- 31 Dec 2021
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How to overcome the fear of speaking a foreign language
You have started learning a foreign language. Therefore, you are attending a language course in Basel, learning new vocabulary there, using flashcards at home, studying new grammar topics. And then comes the moment of truth: you meet a native speaker!
Excited and nervous to show what you have learned, you begin to speak and soon start stuttering because, while talking, you repeatedly ask yourself questions: „Does my accent sound terrible? Am I making a fool of myself?“ etc.
Reading, listening and learning vocabulary and grammar is one thing. But when it's time to actually speak a foreign language, it's a whole different ballgame. One of the biggest barriers that prevents many language learners from practising and improving the foreign language is fear.
Identify the cause of the fear of the foreign language
Many people are anxious when it comes to trying out their skills in a new foreign language. They are too shy to express themselves, and before they know it, they give up and switch back to their native language or use an online translator.
Anxiety is a completely normal part of language learning, especially when it comes to interacting with another culture. The first step to overcoming it is to figure out what you are really afraid of. Once you identify it, it becomes easier to fight it.
Listening, repeating, and talking to yourself is the best way at the beginning to take the first steps on the path to self-confidence. Patience is a virtue here, and we recognise the benefits above all when learning a foreign language.
Overcoming fear through self-talk
A great trick to overcome feelings of anxiety is to talk to yourself. This one-to-one conversation could be with another language learner, a native speaker or even with another non-native speaker who wants to help.
We advise you not to neglect the language course. Because there you will find native speakers as language teachers and language learners as course participants. With SLA Basel we offer you language courses in various foreign languages and levels.
Once you have a reasonable amount of self-confidence, you can try to find another language learner to speak with. This is especially good if you are afraid of feeling embarrassed in front of a native speaker. Be patient with yourself and work your way up to speaking the foreign language more carelessly and confidently.
Free yourself from your ego
We are all afraid of making mistakes and embarrassing ourselves in front of native speakers. However, that has nothing to do with the truth. One of the best ways to overcome your fear is to trust native speakers and know that they will not try to embarrass you. Changing the way you perceive others is an important step in overcoming your fear of the foreign language.
Identify where you get stuck when speaking and work on it. It is similar to a video game: you can keep getting stuck at the same level, but once you have passed it, everything feels easier. Fear is an enemy that comes from within, and we usually have to fight it from within too.
Mistakes are a part of learning
What some people call fear is simply the desire not to fail. The ego is one of the main reasons why many people are afraid to speak a new language. You might be so worried about how you will look when you make a mistake and then decide simply not to speak at all. That makes you your own worst enemy.
Let go of your ego. Realise that mistakes are an important part of learning a new language. They definitely don't make you look stupid. In reality, making mistakes is one of the best ways to learn and remember things in the future.