The fear of saying something stupid exists not only when using a foreign language, but also when using your native language. This is due to many factors: fear of public speaking or judging other people. However, we have to overcome our fears in order to live and communicate in a familiar environment every day.
But what about English if there is no need to speak it every day?
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This situation is familiar to learners of any level of knowledge:
- Initial: "I don't know anything, so there's nothing to say."
- Medium: “I know everything, but I can’t say.”
The reasons are different, the cure is one - practice.
What is a language barrier?
Before you can solve a problem, you need to understand it. The language barrier is common and does not depend on the level of English. This feeling of insecurity to start or maintain a conversation for a number of reasons. Moreover, the excitement grows at a cosmic speed when communicating with foreigners.
There are many fears in my head:
- they will laugh at me;
- What if they don't understand me?
- But what if the interlocutor will speak on an unknown topic.
All these thoughts feed fears and paralyze speaking skills. Let's figure out how to get rid of them.
Why are we afraid to speak English?
The first and perhaps the most difficult thing is to learn how to control panic and identify stressors. It's no secret that in any business, anxiety is not an assistant. If a singer is going to perform in front of a large number of people, then due to excitement, he may lose his voice. If the news anchor is worried that he will forget the text, then this will certainly happen. See the connection?
Here are the main reasons that bother when communicating in English.
Fear of mistakes
If, when talking with a foreigner, you think: “If only you don’t make a mistake, if only you don’t blunder.” In 99% of cases, the opposite action occurs, which we tried our best to avoid. The brain was so busy thinking about the consequences of a slip that it could not think of anything else. No wonder it crashed at this point. Our thinking is arranged in such a way that during a conversation we cannot think about several things at the same time.
Let's get rid of heavy thoughts, think about what will happen if you make a mistake? I doubt that people will laugh and point fingers at you, after all, we live in a civilized society. No one will think badly of you either. English speakers have a lot of respect for people learning their language. Just put yourself in the place of the interlocutor. Would you begin to "drive into the paint" a person who is learning your language and trying to express himself?
Embarrassment
Have you heard the expression: "Impudence is the second happiness"? Sometimes you just need to make yourself known loud and clear, and in a situation of learning English, initiative is your best friend. Don't be afraid to start conversations with questions. You will show interest and practice familiar grammar structures. In this case, the interlocutor will talk more than you, but this will be the first step towards communication without barriers. People love to talk about themselves, give them that opportunity.
I do not understand
The truth is that speaking quickly with an unfamiliar accent can baffle many English speakers. The only difference is the reaction. If you focus only on unfamiliar words, you will inevitably begin to worry and miss everything that the person then said. Better abstract and listen to the "speech" in its entirety.
Think:
- what was it about;
- what emotions accompanied the intonation;
- what the opponent expects from you, the answer to the question or your opinion.
Believe me, by the tone of voice, gestures and even facial expressions, you will certainly guess the emotional message of the conversation. The rest is a matter of technique.
Small vocabulary
The lack of phrases and expressions can lead to pauses in the conversation. However, this is no reason to despair. Firstly, you can explain yourself with the help of improvised means, gestures and facial expressions. And secondly, be sure to study vocabulary. Do not take individual words, always highlight the context and write out whole phrases and phrases. Thus, you will have ready-made templates for answering questions.
Do not be afraid to forget a word, try to learn new expressions paired with synonyms and antonyms. This is an elegant way to get out of an awkward situation and explain what you mean. And also remember 3 times more.
Uncertain use of grammar
Some students do not attach much importance to tenses and the use of articles in the classroom and in homework, but then they inevitably run into problems.
Lack of grammatical knowledge leads to:
- incorrect use of verbs in speech;
- lack of word order in sentences;
- difficulties in expressing one's thoughts;
- misunderstanding on the part of the listener.
There is an exact recipe for getting rid of such problems:
- Start your practice with simple designs.
- Fill in knowledge gaps.
- Start immediately hone the skill by talking to yourself and the teacher.
- Get over your fear and look for any way to communicate with English-speaking people.
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Lack of Practice
Follow the principle: "The eyes are afraid, but the hands are doing." If you think about it, any business requires constant involvement. Experience does not come immediately, and at the beginning, the new always seems scary and frightening to us. Think about how you learned to ride a bike or swim. You had fears of falling or choking on water. But training after training and skill came.
High level guys can easily lose their fluency if they don't use the language for a long time. Set yourself up for small daily steps that will inevitably lead you to the result in a few months.
Principles for overcoming the language barrier
Now that we “know the enemy by sight”, we can definitely take the right steps to relieve anxiety in an English conversation. The problem seems to be the same, but the reasons for each will be different. This means that the solutions will be different. Having correctly diagnosed, we can easily find a cure for the language barrier.
Relax
A restless mind will not be able to help you correctly compose a sentence in English, much less remember a suitable phrasal verb. Therefore, do not think about the opinion of strangers, focus on your opponent. Smile and stay positive, it will make it easier and more comfortable for you to maintain a dialogue. You can directly tell the person that you are a little nervous, be sure that you will definitely be supported with a kind word.
Don't take mistakes to heart
You may be surprised, but people most often think about themselves and their feelings. No one will count how many phonetic or stylistic mistakes you made in speech. The main purpose of communication is the exchange of information and opinions. So your partner will also be focused to catch the meaning of your words.
Learning errors are our true friends. They show us what we can do even better. After all, if every day you stumble over the same stone, in the end you decide to go around it.
Forget about literal translation
Language is not only words arranged in the correct order, it is a combination of culture, traditions and history. How often have you faced the problem of translating "catchwords"?
Let's analyze the differences using the example "when the cancer hangs on the mountain", which is equivalent in meaning to "w hen pigs fly ".
With an irresistible desire to translate all the words in your head, try to think wider and find the right expressions to describe the whole situation. In such cases, knowing idioms and phrasal verbs will help you a lot.
Clarify if unclear
Don't be afraid to ask again. It's better to be specific about a vague question than to answer off topic. So you let the person know that you are in doubt, and he will have the opportunity to rephrase the statement using simpler expressions. If you still do not want to ask leading questions, then repeat what you think the person said using your own vocabulary and interrogative intonation. Your interlocutor will only be happy to help you and support you if something does not work out for you.
We are all different and the problems of the language barrier too. The main thing is to be able to overcome them through practice.
How to remove the language barrier?
You learned the basic principles of stress relief during live communication. It should be mentioned that all the techniques that we will tell you about do not work like a “magic pill”. But they will certainly help you speak more confidently if you stick to regular practice. Now that you've set yourself up for positive emotions, let's look at practical tips that will greatly ease your difficulties in a conversation.
The answer is always in the question
English grammar can be confusing for "novice users". You can draw tables and use pre-prepared templates, but it's better to just listen carefully. This language can hardly be called logical and structural, but this case, our luck and exception. If you are in doubt when to answer, pay attention to the question. The fact is that grammatically, the question and answer must always be consistent. Therefore, you just have to correctly define the construction and apply it using your own vocabulary.
Use English in life
In general, communication difficulties arise from the infrequent use of language. Individual lessons with a teacher are a great start and good discipline, but still not enough measure to speak easily and freely. The pronunciation and meaning of words is forgotten after 30 minutes after learning. You may not need to call friends from other countries or foreign colleagues on a daily basis, but you can arrange such a practice yourself.
How to do it:
- Comment aloud on your actions.
- Write a post on social networks.
- Watch movies in the original.
- Reading aloud.
- Tell yourself how your day went.
- Voice your feelings and emotions while watching your favorite TV series.
Sing songs
Foreign performers are very popular among the Russian-speaking population. With the help of singing, you can not only work on the correct pronunciation, but also get real pleasure from the meaning of the composition. Choose your favorite "tracks" and search for the lyrics on the internet. Do not rush to watch the translation, try to catch the general context on your own. Read the lines several times, and then try to parody the performer by imitating his manner of speaking.
Thinking out loud
To learn to speak a foreign language, you need at least a partner. But if you have a teacher or a friend abroad, but there is still not enough practice, then there is a very simple and affordable option. Voice your thoughts in English. Make sure that there is no one who will embarrass you with their presence, and start talking about your impressions and emotions. Think about what words and phrases you need to describe a recent situation. Tell yourself the plot of a well-known movie or book. You can say whatever comes to your mind, the main thing is to do it as often as possible. Over time, you will find it easier to talk to people.
Shadowing
The favorite technique of phoneticians has a fairly wide application. The process combines listening, but without attention to vocabulary and grammar. A special role is given to pronunciation and connected speech. This allows you to pronounce words in the correct rhythm and sound, close to native speakers. For such exercises, small videos may be suitable. Try to stop recording after each sentence, imitating the speaker's speech as much as possible. Pay attention to the technique of breathing and stress.
Method "Interview"
The teaching methodology should arouse genuine interest and curiosity. Imagine that you have a chance to talk to your favorite actor or director. You can prepare a list of questions, making sure the grammar is correct in advance, and then turn on the recorder and voice the recorded sound. You will soon find it much easier to deal with oral grammar, and you will be doing this exercise already without preparation. It is important to listen to your recordings and note where mistakes or hiccups were made.
Conclusion
To overcome the language barrier, you need to clarify the cause of its occurrence. It can be psychological, in which case we have to work on thinking and attitudes. Or the stress factor is hidden behind a lack of knowledge, which leads to the systematic completion of certain tasks to improve a particular skill.
Be patient and optimistic. Praise yourself even for small victories. Every teacher was once a student and walked the same path as you. Only constant training will help you become a confident "speaker".
Even teachers need to maintain knowledge.
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We hope that you will apply our recommendations and come to the desired result. We will be glad to read your opinion in the comments.