The podcast discusses the importance of confidence in speaking English, providing strategies to improve fluency and pronunciation. They share exercises, mindset tips, and resources to enhance proficiency. The hosts emphasize embracing English as a friend, facing fears, and managing negative thoughts to build confidence.
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Quick takeaways
Building confidence in speaking English requires mindset and confidence-building exercises.
Shifting the language used from 'need to' to 'get to' and confronting fears are effective confidence-building strategies.
Deep dives
Confidence is a Skill
Confidence in speaking English, or any other language, is often desired but not always achieved. While confidence naturally improves with practice and fluency in English, it can also be developed and treated as a separate skill. By working on mindset and confidence-building exercises, individuals can boost their confidence and improve their fluency. Increasing appreciation for what English has enabled them to do, changing language from 'need to' to 'get to,' and doing something that scares them are all effective confidence-building exercises. In addition, managing negative thoughts and patterns through pattern interruption techniques can also improve confidence.
Appreciation Practice
One exercise to build confidence is the appreciation practice. By reflecting on and appreciating the positive experiences that English has brought into their lives, learners can shift their perception of English from an obstacle to a tool for growth and connection. Taking a moment each day to acknowledge and write down specific examples of what they can now do thanks to their English skills fosters a sense of gratitude and builds a more positive mindset.
Choosing Your Words and Confronting Fears
Changing the language we use can have a profound impact on our mindset and confidence. By replacing 'need to' with 'get to,' learners shift their focus from obligation to privilege, acknowledging the opportunities that English learning provides. Another confidence-building exercise is deliberately doing something that scares them, such as going live on social media or attending job interviews in English. Confronting fears and stepping out of comfort zones allows learners to challenge self-doubt and build resilience.
Managing Negative Thoughts
Negative thoughts and self-doubt can significantly impact confidence when speaking English. Learning to manage and interrupt these patterns is crucial for building confidence. Techniques like pattern interruption, involving actions like physical movement, reaching out to a friend, or redirecting thoughts towards positive affirmations, can break the pattern of negative thinking and help boost confidence. Developing the skill of managing negative thoughts enhances confidence and allows learners to focus on their progress and growth.
Being a confident English speaker is definitely one of our goals when it comes to communicating in English. Confidence is not necessarily something you’re born with, but something you can work on and improve every day. And when you build that confidence, you will see and feel the results. You will find that you put all the second-guessing aside and put your energy into doing new things.