Some people are afraid to speak another language because people will laugh at them. This isn't gender-specific. Think about it. Unless you are a comedian, you don't want the laughs in this way.
Other people don't want to speak unless they can control their speech-no mistakes, basically.
I'm sure some of you have heard the speaker who speaks so carefully that it sounds robotic.
"I-am-pleased-to-meet-you. Please-insert-batteries-so-I-may-move-to-level-2-speaking."
It's difficult and indeed painful for those of us who analyze and aim for perfection to get out there and make the almost inevitable errors we will make on the road to fluency.
I am going to offer my suggestions to breaking the barrier. Please add your suggestions and stories if you like. Any language commonly used at Antimoon is okay.
a. Don't care. Don't be sloppy, but don't take the laughs as a reason to see a psychaitrist. You are tough. You can take a few laughs.
b. Some people laugh because they are nervous. This happens in Japan, as one example. It may not be what you said, it may be how a high school girl reacts in her group.
c. Ask politely and find out if you said something unusual and ask for the correction.
d. Read up on the customs and culture of the countries where your target language is spoken. You may say something correctly, but what you say may be taboo.
e. Think of other ways to say something if you forget a word.
f. Practice ahead of time. Have an introduction, basic greetings down.
e. Saying something dumb now can be a good story for later.
Other people don't want to speak unless they can control their speech-no mistakes, basically.
I'm sure some of you have heard the speaker who speaks so carefully that it sounds robotic.
"I-am-pleased-to-meet-you. Please-insert-batteries-so-I-may-move-to-level-2-speaking."
It's difficult and indeed painful for those of us who analyze and aim for perfection to get out there and make the almost inevitable errors we will make on the road to fluency.
I am going to offer my suggestions to breaking the barrier. Please add your suggestions and stories if you like. Any language commonly used at Antimoon is okay.
a. Don't care. Don't be sloppy, but don't take the laughs as a reason to see a psychaitrist. You are tough. You can take a few laughs.
b. Some people laugh because they are nervous. This happens in Japan, as one example. It may not be what you said, it may be how a high school girl reacts in her group.
c. Ask politely and find out if you said something unusual and ask for the correction.
d. Read up on the customs and culture of the countries where your target language is spoken. You may say something correctly, but what you say may be taboo.
e. Think of other ways to say something if you forget a word.
f. Practice ahead of time. Have an introduction, basic greetings down.
e. Saying something dumb now can be a good story for later.