How to Conquer Fear of English Speaking

As a learner of English as a second language (ESL), you often fear speaking in this foreign tongue. You are worried about making mistakes in grammar, vocabulary, or pronunciation. This anxiety holds you back from expressing your opinions, communicating with others, or even asking questions. You fear sounding and looking stupid to native speakers. As a result, you become timid and cut-off from others.

Banish your fears. Do not be insecure. You can speak with confidence, poise, and even elegance. Below are the proven ways by which you can finally gain self-assurance in speaking English:

1. Set Free From Self-Consciousness

The first step you can make to develop your skills in speaking English is to set free from self-consciousness. Do not be too conscious about mistakes. As long as you make sense, you will be able to communicate.

Why are you overly self-conscious? You are afraid to commit mistakes in your vocabulary, grammar or intonation. Accept that mistakes do happen. It can happen to beginner, intermediate and advanced learners. It often happens to native speakers. They commit mistakes but they do not let their mistakes stop them from talking again with courage.

2. Picture Success and Develop It

Picture yourself as a successful English speaker. Imagine yourself not being frozen with fear. Imagine how impressed the people around will be to hear you speak. Imagine them applauding your presentation, commending your speech, or simply being awe-struck with your talk.

Next, outline the ways through which you can become your pictured self. Should you study with a tutor or at home? Should you buy books? Should you undergo training? Should you make English a part of your everyday habit? If you are serious about your plans to speak English authoritatively, then your answers to these entire questions must all be yes!

To motivate yourself, focus on the benefits of your goals. If you can articulate well, you can lead, convince, teach, explain and communicate. You will open doors to unlimited opportunities in life, work, and perhaps even love.

3. Shun Negative Thoughts

Disabuse your system of all the negative thoughts. These thoughts will break you apart. If you believe in these negative thoughts, then you will either become or stay poor at speaking English.

What should you do? Immediately, picture yourself successfully conversing. Picture the doors of opportunities that will open to you if you can only competently speak English. Picture the promotions at work and the people you can speak with during your travels or online. The opportunities are endless. Continue to do all it takes for you to be fluent and spontaneous in speaking English.

4. Live Out English

Practice makes perfect. So what can be better than practicing English every day? The answer: Make it a part of your life. Yes, fold it into your everyday routine. Practice makes you study for a few minutes to hours each day. Living out, on the other hand, makes you review lessons and polish skills all throughout the day! Keep trying until English becomes a mainstay in your daily schedule. You have no reasons not to practice it in your many daily activities. Do not be timid or a coward. You can learn if you take heart.

It will take some time for you to master English speaking but it is important that you do not stop practicing. Keep your enthusiasm in learning how to speak English words correctly and convincingly.