your desired language over time.

Accept That Mistakes Are Part of Learning

It is a fact that every learner makes mistakes when learning something new, be it anything like a language or a new hobby.

It is normal to make silly mistakes or use the wrong tense when you begin speaking.

You should see those mistakes as part of your learning journey instead of feeling embarrassed about them. That is because your teachers and trainers can identify those errors and help you identify other areas for improvement.

Once you accept that it is normal, the fear of speaking will naturally reduce.

Also, when your focus shifts from perfection to practice, your progress becomes smoother.

Listen and Repeat to Improve Confidence

You should not forget to focus on your listening skills in order to improve your speaking skills.

That is because listening things in your desired lanagueg can help you understand how native speakers use words and expressions.

After listening, you can repeat the same lines aloud as practice. This practice improves your pronunciation and the flow of the sentence while speaking.

It also trains your brain to think of new words to form sentences in the new language.

When you listen and repeat simple sentences builds strong speaking confidence over time.

Remember one thing that the more you listen and repeat, the more natural your speech will become.

Train Your Mind to Think in the New Language

You can train your mind to think in the new language by practising daily. It is a very effective way to overcome the fear of speaking.

When you try to translate the sentences directly from your native language, you may get confused.

That is why you should think about it first, as it will help you form a perfect sentence each time.

This thing will also help you sound more natural and confident while speaking.

Observe and Imitate Native Speakers

Well, observing how the native speakers talk can help you improve your speech more quickly.

If you watch short videos, interviews or movies in the new language, it will also help you imitate their accent and expressions.

Moreover, you can focus on how the words are pronounced and how the sentences are formed. This method can help you improve your pronunciation and fluency altogether.

Stay Positive and Patient

You should be open-minded enough to understand that learning a new language takes time.

Some days may feel harder than others while learning, but some may not.

The important thing you must do while learning your desired language is to stay positive. A positive attitude can help you handle the mistakes calmly.

The fear of speaking slowly disappears when you stay calm and consistent with time.

Your confidence will rise when you practice speaking daily with a hopeful mindset.

Conclusion

We have discussed that the fear of speaking a new language is very common among learners.

However, you can overcome it with continuous practice and being patient.

You can build confidence over time by starting by holding small conversations, accepting mistakes and practising daily.

You should focus on listening, observing, and thinking in the new language simultaneously by watching some videos or listening to podcasts and so on.

These things are very helpful in improving your fluency and natural expression.

At J and C Language School, we encourage learners to stay positive and consistent throughout their journey.

Anyone can overcome hesitation and speak their desired language with confidence with the right mindset and daily practice.