Buying doughnuts in Poland
and finding the confidence
Hello everyone,
Do you ever feel nervous or scared when you have to speak English? I certainly know how you feel.
My first English-teaching job was in Poland and while I was there, I had a go at learning Polish. It’s definitely not the easiest language to learn!
One of my favourite things to eat was Polish doughnuts but to buy one, I had to go into a shop and actually talk to somebody in Polish! I was terrified the first time! What if they didn’t understand me? What if they spoke back and I didn’t understand them?
One of my students taught me what to say and eventually, I found the courage to go into the shop. There was a bit of confusion about my grammar but I got my message across, got my doughnut and survived the experience!
After a while, I gradually got more and more confident going into shops, ordering in a restaurant, buying cinema tickets and so on. I could also have a conversation with my Polish teacher or a Polish friend.
My growing confidence came from a combination of practice, having a sympathetic teacher, and a determination not to let my nerves get the better of me. I certainly wasn’t going to let my fear stop me from eating doughnuts!
I know how frustrating and stressful it can be when you struggle to communicate in a second language.
My tip for you for today is to acknowledge the fear but then do the scary thing anyway! Speaking WILL get easier if you keep doing it! Don’t let your feelings get in the way of you achieving your goals!
And if you’re struggling to overcome the fear on your own, you might want to consider getting some help from a teacher like me. I’m working on a new programme for professional women who want to be able to use English more confidently. You can find more information here.
See you next week!
Katie
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