[Music] welcome back to another episode of podcast and chill I'm Leo and I'm excited to talk about today's topic hi everyone I'm Gwen it's great to be here again ready to share some thoughts with you all so Gwen do you know why today's episode is going to be great let me guess because you're hosting it exactly and because we're talking about something very important overcoming the fear of speaking English that's true many people are scared to speak English because they are afraid of making mistakes I used to feel the same way but then I realized
even superheroes make mistakes are you saying you're a superhero Leo well my mom says I am that's sweet Leo but seriously making mistakes is a natural part of learning absolutely and today we're going to help our listeners turn their fear into motivation ready Gwen ready is always Leo let's get [Music] started Gwen why do you think people are so afraid of making mistakes when speaking English well Leo it's Common People worry that mistakes will make them look silly that's true I remember when I started learning English I was scared of saying something wrong exactly this
fear can stop people from practicing which is the best way to improve so how can we help our listeners overcome this fear first understand that making mistakes is normal no one speaks perfectly from the start right even babies make mistakes when they're learning to talk imagine if they stopped trying good point Leo mistakes are helpful because they show us where to get better you know what sometimes making a mistake can be funny and make learning more fun laughing at mistakes can make us more relaxed and ready to learn so the takeaway is don't be afraid
of mistakes embrace them as part of your journey to fluency yes everyone remember every mistake is a step forward keep practicing and don't give up up Gwen I think many people worry about being judged when they speak English what do you think you're right Leo many people fear that others will think less of them if they make mistakes this fear can be very discouraging yeah I remember being nervous about my accent in grammar I always thought people were judging me it's common Leo but most people are more understanding than you think many appr appreciate the
effort you're making to speak their language that makes sense we are often Our Own Worst critics to build confidence focus on your progress not just perfection celebrate small wins and improvements right Gwen also surrounding yourself with supportive people helps they provide positive feedback and encouragement don't forget it's okay to make mistakes everyone makes mistakes it's natural in learning and growing so true speaking another language is a skill and like any skill it takes time and practice to improve the more you practice the more confident you become keep pushing yourself and don't let fear of judgment
hold you back Gwen another challenge is the lack of opportunity to practice speaking English what do you think you're right Leo without regular practice fear and anxiety build up it's crucial to find or create opportunities to practice I remember when I started learning I was too shy to speak because I didn't have many chances to practice practice builds confidence and reduces fear the more you use a language the more natural it becomes so what can people do to create more practice opportunities there are several strategies joining a language club or group is a great great
way to practice regularly you can also find language exchange Partners I've heard of language exchange apps where you can talk to native speakers that sounds good yes those apps are useful they allow you to practice speaking with native speakers from all over the world what about online communities are they helpful too definitely online communities and forums provide a supportive environment where you can practice writing and speaking in English another good way is to practice with friends or family members who are also learning English great Point Leo practicing with people you know makes you feel more
comfortable and less anxious so the key is to keep looking for opportunities to practice right absolutely don't wait for opportunities create them afraid meaning feeling fear or anxiety example people are often afraid of making mistakes when speaking English practice meaning repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill to acquire or maintain Proficiency in it example practicing every day can help you become more confident in speaking English improve meaning to make or become better example making mistakes is a natural part of learning and improving confident meaning feeling or showing certainty about something example the
more you practice the more confident you become opportunity meaning a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something example it's important to find or create opportunities to practice speaking English [Music] Gwen I've noticed many people feel pressure to speak perfect English why do you think that is it's common Leo many people think they must speak perfectly to be understood or respected this pressure can make speaking harder that makes sense when I started learning I was so worried about making mistakes that I became more nervous the fear of not being perfect can hold us
back it's important to remember that m Stakes are natural when learning so what can we do to reduce this pressure and set realistic goals one good way is to focus on progress not Perfection celebrate small victories and improvements instead of expecting Perfection from the start I like that idea maybe we can break down our goals into smaller manageable steps absolutely Leo setting small goals helps build confidence for example start with short conversations or practice specific phrases I practiced ordering food in English at restaurants it was a small goal but it helped me feel comfortable speaking
that's a great example real life practice in small situations is very helpful and we should be kind to ourselves when we make mistakes right definitely self-kindness is key remind yourself that everyone Mak mistakes and that each one is a chance to learn thanks Gwen that really helps put things into perspective you're welcome Leo remember the goal is communication not Perfection keep practicing and you'll improve Gwen shyness can really make the fear of speaking English even worse don't you think that's right Leo when you're shy it's easy to worry about being judged or making mistakes which
can make speaking harder so how can we overcome this shyness any tips one way is to start small practice speaking in low pressure situations like with close friends or family that makes sense I practiced English with my cousin it was less scary because I knew he wouldn't judge me exactly Leo another tip is to prepare in advance no knowing what you want to say can make you feel more confident I often write down key phrases or sentences before a conversation it helps me feel more prepared that's a great idea also remember to breathe and take
your time speaking slowly can reduce anxiety sometimes I try to rush through my sentences because I'm nervous but speaking slowly helps yes and don't forget to celebrate small successes each time you speak no matter how small is a step forward I remember the first time I ordered food in English it was a small step but it felt like a big win building confidence takes time so be patient with yourself thanks Gwen these tips are really helpful you're welcome Leo just keep practicing and remember that everyone feels shy sometimes Gwen let's talk about some ways to
practice speaking English what are some good methods sure Leo one good way is to join language clubs these clubs give you a place to practice speaking with others I agree I joined a language club and it was a great way to meet people and practice speaking regularly another good way is to use chat apps to talk with friends apps like WhatsApp or Skype are very helpful yes I use Skype to practice English with friends from other countries it's easy and fun also try to find native speakers to practice with they can give you quick feedback
and help with pronunciation I practiced with a native speaker I met online it really improved my speaking skills exactly Leo it's also good to set goals for your practice for example focus on improving your vocabulary or pronunciation in each session that's a good point I used to set go goals like learning five new words or practicing a sound another tip is to use online resources like language learning websites or apps many have speaking exercises and activities I love using apps like dual lingo they make learning fun and interactive finally don't forget to be consistent practice
regularly even if it's just for a few minutes each day consistency is key absolutely I practice Engish English every day even if it's just for a short time that's great Leo with these ways anyone can improve their speaking skills and become more confident thanks for the tips Gwen I'm sure our listeners will find them very helpful Gwen I think it's important to celebrate small successes when learning English what do you think absolutely Leo celebrating small successes builds self-esteem and confidence it's a great way to stay motivated yes like when you complete a simple sentence that's
worth celebrating right even small achievements like saying a new word correctly or having a short conversation should be noticed so how can we celebrate these small successes any ideas one way is to keep a journal of your progress write down every new word you learn and every conversation you have that's a great idea it's like keeping a record of your achievements yes and you can reward yourself maybe treat yourself to something nice when you reach a goal I love that it's like giving yourself a pat on the back for a job well done and don't
forget to share your successes with friends and family they can give more encouragement and support let's keep celebrating our progress and stay motivated [Music] perfect meaning having everything needed as good as possible example people think they must speak perfect English to be understood mistakes meaning something you do that is wrong example people worry that mistakes will make them look silly confidence meaning the feeling that you can trust yourself or someone else example setting small goals helps build confidence celebrate meaning to do something fun to show you are happy about something good example celebrating small successes
makes you feel good and builds confidence well when I think we've covered some great points today it's been a great session and I hope our listeners feel inspired and motivated and remember everyone celebrating small wins is key to building confidence and and staying motivated yes take each step one at a time and enjoy your progress we love hearing your stories and successes so please share them with us on our social media or in the comments below thank you for joining us today on podcast and chill we can't wait to see you next time keep going
and doing well and remember no matter how small the step it's a step forward celebrate each one until next time stay happy and keep learning goodbye everyone
