Are You Shy to Speak in Your Second Language?
Speak more to overcome shyness!
I admire those public speakers who can tell their stories in several languages. There are very few people who can speak well in their native language, so if you can do it in 1+ languages, hats off.
The speaking that public speakers do is at a different level. While some language learners dream of being in a similar position as them, you don’t need to do that if you simply want to have conversations with the natives.
Speaking conversationally alone takes a lot of practice. If you started learning the language as an adult with lots of responsibilities plus mental health issues, it may take 5+ years to reach that.
I started learning English in 2000 at 4 years old. I can make conversations in English now, but my mind still goes blank at times.
Are you shy to speak in your second language?
I don’t know what your second language is, but English is mine, so my examples will revolve around my experience learning it.
I spent 17 years of my life studying English in classrooms with professional English teachers, but they didn’t teach us how to speak better. We just sat there, taking in information. It was mostly input.
There were times we needed to speak in English, though. Once, there was an “English Only” policy not just inside the classroom but within the school premises. I think it was during the United Nations Day.
There were also English teachers who required us to speak in English until dismissal. However, looking back, I don’t think that was helpful because we could whisper to our classmates in Tagalog if we wanted to say something.
And they just wanted us to speak in English. There was no one to correct our pronunciation, our grammar, and our wording. I could say I wanted buying a bread, but no one would correct that.
Correcting mistakes may demotivate the person, and you may be called a Grammar Nazi if you do it even if you have good intentions. But it plays a role in improvement if done respectfully.
I learned English grammar and syntax by reading books, but I did it for my writing career. But let me tell you a secret: I often write out loud. Actually, as I type this very sentence, I read this — with voice!
That is one way to improve your speaking skills.
I like talking to myself while thinking, and I do both in English: I think in English, and I talk to myself in English. Having that quirk has helped me improve my speaking skills. No one hears me, but it doesn’t matter.
I think if you want to speak your second language flawlessly, you need to make the language a part of your system.
I have been thinking and self-talking in English for many years, so I struggle only when my emotions get a hold of me. Maybe I suddenly got anxious because thousands of people were listening.
So like any other skill, you will become a better speaker of your second language if you keep speaking that language. Practice, practice, practice! You don’t need to do it around people. Feel free to mumble.
What is your second language?
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