How can I feel more confident when speaking English?

Speaking English as a second language can be a daunting experience. The insecurities that arise are often influenced by psychological, cultural and educational factors. Understanding the root causes of these insecurities is the first step in addressing and overcoming them. With a positive mindset, supportive environments, and a shift in focus from perfection to progress, it's possible to build strength and feel confident when speaking English. Remember, embracing imperfection is part of the journey towards mastery. Your efforts and dedication will lead to growth and improvement in your language skills.

Speaking a foreign language can really test our confidence!

Root causes: why do I feel insecure?

For many, the experience of speaking English as a second language can be accompanied by a sense of insecurity, hesitation, and self-doubt. Let's delve into the underlying reasons behind these feelings and explore strategies to overcome language-related insecurities. 1. The Psychological Aspect:

• Fear of Judgement:

Speaking a new language exposes individuals to the fear of being judged. The worry about making mistakes or sounding "unintelligent" often hinders confidence in speaking English. Strangely enough, this fear is also present when we speak English in front of people from our same country, especially if we think their English is better than ours and we are scared of what they may think. Instead of feeling safer with our peers, we may feel in competition with them, or simply uncomfortable if we think that our English should be better than what it is. This constant comparison can cause great distress and make it harder to improve, because worrying and stressing are not conducive to learning. This whole cycle of stressing and not learning can mek insecurities grow bigger and stronger.

• Self-consciousness:

Insecurities may stem from self-consciousness about one's accent, pronunciation, or grammar. These concerns about not being 'fluent enough' may lead to hesitation in communicating. A common scenario is when we try to speak to a native speaker and realise that they find it hard to understand us and we find it hard to understand them. When that happens, we immediately think “my English is not good enough” when in fact there are many other reasons that may make it difficult for two people to understand each other (were you talking on the phone in a noisy environment? Were you speaking in a very low voice because you were feeling a bit nervous? Did they use slang or words that you don’t know? The list goes on…)

2. Sociocultural Factors:

• Cultural Expectations:

Cultural differences and expectations about communication styles can contribute to insecurities. Different cultures have varying norms and attitudes toward language use, affecting one's confidence in speaking English. For examples, in some cultures it is acceptable to interrupt our interlocutor during a conversion, while in other cultures it is considered rude, so if we get interrupted while trying to utter a sentence in English we may think ‘my English is not good enough and this person is bored and that’s why they’re interrupting me’ while, in fact, they could be trying to help or it could simply be the way they interact with people normally. Getting interrupted or having the feeling that the other person struggles to understand us can definitely have a negative impact on our confidence and cause insecurity.

• Perceived Power Dynamics:

In social contexts where English is the dominant language, there might be perceived power dynamics that impact an individual's confidence. The fear of feeling inferior or 'less competent' can lead to insecurity. If, for example, we are sitting at the pub or at a restaurant with a group of people who are all native speakers, having a normal conversation can feel terrifying: will everyone judge our English? Will they even understand what we are trying to say? Even if they seem nice and patient, is it very boring for them to listen to us? These unhelpful thoughts are very common amongst English learners, especially exchange students or international students who find themselves in a new country trying to learn a language. Situations like this can be daunting, and it is only normal that they make us feel a little insecure.

3. Educational and Learning Environment:

• Past Educational Experiences:

Negative experiences in educational settings, such as harsh correction or ridicule for language mistakes, can leave lasting impacts on one's confidence in speaking English. If, as a young student, you had a teacher who corrected you all the time or told you that you were not good at learning English, it is possible that you’ll feel very insecure about it, even after many years have passed. Unfortunately the attitude of the people around us can be very powerful and can either boost or kill our confidence.

• Learning Environment:

Finally, the environment in which one learns English, including a lack of supportive resources or opportunities for practice, might contribute to feelings of insecurity. If we are working a lot or are very busy with university or anything else, it can be hard to find the time and the peace of mind to study and practice in a calm and relaxed environment. Since a situation like this may make it harder to see progress, it may lead us to think that we are not very good at learning English, and as a consequence harm our confidence.

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There are strategies to boost confidence when speaking English

Now that we have discussed some of the most common causes of insecurity, we can look at how to overcome them, so that we can feel confident when speaking English! Below is a list of coping strategies that will help you change the way you rhink about mistakes, speaking and practising!

Coping Strategies: how can I feel more confident when speaking English?

• Embrace imperfection:

Understanding that making mistakes is a part of the language-learning process can alleviate insecurities. Let’s try to see imperfections as stepping stones to improvement: start by reframing your perception of what a ‘mistake’ is: mistakes are valuable learning opportunities and they’re a natural and necessary part of learning. LEARN MORE >>

• Create a Safe Speaking Space:

Finding a supportive environment to practise English, such as with friends, language exchange partners, or supportive teachers, can boost confidence. Engaging in conversations in a relaxed, informal setting helps in practising English without the fear of judgement. Sharing thoughts, experiences, and everyday discussions contributes to confidence-building, and this is true regardless of whether our interlocutors are at a much higher or much lower level than we are! LEARN MORE >>

• Focus on progress, not perfection:

Shift the focus from achieving 'perfect' English to making progress. Celebrate small victories and improvements along the language-learning journey.

• Focusing on progress emphasises the journey of continuous improvement rather than fixating on an unattainable standard of perfection. This mindset shift allows learners to appreciate and celebrate every step forward.

• Recognising and celebrating small victories, such as mastering a difficult concept or expressing oneself more confidently, fuels motivation. These successes reinforce the belief that improvement is attainable. LEARN MORE >>

• Positive Affirmations and Mindset:

Developing a positive mindset and using affirmations can help in boosting confidence. Self-affirming thoughts can counteract negative self-talk.

• Combating Negative Self-Talk:

Affirmations counteract self-doubt and negative thoughts by providing a positive, empowering narrative. They act as a shield against the impact of pessimistic self-talk.

• Enhancing Confidence:

Regularly repeating positive affirmations helps rewire the mind, instilling confidence and reinforcing the belief in one's ability to learn and master English. LEARN MORE >>