B1 – Intermediate
Learning a foreign language is not easy. Conversing in a language other than one’s mother tongue could make someone feel intimidated and nervous. Sometimes, it could even make a person frustrated.
However, there are ways on how to be more self-confident when you need to speak in a different language.
Listen to the audio and read the transcript about how to deal with speaking anxiety.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/260122
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “to relate to” mean? “I’m sure that’s a situation lots of people can relate to.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What is a “new joiner”? “So when I first joined the BBC, the Learning English team made an assessment of my English level, which they used to do for all new joiners to see if they need any help or courses.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “to stress” mean here, “I couldn’t really understand what the barista was saying, and I felt pretty nervous to order coffee and was trying to stress every single word, hoping that my grammar is correct and I am pronouncing the words right.” Use the verb in this context in a sentence. Give a synonym.
Discussion Questions:
- Why is speaking in a foreign language so stressful?
- How did having to speak in another language make you feel at first? How about over time?
- Share your opinion, “Mistakes are normal. Mistakes can be a good thing. They can help us learn.”
- What are some ways to fight anxiety when speaking a foreign language? In your case, which one is the most effective and why?
- Talk about your own experience where you got a little nervous about speaking in another language.