Boost your English Speaking confidence and fluency

 

Introduction

My students are often surprised when I tell them that speaking with clarity, fluency, and confidence did not come easily for me. Yes, I'm a native English speaker and an English teacher with more than 25 years of experience, specializing in gaining fluency. However, that doesn't mean those skills came naturally to me, neither in my second language nor in English.

Have you ever thought, "I am just too shy to speak with confidence," or "I can never be confident like somebody else?" Perhaps you've listened to someone else and thought, "Oh, she speaks so fast; she's so fluent. Why can't I do that?" Or maybe you worry that if you slow down, you'll sound less fluent and that your coworkers will be bored. You may even feel foolish for forgetting the word you wanted to use and getting stuck. I have had all of those thoughts in both my second language and in English.

Then, I discovered that all of those beliefs—those things I was telling myself—were myths. A myth is a false belief. Recognizing the truth changed my mindset, my approach to learning, my motivation to practice, and my ability to make progress in my speaking. Most importantly, it gave me the confidence to keep going. This is true in my second language and in my native language, English as well.

Purpose of the Lesson

In this lesson today, I want to help you become a confident English speaker by addressing what is myth versus reality and providing practical action steps you can take to enhance your English confidence and fluency.

If this is your first time here, welcome! I'm Annemarie, an English confidence and fluency coach. Everything I do is designed to help you gain the confidence you want for your life and work in English. If you would like to access more free resources and lessons from me, including years of my weekly Confident English lessons, you can find them all at my Speak Confident English website. While you're there, make sure to download my in-depth training, "How to Get the Confidence to Say What You Want." This step-by-step training shares my number one strategy for building fluency and confidence.

Common Myths About Fluency and Confidence

Today, I want to address five common myths about fluency and confidence, highlighting the truth so you can make progress and move forward. When we believe in myths—false beliefs—they stop us from making progress, but it doesn't have to be that way. By understanding what is true and having practical action steps, you can move forward.

Here are the five myths we'll discuss today:

1. Some people are naturally confident speakers.

2. Fluent English is always fast English.

3. Confident speakers never need to seek clarification.

4. Confident speakers never experience setbacks and don’t really make mistakes.

5. You either have confidence or you don’t.

Myth 1: Some People Are Naturally Confident Speakers

This is a myth I believed for years because my husband is an extrovert who seems to feel totally comfortable speaking with anyone, always appearing confident in both English and his second language. It used to make me so jealous, but that feeling has changed. Like me, you might believe that some people, especially extroverts, are naturally confident when they speak due to their personality traits.

Extroverts are often described as outgoing, energetic, and conversational. This leads to another myth: that introverts can't be confident when speaking with others. Introverts are typically associated with being shy, reserved, and withdrawn, but that isn't always the case. Many introverts enjoy being around people and feel very comfortable in certain contexts. The difference is that introverts prefer to think before they speak, whereas extroverts think by speaking out loud.

The reality is that introverts can absolutely be fully confident, fully fluent, and speak with exceptional clarity in any situation. I know this to be true because I am highly shy and introverted, and I work with many students from around the world who are similarly shy and introverted in both their native and non-native languages, yet they develop the same skills.

Practical Approach for Introverts

I want to help you develop clarity, fluency, and confidence. Here’s a practical approach to help you speak with confidence, regardless of the situation. Use your natural skills as an introvert to your advantage.

You might not be an introvert in your native language; that might not be your true personality. However, you may experience some of those feelings in English due to anxiety when you want to speak. The advice I’m going to share applies in both contexts. The natural ability here is to take advantage of thinking before you speak by giving yourself time.