Faster Foreign Language Learning

A very common roadblock in learning another language is the fear of speaking a foreign language. We worry we’re going to sound stupid, say one thing when we meant another, or at the very least that people won’t understand us and we’ll sound like blithering idiots.

A little shyness is normal, but some learners have a real dread of saying foreign words when anyone else is around. Needless to say, that dread can stop any real language learning. If that sounds like you, here are some simple, low-stress steps you can take to get closer to being able to speak a foreign language with more confidence.

Repeat After me

The first step is to just get used to physically saying the words out loud. Get an audio course that gives you plenty of opportunity to repeat after a native speaker. The ideal is when the speaker says the word slowly, syllable by syllable, then at a natural speed and you get a chance to repeat both times. If you can’t find a good course through your local library or bookstore, look around online. No courses at all? Try singing along to a song you know well or have the lyrics to.

Talk to Yourself

Once you’ve already been speaking along with someone else, move on to speaking alone. Just saying a few words aloud when no one else is around helps you get used to hearing yourself say foreign words. Repeating words and phrases aloud also helps you remember them better.

Grab your phrase book, pick out a very common phrase (“Hello,” “Good afternoon,” “Excuse me.”), and say it out loud in as close to normal volume as you can. Keep practicing like this until saying new words out loud when you practice is almost a habit. Eventually, it will no longer sound strange to hear those foreign words coming out of your month.

Join a Class

“Weakness in numbers” is one way to reduce your fear of making mistakes in front of someone. An acquaintance of mine only took language classes with 10 or more people because she felt more comfortable seeing that she wasn’t the only one who made mistakes. (As a bonus, bigger classes also tend to be cheaper.)

If you don’t like the idea of speaking in front of that many people, though, taking lessons with just two or three others still takes a lot of the pressure of you. It will give you the chance to talk a little bit without forcing you to talk for the entire lesson.

Assess Yourself

The fact is unless you learned strictly from printed material, you probably sound a lot better than you think. Yes, you may have a strong accent and make grammatical errors, but when you talk, people are concentrating on what you say more than how you say it.

The absolute best way to build your confidence is to speak the language with a native speaker. The idea might be a little scary, but once you realize you can communicate with native speakers, your confidence will soar.

If you can snag a native speaker, but you’re not ready for a full conversation, start by simply pronouncing those basic phrases you’ve been practicing. Ask, “So, now, am I pronouncing this right? Is is …?” You’ll either get, “Yeah, that’s right!,” “No, actually it’s…,” or “Um, I’m sorry, what word are you trying to say?” The last two replies do not mean your conversation partner assumes you have an IQ lower than your shoe size. They know you’re learning.

Another good trick is—now don’t run away screaming—recording yourself. Basic physiology means we never hear our own voice the way others hear it. By listening to a recording of yourself, you’ll know for sure what other people hear when you speak. As long as it doesn’t sound like garbled shrieks from the devil incarnate, you’re probably all right.

Extra Tip: Watch Movies

Pick up some movies made for a native speaking audience and watch, listening for whatever words you can make out. This brings your target language out of the academic realm and into the realm of everyday use. When you’re just starting with a language, you tend to have a subconscious belief that these foreign words are just “funny sounds” and may not “work” for actual communication. Hearing them used by real people (albeit actors) in context makes you realize that those funny sounds do “work.”

Be Aware of Cultural Expectations

Very generally speaking, the more common the language, the less props you’ll get for your attempt to learn. Speakers of some languages have a reputation for being particular about how their language is spoken. A Swiss lady I knew once mentioned that although she spoke fluent French, whenever she spoke French to natives of France, they made not-too-impressed comment about her accent. Others may be a little cliquish about (or protective of) their language—as an extension of their culture—and not appreciate your attempts to butt in.

The point is to realize that if your efforts aren’t warmly received, check with other learners. You’re probably not the only one getting a cool reception. Keep doing the best you can and know that those who laugh or make rude comments are most likely either monolingual or are hypocrites who don’t have the language skills they demand of you.

Have your own tips to share with FFLL readers? How to build your confidence when you’re learning another language? If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment below.

Related posts:

1. Fear of Speaking a Foreign Language? Consider This When You Travel
2. Foreign Language Learning for Introverts: Speaking Practice Tips for Immersion Situations
3. How to Learn Foreign Language Vocabulary When You Have No Time to Study
4. Worried about Being Laughed at? Don’t Let Rude People Hold You Back!
5. Literacy by Brute Force: How I Really Learn Alphabets

Tags: afraid to speak foreign language, fear, introvert, scared, shy