Do you realize how much you use English in your daily life? Like when you write a caption for your best pose during your last vacation, listen to your favorite songs, or even argue with your boyfriend / girlfriend and have to write a long text in English expressing your feelings? Lol haha.

But have you ever wondered why you freeze and stutter when you have to present your work or have a discussion in English?

If this sounds familiar, then this post is for you.

The Real Problem: Confidence

You might start wondering how to improve your speaking skills.

The fact that you understand the lyrics of your fav songs, read English instructions, and are able to express your feelings in English means your brain has developed enough English skills. Then, what’s the problem? The answer is confidence.

I had a hard time being confident enough to speak in English. I always believed what people said that mastering English skills could open up a lot of opportunities. And I used to think that I had enough English skills.

Everything changed when I was asked to present a project I had worked on at an international poster session – and I had to do it in English. So, I wrote a script and memorized it. On the big day, things didn’t go as planned. I stutter a lot, freeze, and can’t even feel my legs. Although I managed to finish the presentation, it made me realize how unconfident I was when speaking English.

Cultural and Environmental Challenges

Unfortunately, as an Indonesian growing up in a middle-class society, I find it very challenging to practice speaking in English. Because no role model could inspire me or share the tips. Moreover, the environment was not supportive enough. People often judged and got irritated when they heard their own kind speaking a foreign language.

My turning point came when I realized that not every blonde foreigner (re: bule) speaks English very well. Luckily, I also got enough environmental support where I can practice my speaking skills. Of course, the process was not quick and easy (not to mention I mispronounced a term “guy” into a “g*y” (T_T) ).

Personal Notes to Boost Confidence

Up until now, I have still been trying to improve my English skills. However, I think it’s worth sharing the overthinking that held me back and how I overcame it.

Not everyone speaks English Fluently

I used to believe that all foreigners (especially the blonde ones) speak English. Turned out there are blondes like Eastern Europeans who majority, don’t even speak English at all. And through some conversations, I realized that my English is better than theirs. So there is no reason for me to feel inferior to them anymore.

Be Proud of your Accent

Bear in mind that you don’t have to sound like Americans or British when you are trying to speak English. Look at how European has their unique accent when they speak in English. Rather than feeling embarrassed by your dialect/accent, instead, you have to be proud, as it shows cultural richness. Remember, it is totally fine!

Drop the Grammar

We Indonesians were taught a lot about English grammar at school, right? But believe me, don’t even think about it when you speak. Because in most conversations, even native speakers drop the grammar a lot. Of course, you will need it in formal forums. But if you’re just about to start practicing your speaking, don’t even bother about it. As long as you can understand each other, you will be good

Don’t Fear Getting Lost in Translation

I misheard and even forgot the translation a lot, and that’s totally fine. If you are in the middle of a conversation, and suddenly you forget what the English translation for your sentence just say sorry and quickly open Google Translate. Remember, the point of conversation is that the information is well delivered.

They won’t Judge You

Native speakers or people who have higher skills will try to understand your struggle. In most cases, they will patiently wait for you to complete your sentence. If they feel you struggled a lot, they will even try to help you find the right words. No reason anymore to be afraid.

Practice Further

When you are ready to improve further, you can then start to put the correct grammar in your sentence or practice your pronunciation.

I am myself still looking a various ways to improve my speaking skills. But so far, here are a few methods I applied and improve my skills:

Speak to Yourself

I know it sounds weird, and it really is. But it is not easy to find a partner to practice speaking. So you can be a partner for yourself. Pick a lightweight topic and try to tell yourself what has happened today. Use English as much as you can.

Think in English

When we are thinking, we actually talk to ourselves, too. But some people might keep their mouths silent, and some others didn’t. Try to start using English during your thinking process. It will make you like think twice at first, because you have to translate your thoughts into English and back. But once you get used to it, it makes your brain faster in crafting English sentences during conversation too. This will make your speech sound more natural and help reduce stuttering

Final Thought

Finally, don’t forget the fact that we’ve been learning English since elementary school. Our brain already has the skills – now the real challenge is gaining the confidence to speak them fluently.

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