The key thing here is don't write it down. Reading something is a very different skill than saying something. If you want to be able to talk spontaneously, then practice that. Use your phone to keep track of your vocabulary. There are apps that help you memorize it. I really think this notion of practice and leveraging technology can really help.
Having to communicate in a language other than our native tongue can be quite a challenge, especially without a script or prepared speech.
In this "Best of" episode, we revisit Matt's conversation with Kenneth Romeo about specific tactics that non-native speakers can use to handle in-the-moment challenges. Romeo also discusses why letting go of perfection is a key step toward speaking with confidence.
Romeo has served as the associate director of the Stanford Language Center and a teacher of English to non-native speakers through Stanford Continuing Studies. Romeo is a professor at Waseda University in Japan.
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