Ten Ways Of Getting Over The Fear Of English

When was the last time you gave an interview and messed it up? Later, you pacified yourself by saying that maybe that job was not worth it or perhaps lady luck was not in favor.

Should you have invested in an English speaking course? Or, was it just anxiety speaking rather than words? Well, all said and done, the fear of English could be one of the reasons why your well-planned interview didn’t go well.

We all are humans, and facing our fears surely doesn’t come easy. While overcoming the fear of conversing in English is not a day’s task, a little practice and a positive mindset will indeed work wonders.

Read on to discover ten ways on how to overcome the fear of English.

1. Fake It Till You Make It

Well, learning a foreign language is a long process, and mastering it requires dedication and patience. However, our fears and anxiety are what stop us. Leave alone developing confidence; we often fumble with basic words. So, what could be a possible solution to solve this?

Well, as the famous English aphorism suggests that by imitating confidence, competence, and an optimistic mindset, a person can realise those qualities in their real life.

The same goes for overcoming the fear of English. Start with imitating these attributes, and eventually, you will get them. The idea is to be patient and do it with a clear idea that you are treading on the right path.

2. Identify Your Problem Areas

Now, since we decided on being confident and having the right mindset we can deal with anything. Right? Jokes apart, it is important to know what is or what could be a problem area.

Most of us are not used to communicating in a foreign language. A common issue is that our brain needs substantial time to process words, translate them, think of an appropriate response, and then translate them. So, much so for communicating in a different language!

So, coming back to our issues, is it the diction that confuses you, are you looking for a more formal way of talking, or do the jargons leave you at your wit's end?

A solution to this is to listen rather than formulating a response when the other person is speaking. Once they are done speaking, take a moment to gather your thoughts, analyze them, and then only proceed to answer. Whenever in doubt, focus more on listening rather than responding at the drop of a hat!

Before you decide to enroll in an English speaking course, it is important to note that it is all a matter of active listening that will help you break barriers.

3. Invest in Listening

Now, you would wonder, I just talked about listening, was that not enough? Well, the idea is not to merely listen but sharpen that ability. Having conversations is one thing; you must listen to radio, TV, and podcasts. Not only will these help you improve vocabulary, but they also help you improve your pronunciation.

Slowly, listening would not take that much effort, and you will begin enjoying the process.

4. Smile

A smile will surely take you a long way. You are much likely to get a better response if you approach the conversation with a smile.

Most people will be delighted if you make an effort to speak their language and do it with a smile rather than being tense.

Start every conversation with a friendly hello and a smile, and you will undoubtedly take a step ahead with every conversation.

5. Ditch The Perfection

Let’s get this straight, with languages; it is not possible to achieve perfection. Be it a native language or English; you will always first speak with a broken version.

Well, it is surely frustrating to be continuously reminded of your mistakes. However, in the long run, addressing and embracing these mistakes will turn into a top-notch speaker. Who knows, you might be the next famous motivational speaker!

6. Practice Makes Progress

If you notice your daily conversations follow a similar pattern, many of the discussions will come up repeatedly. For example, you should try getting better with conversations in a restaurant, at a shop and with your friends. These are precisely the conversations that will help you build the much-needed confidence.

Moreover, people are likely to be patient if they’re selling you something.

If you’re lacking confidence in the language you’re learning, these conversations should be your first step. People are also likely to be patient with you if they’re selling you something.

7. Invest In A English Speaking Course

Now that we have suggested enough ways to get over the fear, the next step is to invest in an English speaking course. Now, you may want to argue that it will be expensive and what is so special about it? Well, it would help you connect with peers who are at the same stage as you are. Moreover, such courses ensure that you get a holistic understanding of the language so that you can communicate easily.

Say goodbye to fumbling and enroll in an English speaking course!

8. Be Slow and Steady

Speed has become an essential facet of our life. With this fast-paced life, we want everything as quickly as possible. However, when it comes to speaking, you should speak slowly and clearly.

If the person you’re speaking to cannot understand what you are saying, it is not worth the effort. Moreover, you could also be at the receiving end. A piece of advice is to ask them politely to speak a bit slower.

Now, there are two benefits to this. First, you let go of your hesitation, and second, you will get to learn a word or two and increase your confidence!

9. Keep Discouragement At Bay

Easier said than done, it is easy to get discouraged when you cannot put your points across due to a language barrier. While some people you speak to will be more patient, a few of them will probably not understand your accent.

But, if you encounter someone who’s impatient or rude to you, the best idea is to stop them and not indulge in that conversation. You must remember you are still learning, and in this case, it is not you, but the other party is at fault.

10. Travel More

Do you love traveling? Well, here is another reason to do so! Pack your bags and go on that language study trip, a short holiday, and that volunteer experience on your CV!

This will help you gain some great experiences and ditch your fear!

These were some ways you can overcome all your fears related to English speaking and become a pro!