HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH CONFIDENTLY
When someone expects you to speak to them in English, you become anxious, stutter, and even go blank. This is normal, especially if you are not a native English speaker (but it does happen to some native English speakers as well!). There are, however, ways to increase your confidence when speaking English — here are some tips we would like to share with you, so you can speak English confidently:
- Practice
Many non-native English speakers feel uneasy because they are afraid of making a mistake and feel embarrassed. But, it’s simple to include into your daily routine! Using English more in your conversations, responding in English, and simply spending a few minutes each day studying pronunciation can make a significant difference in your ability to listen, comprehend, and then speak English. Set aside 15-20 minutes each day to practice pronunciation, and do it on a daily basis.
- Change Your Attitude Towards Making Mistakes
Forget about grammatical errors or a limited vocabulary when you begin speaking. You won’t be able to start your first word if you think about it too much. You can also overdo talks or circumstances by taking too long to respond. Allow yourself to learn these grammatical and vocabulary issues as you go. Take notes if your words start to falter at a certain point and start looking for corrections the next time. To put it another way, you must prepare to make mistakes.
- Plan your conversations
If you’re going to an event where you’ll be able to perform your English, think about what small talk you’ll make ahead of time. Are you going to discuss your job? or some questions such as “Have you been here before?” “Do you live around here?”, etc. It’s a good idea to have some conversation starters on hand so you can practice the vocabulary you’ve been learning. This way, you won’t feel pressed to think of something intriguing to say in the heat of the moment.
- Stay calm and speak slowly
You don’t have to rush your response, calm down and give yourself time to think of the proper words. Trying to speak quicker than you can think of words can make you uneasy and impair your ability to compose whole sentences. Don’t forget to breathe, you can begin by doing breathing exercises, particularly if you are nervous about speaking. Breathing forces you to slow down, allowing you time to consider your words before speaking. It’s absolutely acceptable to want to slow down the conversation, especially if you’re speaking with someone who is fluent in English.
These are some tips to help you overcome your shyness in English. Remember to be at ease with yourself once more.
References:
Gomez-Taylor, M. (2022, April 4). How Not to Feel Shy When Speaking English. In English With Love. https://www.inenglishwithlove.com/blog/improve-english-when-shy
Mykhalevych, N. (2022, June 1). How to speak English fluently: 12 Powerful tips and tricks. Language Learning with Preply Blog. https://preply.com/en/blog/how-to-speak-english-fluently/
O. (2021a, September 22). 6 unusual ways to improve your confidence speaking English. EF English Live. https://englishlive.ef.com/blog/study-tips/six-unusual-ways-improve-confidence-speaking-english/
Times, I. (2022, June 15). 7 Tips Menghilangkan Rasa Takut Saat Speaking Bahasa Inggris. IDN Times. https://www.idntimes.com/life/education/febriyanti-revitasari-1/tips-menghilangkan-rasa-takut-saat-speaking-bahasa-inggris-c1c2/7?page=all
W. (2021b, November 8). 5 ways to boost your confidence when speaking English. Academia Blog | Official Blog of Academia. https://www.academia21.com/blog/2020/07/10/5-ways-boost-confidence-when-you-speak-english/