Three Habits to Become a Confident English Speaker
Why do you want to improve your American English pronunciation? Which of these reasons resonates with you?
✅ To be able to feel comfortable dealing with locals in daily situations in the USA
✅ To speak up and be understood clearly at work
✅ To communicate with my English-speaking family members
✅ To feel like myself in English and for personal development
This is the question that I ask every new client. It’s important to have a clear goal in mind for this language journey. I promise you that the goal is NOT just “to pass the test” or “to speak well”. There are always underlying motives. That’s why I encourage you to think of yours. Type your answer in the comments below (1-5).
Now that you have the goal, what else can you do?
Goals set the direction by habits help make progress. You need habits!
Habits Vs. Goals
Here are Three Habits to Become a Confident English Speaker
Practice Specific Sounds Every Day: Most people think that by immersing yourself in an English-speaking environment you will automatically learn the language easier. Have you ever thought that? Well if you are like Olga who moved to the USA 8 years ago and still struggles with getting understood at Starbucks when ordering an “oat-milk decaf latte,” then you know it isn’t true. Immersion is a benefit but you still need to practice.
Make it a habit to focus on one specific sound each day. You need to set a specific time and action. For example: I’ll practice the V sound at 7:00am after I brush my teeth for 5 minutes. -V-, - Very, Van, Gave, Love - , I gave her a very nice van and she loves it!
2. Listen With a Purpose: I get it- movies, podcast, and music in English are fun. You probably love to chill on your couch and binge Netflix after a long day of work. It’s a way to ‘veg out’. But… how can you use that habit and make it useful for your English goals?
Try to repeat the same sentence that your favorite character says and imitate their intonation. It’s called shadowing. Or maybe you can sing the chorus of your favorite song and if there isn’t a word you understand, write it down to look it up later. The point is this - get specific!
3.Stop Negative Thinking: If I could get a dollar for every time a student tells me that they want to improve their English to feel more confident, I’d be rich! Truthfully, speaking clearly is important, but feeling confident is vital!
Most English learners compare their English to natives and think, “I’ll never be that good,” or they don’t speak up because they feel nervous that others won’t understand.
Maybe you’re like Emi who told me that she used to be an outgoing woman who loved to joke around with colleagues, but after she married a native English speaker, she gradually became more introverted. Why? She started thinking negatively about her English.
Try this habit instead: After breakfast each morning, I will stand in front of a mirror and say three positive affirmations about my English. I will then repeat them during the day every time I have a negative thought.
Which of these habits will you start with? These three habits will help you become a fluent English speaker. None of this is to say that goals are useless.
Goals help you plan for your progress, but habits are for actually making progress!
We dive deeper into habits and how to transform yourself to become a confident English speaker in my Pronunciation Power course. Want more details? Type “POWER” below and I’ll send you a private message with the information.