Nonnative English speakers are aware of how challenging it is to master a fluent conversation in English, giving rise to talking English anxiety. More often than I’d like to admit, I end up scrambling words when my brain makes me feel doubt, usually because of something I think I said incorrectly. Also, to my surprise, when I notice confusion in the person I talking with, I can’t help but to feel really anxious.

Talking English has almost always made me anxious. I desire to always be understood, to be fluent, and being self conscious about my accent are some of the things that contribute to anxiety. Maybe I shouldn’t be so perfectionist; seeking to express myself as I would in my native language might not be a good objective.

When I’m feeling more anxious than the usually I tend to be quieter and avoid certain conversations, specially the one’s I know can be challenging (talking to people with thick accents). The easiest thing to would be to follow what this emotion is telling me, but I know it only makes things worse.

Doing Instead of Avoiding

Instead of avoiding a challenge, I manage my anxiety by consciously telling myself that failing or making mistakes is necessary for improvement and acceptable. Making mistakes or being wrong is not a bad thing as long as one learns from experience.

I like to think that everything that is worth doing is worth doing wrong (at least the first time). Every bit of energy I put into improve my communication is worth it effort.

This is a cool video for people that are overly anxious.

The best thing one can do to stop talking English anxiety is to take action. It is in action where our minds do not have the chance to ruminate over different scenarios.

Even though the quality of a future conversation is unknown, it can either go smoothly or get interrupted, when we give it a try we are free from the burden of “what if I have tried”.

Practice Makes the Master

On a final note on language learning, practice is fundamental for improvement. During my first year when I returned to speak and write in English I relied on the app Hello Talk to connect with other speakers in my same level. This gave me the confidence I needed start practicing and a first step to growing my skills.