Losing your inhibition to speak a foreign language

Cornelia Büttler — Wed, 01 May 2024 09:26:44 +0000

Do you feel nervous about speaking in another language? Perhaps you get sweaty hands or your heart rate increases. These are signs that you might be feeling anxious. People often experience anxiety when speaking in front of classmates or conversing with native speakers. Don’t worry, we have some tips to help!

Anxiety is very common, but if the worries stop you from speaking you are missing opportunities to practise your target language. You’re also missing out on feedback as well as the chance to let other people hear your ideas.

It takes time to overcome anxiety about speaking in another language, but it can be done! Here are some ideas.

Set a goal

Start small. Set a goal that is a bit challenging but achievable and not too scary. For example:

Initiate a conversation with “How are you?” to a classmate or a foreign lanuage -speaking friend.

Decide to ask the teacher one question in your next class.

Here are some more challenging goals.

Chat with somebody for a few minutes.
Speak in front of an audience.
Make a phone call.

Remember, the goal is not to do these things perfectly, it’s just to do them! Search for opportunities, and if you achieve your goal, that’s great! Increase the difficulty of your goals over time.

Positive thinking

Tell yourself positive things: I can do it. I’ve got this. It will be OK! Whether you are a beginner or an advanced-level speaker, thinking negatively will limit what you do. Thinking positively will help you do your best and improve.

Face your fears

If you feel anxious, you may want to avoid speaking. It might be easier to do something totally different, such as reading or grammar exercises. However, avoiding the issue can just make it grow bigger and scarier. Just like any other fear, you must eventually face this one. Try to unblock yourself and don’t be afraid of making a mistake. You learn from everything, especially from your mistakes. Don’t wait – start speaking little by little. It will be OK!

Look for a good conversation partner

Try to find someone you feel comfortable speaking with, perhaps somebody who is patient and kind and interested in speaking in the desired language too. Of course, a teacher can guide you to learn more and more. If you can practise speaking regularly, it should help to reduce anxious feelings. Being in contact with the language at least two or three times a week is crucial to advance at a good pace.

Accept problems and mistakes

Learning a language is not easy, and you will definitely have problems and make mistakes along the way. Everybody does! But making a mistake can teach you a lot and help you improve your skills. Remember that good speakers are not people who speak perfectly all the time. Instead, good speakers can solve communication problems when they occur.

Plan what to do in case a problem occurs

We often worry about not knowing what to do when confronted with one of the following situations.

What if I forget a word?
What if my mind goes blank?
What if I don’t understand what the other person is saying?

By planning what you will do and say, you may feel less anxious. If you forget a word, for example, prepare some phrases such as I can’t remember the word. What I mean is … and then try to describe the word. You could perhaps use synonyms (It’s similar to …) or antonyms (It’s the opposite of …). Or if somebody says something you don’t understand, you can say Sorry, I didn’t get that or Sorry, could you say that again? Write these phrases in your notebook and practise them.

Communicating is not always smooth and perfect, even for native speakers. Overcoming such problems is a very normal part of speaking.

Note your progress

Over days and weeks, experiment with different ways to reduce and manage your anxiety. Keep notes of what works for you and what doesn’t. Write down your speaking goals and check them off as you achieve them. Doing this allows you to monitor your progress and build positive experiences of speaking.

Reward yourself

It might not be very motivating if you work hard and make progress, but only reward yourself with more practice! Enjoy a chocolate bar, a new notebook, take some time off to relax or do something that makes you feel good. Reward yourself when you achieve a goal, overcome a problem, learn something important or do something challenging.

Talk to yourself

Talking in front of a mirror is very important, it’s a good way to identify your qualities and defects. This will help you gain confidence.

Don’t compare yourself to others

Don’t waste time comparing yourself to others, we are all unique and learn at our own pace. Focus on yourself.

Forget the accent

Although phonetics are very important and at some point you must know the pronunciation of each word, the initial step is to understand and be understood. With practice and the help of a teacher you will also be able to improve your accent.

Think in the foreign language

This is one of the biggest challenges. Before starting a conversation, it is important to think about what you want to convey in the other language so that you can say it correctly.

Visualize your success

Sometimes the fear of speaking comes from low self-confidence. Visualize yourself speaking fluently, be positive and with practice, this will come true.

Make the foreign language a part
of your life

Try listening to music or watching TV shows or reading books or magazines in the target language.

Inhibition refers to a temperamental tendency to display wariness or restraint in response to unfamiliar situations. It is connected to worrying about making mistakes and discomfort with the extra attention that speaking in a foreign language might attract.

There are some factors that cause inhibition, such as a lack of motivation, shyness or low self-confidence. It is also interesting to note that there are levels of inhibition. Teachers can support their students to reduce their inhibitions in many ways. An important aid is good classroom management including the establishment of a good rapport between teacher and learners.

Sources:

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/english-levels/improve-your-english-level/how-reduce-anxiety-when-speaking-english

https://anglo.edu.py/2020/09/22/8-steps-to-losing-your-fear-to-speak-in-english/

https://media.neliti.com/media/publications/223638-inhibition-in-speaking-performance.pdf

Der Beitrag Losing your inhibition to speak a foreign language erschien zuerst auf inlingua.

Foreign Language Acquisition Against Skills Shortage

Cornelia Büttler — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 08:49:26 +0000

In our globalized world, language plays a central role in business. The ability to communicate effectively and overcome cultural barriers is crucial for the success of companies and organizations. At the same time, many countries and industries are facing an increasing skills shortage which presents a significant economic challenge and emphasizes the need for targeted talent acquisition.

The importance of language in business

The significance of language skills in business cannot be overstated. In a globally interconnected economy, it is essential to have language and cultural knowledge to effectively communicate with international partners, customers, and employees. The ability to communicate in different languages allows companies to tap into new markets, strengthen customer relationships, and create a more inclusive work environment.

The global skills shortage and its effects

According to experts such as McKinsey & Company, the global skills shortage is real and expanding. This widespread problem negatively impacts growth and innovation. Companies in various industries struggle to find qualified employees who possess the necessary skills and experience. This shortage can lead to production bottlenecks, lower service quality, and missed business opportunities.

Solutions to the skills shortage

To address the skills shortage, companies and organizations must develop and implement innovative talent acquisition strategies. One such strategy is recruiting talent from abroad to find employees who have the required expertise.

There are numerous examples where this occurs, employees found abroad to fill an employment need. Open positions for doctors, engineers and hospital employees are just a few that are often filled with applicants from abroad. Consider an employer with a staff shortage who discovers a surplus of trained workers in another country. It is a logical solution to offer language training to potential employees, facilitating their employment. Some inlingua centers currently offer specialized courses for this purpose.

The importance of language in business and the skills shortage are two closely intertwined challenges. Effective talent acquisition, focused on recruiting people with the necessary language and expertise, can help address these challenges and promote the growth and success of companies and organizations. It is essential to rely on the support of language schools such as inlingua, to ensure reliable communication and the integration of international professionals. Ultimately, the ability to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers will be crucial for the competitiveness and success of companies in the globalized economy.