Tips on how to be confident to speak in English

I’m neither a debater nor a native speaker. I’m not a writer, who can write the best story of her/his life. I’m not a person that has the blood of Englishman in her/his body. I’m also not a poet that can write her/his poem easily. I’m just an ordinary girl, who has a big dream in her life. But, there is something that had blocked my way to get there. I believe, I’m not the only one, who has this problem. I think almost student who grew up in north-eastern Peninsular Malaysia may experience the same with me. So, can you guess what is it? It’s English actually. “How I want to be confident to speak in English?” Plus, I’m a student and I have to do my presentation in English. So, ‘by hook or by crook’, I need the confident. SERIOUSLY!!!!

DUSSHHHH!!!

“Hey!! Why you hit my head? It’s hurt, you know.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean it, but I had called you for a several times. Why you don’t reply? Are you daydreaming again, Jane?”

“No… I’m just did a deep thinking.”

“Here.”

“What is it?” Jane asked blankly although Zack wrote a title on the paper that he gave just now.

“I know you weak in English and that’s why you not confident to speak in English, right? So, the best way here, follow my tips on how to be confident to speak in English.”

Zack explained words by words to Jane on that paper so that she can understand the subject that Zack trying to say.

10 Tips On How To Be Confident In English

1.      A day for English                                                                                                                  

For example, Tuesday is your English day, so you have to speak in English during that day. If you fail to do it, for the best result you have to punish yourselves so that you can remember your mistake.

            2.  Writing

                 Write a blog or story to improve your English skills. This way will increase your                                   confidence level when you always write something in English. 

3.      Music

When you always listen to English song, you are able to catch up what the song are about. You can also sing along with the song that you listen and automatically you will pronounce correctly the words that you are listening.                                             

4.      Take it easy

You have to hear what the other person say about and just respond calmly what people saying. You don’t have to respond too must, just short and sweet.

5.      Realize that people don’t care what you did

When you are talking in front, don’t think too much every single mistake that you did. Maybe, they didn’t care and know the mistake that you did because they also are busy WORRYING ABOUT THEMSELVES.

6.      Mirror

Did you know how a mirror works to gain the confident in ourselves? Almost people that I know use this method to achieve the same goal with you and they did it. Just speak in front of the mirror and you can see and improve the way you in English.

7.      Gain your knowledge

If you have the knowledge, of course you are confident to elaborate more about it. Therefore, emphasize your reading. It’s up to you to read a novel or the best reading material that I think right now is Reading Digest.

8.      Breathing skill

Breathing skill is very helpful skill when you are nervous especially when you are talking in front of people. When you are nervous, your brain needs more oxygen, so when you apply this method, you will be calmer than before.

9.      Friends

Find a friend that can speak in English, like me for example. By this method, it is more fun rather than you speak alone. Moreover, you can be more confident when you are talking with the person that you are comfortable.

10.  Try to be positive

Try to be positive about your English skills and focus on the English concepts that you mastered, not the one that you need to improve on. Believe on yourselves that you can do it. Do not be afraid by you on shadow.

“Ooo, now, I get it. Thanks a lot, friend. Let’s go to the café. It’s my treat today.”

“No sweet. We are friends, right. Remember our motto. No sorry, no thank you. But, since you want still want to treat me today, okay then. Today is my lucky day. Hamburger, here I come!!!”

                                                                                   

    

Challenges in acquiring English language

"Okay, class. Today, we start our class with a new chapter. Please open your textbook on page 123,"said Miss Suzy. "Again? Huh, so boring. Why she likes to teach us formally? -using textbook instead of something else. Urrgghhh!!! It's make me sleepy again. I want to hit the sack," I murmured. The class went smoothly until...“Jane, please read the third paragraph,” asked Miss Suzy. I stood up and read the paragraph that she mentioned just now.“It is not pronounces as hurt, it is H.E.A.R.T.  You have learnt phonetic, right?” my reading is paused when she suddenly interrupted my reading. This is really my weak point. I do not know to pronounce certain words very well although I have learnt phonetic before. Plus, I have very low confident to speak in English. I was too scared when I talked in front- think that people around me are greater than me especially in English. Therefore, I’m worry that they would judge my broken English. Pap!!! “Jane, I’m talking to you. Are you daydreaming?” The whole class laughed at me and the blood vessels in my face were widening and my skin was warming.  

“What’s up?” said Zack.

“Huh!!! What?”

“Do you have something that you want to tell me?”

“Should I tell you?”

“Yes. You MUST.”

“Errr..  Zack, you know how much I hate English, right? It’s my mindset since child – English is hard and boring. Plus, it’s not our mother tongue. I learnt English at a late stage of life, not when I was a baby. So, tell me. How I want to delete the mindset that I build for almost two decades? I…”

When I turned left, I was heartbroken. How come he can sleep when listening my sad story. It’s okay. Today, I will let him go. I knew he was stayed up last night because of his sick sister.  While waited for the next class, I write down the challenges that I face in acquiring English. 

Ø  I sit passively during the class – I did not rise my hand when I want to ask something that I curios. So, at the end, I will do not acknowledge what the teacher talking about especially English subject.

Ø  Too lazy to look up the meaning of the unknown words – lacking of vocabulary

Ø  Little chance to practice speaking inside or outside the class

Ø   Too much rules in Grammar – boring

Ø  People love to mock me when I speak in English

Ø  Can’t catch up when people talk in English – not all the words but certain words

Done!! I had to pass this paper to my savior. Guess who? Of course, Zack!!! I knew he will find a way to help me. He is my Superman. Hehe… Just joking..  . So, I will wait for the next day. Hoping that my future will brighter than before.

The New Me

"Hey YOU at the back there!!!" I woke up out of sudden. Oh no, everyone's eyes on me. My adrenaline started to work. My face turned red. Why did he shouting at me like that and let me to be the victim. Where should I put my face? In my bag or under the table... . "I'm talking to you, Jane," said him again. "Why  you always sleep during my class?", asked the teacher. "Eeeerrrr,I .. I....eeerrrr,I...," my mouth can't tolerate with my brain. "I WHAT!!!", asked that teacher angrily. "I will  not know your problem if you do not tell me what is it. It is very difficult for you to concentrate what I'm talking in front? What are your problem actually?.., bla... bla... blaaaa.....,"nagged that masculine teacher. The whole class had to hear he nagged to me until..... Krrrriiiiiinngggg!!!! My savior finally came.

I stand up and hurriedly went home. I could not bear to sit there quietly and hear when the other talking about me. Such a boring day I had to pass through. Why should I go to school actually? There is no entertainment there. Plus, everyone always stare suspiciously at me. Why? I never do anything wrong I thought. Why my parents wanted me to go to school badly? At  night, I slept with a lot of questions in my head.

 “Class, today a new student has transfer into our class. So, I hope each of you can be friendly with him,” said Miss Ana, my homeroom teacher. “So, where should I put you…” she continued.  Suddenly, the transfer student walked slowly towards me and then sat beside me. “Oh, okay, you can sit there dear.” Miss Ana gave her permission. “Hello, my name is Zack. Can we be friend?” the transfer student started to speak with me. “Huh,” I replied and put head on the table.” Why he wanted to be my friends. Plus, everyone in this class never spoke to me, moreover they never asked me to be their friends.” I monologue within myself.  Again, I had to go through the boring day.

A day later….

“Oh, I forget to bring my textbook. What should I do?” I mumbled to myself. “Here, we can share, right.” Zack offered his textbook. I was speechless. There was still a person treated me well like this. “Oh, thank you.” I appreciated his kindness.  The class went smoothly until the end. “Zack, let’s lunch together,” asked a few boys in my class. “Oh, sorry guys, I have a work to do during this break. “ Zack refused the offer. “Really, okay then, bye,” the boys replied.  “So, how was my offer? Can you accept that? “he approached me and smile. “Oh, okay then. Friend?” I asked. "Friend,” he replied. And, our friendship  began.

Starting that day, I began to be a new person. Of course with his help. Thanks, friend. A cute, cherish person has come to my life as my savior. He helped me a lot so that I can go out of my dull and boring life. The shy, quiet and sleepy girl has gone forever. Here, the new leaf started to growth. And, that’s me. I no longer be that girl again. With my transformations, I caught people's attention. I got many friends. It's now or never! It's my tagline. You have to change yourself now or you will be never become a person that you really want to be. Yeah, this is the new me. I changed myself not because of a boy, but the sincerely friendship that he had offered  me. Thanks again my dear friend, Zack.