Are you afraid to speak English?

You’re not alone.

In fact, most people feel nervous about speaking a new language.

But what if I told you that you don’t need more information, you need more courage?

Here’s a story that might inspire you:

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“I registered for Christine’s Speed Networking session.

Yes, I was terrified to speak up. I was so afraid of making mistakes.

But then I remembered something I had read:

“Most of the time you don’t need more information, you need more courage.“

So, I took a deep breath and started to speak.

My voice was shaky at first, but I kept going.

I told the group about my fear of speaking English, and how I was determined to overcome it.

The other participants were supportive. They encouraged me to keep speaking, and even helped me with vocabulary.

When I finished talking, I felt proud of myself. I had faced my fear, and I had spoken up. I knew that I could do anything I set my mind to.”

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So, if you’re afraid to speak English, don’t be.

Just start speaking, and you will learn as you go along.

You might be surprised at how much you can learn and how much you can communicate.

Here are a few tips to help you overcome your fear of speaking English:

• Start small. Don’t try to do too much too soon. Start by speaking with people you know and trust—and then gradually start speaking with more people.
• Find a supportive community. Surround yourself with people who are encouraging and who will help you to feel comfortable speaking English.
• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes when they are learning a new language. The important thing is to keep practising.
• Be patient. Learning a new language takes time and effort.

You know I organise free Speed Networking sessions every two weeks.

Why not come and join me?

Have you ever said “Actually, that’s not bad” when you really meant “That’s great“?

This is an example of litotes. A common figure of speech that appears in everyday conversation.

It uses negative wording or terms to express a positive statement

Here are some other examples:

1. “She’s not unkind.” (meaning: She is kind.)
2. “The food isn’t bad.” (meaning: The food is good.)
3. “I’m not unhappy with the results.” (meaning: I am happy with the results.)
4. “He’s not lacking in confidence.” (meaning: He is confident.)
5. “She’s not a bad singer.” (meaning: She is a good singer.)
6. “The film wasn’t terrible.” (meaning: The film was good.)
7. “He’s not bad-looking.” (meaning: He’s attractive.)
8. “It’s not the worst idea.” (meaning: It’s a good idea.)
9. “I’m not unfamiliar with the concept.” (meaning: I’m familiar with the concept.)
10. “I’m not against your idea.” (meaning: I’m in favour of it.)

Have you ever used litotes in your everyday conversation without realising it?

Why not share an example in the comments below?

Ever wondered how Agatha Christie became the best-selling novelist of all time?

Watch the TED-Ed video and learn how Agatha crafted her mysteries with clever use of clues, misdirection and simple characters.

(You can also add subtitles or just read the transcript if you like.)

My sister was the big Agatha Christie fan in our family.

What about you?

Are you a fan of her novels? If so, do you have a favourite?

 

You might like Jon McNestrie’s brilliant idea.

Jon creates small templates to print on Post-it notes to make them more useful and exciting.

This might include a simple reflective template with a few questions and some spaces to answer them.

You’ll find the link to his templates and how it all works in his article on Medium.

I’ve not tried this out yet. 

But do tell me if you do.