| It's natural to feel a little intimidated when trying | | | | It's easy to hide behind books and tapes |
| to communicate in a language you don't know | | | | memorizing vocabulary and writing grammar |
| well. We all worry about miscommunication or, at | | | | exercises. But is that why you're learning another |
| the very least, making mistakes will leave us | | | | language? Instead of hanging back, consider your |
| feeling like crawling under the table with | | | | ultimate goals and aim to get as close them as |
| embarrassment. | | | | you can right now. Don't wait until you know |
| To some extent, that hesitance encourages you | | | | more to start watching movies and TV programs |
| to take care with word use, pronunciation and | | | | or reading magazines and newspapers in your |
| grammar and actually helps you learn more | | | | target language. Knowing you're dealing with real |
| accurately. Too much anxiety, however, can stop | | | | world language native speakers themselves use |
| you from getting the communication practice you | | | | can really boost your confidence even if you don't |
| need to advance your skills. If you think your | | | | understand much at first. |
| fears are holding you back, there's a lot you can | | | | Don't stop with passively reading and listening, |
| do about it. | | | | though. Speaking and writing are also critical. The |
| Don't go it Alone | | | | Internet is full of opportunities to practice these |
| Sitting alone reading vocabulary words out of a | | | | communications skills. Start off with an email |
| textbook can make anyone feel awkward. | | | | penpal if you don't feel comfortable speaking yet. |
| Instead of talking to yourself, bring in another | | | | Then move on to chatting with a language |
| voice. One fun way to get used to saying words | | | | exchange partner over Skype or a similar |
| in your target language out loud is to sing along to | | | | program. |
| songs in that language. Try listening to songs in | | | | Accept that You're a Learner |
| that language only for a week and you'll probably | | | | Like every other learner, from time to time you |
| find yourself singing without a second thought. | | | | will mispronounce things, use words wrong, make |
| Signing up for a language class with a high | | | | grammar errors that convey something different |
| student-teacher ratio (1 teacher per 10 or more | | | | from what you meant, forget seemingly basic |
| students) is another good trick for the timid. With | | | | vocabulary just when you need it most, and |
| this many students, you'll get just enough | | | | completely misunderstand things. |
| speaking time to ease into the language, but no | | | | Anyone who's learned another language will be |
| so much that you feel constantly put on the spot. | | | | understanding and forgiving about that. In fact, |
| If a language course isn't in the budget, try an | | | | most polite people, multilingual or not, will do their |
| audio course that allows you to repeat after or | | | | best to work with you. Not everyone will, though. |
| along with a native speaker. | | | | You may run into people who laugh, roll their |
| Another even cheaper method is to pair up with | | | | eyes, or even refuse to listen to you. All you can |
| another student of your target language. You'll not | | | | do with those people is ignore them or let their |
| only help keep each other on track, you'll also | | | | lack of confidence in you spur you on to work |
| provide each other with a non-judgmental | | | | harder and prove them wrong. Just don't let them |
| speaking partner. | | | | stop you. Forge ahead and eventually you will gain |
| Really Use the Language | | | | fluency and confidence. |