5 ways to boost your confidence when you speak English

Thanks to the English studies you took in school, you can talk and write with confidence and accuracy. You also understand every aspect of English grammar.

However, there are times when you are ready to speak but ultimately decide against it because you are a little scared to speak your mind.

When someone expects you to respond to them in English, you become anxious, stutter, or even lose your train of thought.

This is typical, especially if you don’t speak English as your first language (although some native speakers occasionally experience this).

Fortunately, there are strategies you may employ right now to boost self confidence when speaking English.

Practice, practice, practice

Practice is the first step to gaining more self-assurance when speaking English. You will feel less nervous when speaking as you utilize the language more. Yes, it is that easy.

Many international students experience anxiety because they fear making mistakes and seeming foolish.

And best of all, incorporating it into your regimen is simple!

You may greatly improve your ability to listen, understand, and speak English by using it more in your interactions, responding in English, and even just spending a few minutes working on your pronunciation.

You’d be astonished at how much this may assist if you set aside 15-20 minutes daily to perfect your pronunciation.

Stay calm and speak slowly.

You don’t have to respond right away; take your time and give yourself time to think of the right words.

You may become anxious and lose the capacity to create whole sentences if you attempt to speak more quickly than you can think the words. You might even feel a little frustrated or flustered afterward!

Tip

Starting with breathing exercises is a good idea, especially if you feel a little nervous about speaking.

You have to slow down to breathe, which gives you time to consider your words before speaking them. When speaking with a native English speaker, it’s acceptable to want to take things slowly.

Explore beyond English textbooks for more resources

Using all the resources available will help you become familiar with the English language. Furthermore, this goes beyond simply citing textbooks.

You can turn elsewhere for advice, ideas, and inspiration, while the textbook can teach you English grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. Media types include songs, podcasts, movies, and videos. Pronunciation lessons from listening to these can help you speak more clearly. Additionally, it can help you grasp things better (after all, communication involves speaking and listening!

It’s easy to get into the habit. Spending just 30 minutes a day seeing and hearing English speakers will help you become more fluent in the language. Eventually, you’ll find that your speaking has improved.

Practice speaking with other non-native speakers

Do you have any unease while around native speakers? Instead, practice with non-native speakers!

If you feel anxious, just remember that other non-native speakers probably feel the same way.

They won’t care if you make a mistake; they might not even notice since they are so preoccupied with using proper English.

Knowing that their “audience” (a phrase that refers to being in the same surroundings or position as others) is exactly like them might give some pupils a significant confidence boost.

Have you got some free time after English class? Set up a practice session with a few of your classmates.

In addition to improving your spoken English, you’ll meet some wonderful people.

Reward yourself and recognize your achievements

Have you gotten anything right? Did you converse with a native speaker with assurance? Are you conversing in larger sentences? Afterward, treat yourself! Observing little victories can boost your confidence when speaking English.

Recognize your accomplishments and make a mental note to praise yourself if you see that your word choice or sentence structure has improved.

You could even wish to capture it in writing or by typing it on your phone as a note. These small reminders let you see your progress and motivate you to keep going.

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