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Are You Self-Conscious Speaking A New Language?
by Nathalie V. Fairbanks
Regardless of which language you are learning, you will encounter a number of sounds which don't exist in your native language. Initially, even just listening to a native speaker making these sounds might make you smirk - but wait until you have to reproduce it yourself! That's when you face one of the principal obstacles many students never overcome: self-consciousness.
For me, the English "th" sound was one of these... as is the "r" in Spanish, Italian or Russian. The thought of showing my tongue to the world is just not a comfortable one, period. Can't I just substitute the weird new sound with the closest sound in my native language?
This is a common attitude which results in accents that range from "charming" to "heavy" (meaning: "incomprehensible"). You can do better than that.
Digging a little deeper, there are several factors at play here:
1. The older we get and the more accomplished we are, the more we build our identity around the things that we do well. Being a beginner at something makes us uncomfortable, particularly the perfectionists among us.
Making strange new sounds reminds us that we are not as far removed from the animal world as we pretend to be. Speaking a new language requires us to take on a new identity, and we start from scratch.
2. We grant children a lot of time to properly learn their native language. If it takes them weeks or months to pronounce one sound, that's OK. We as grown-ups, however, expect to pick it up after trying just a few times and decide far too early in the process that it's not worth it because we're no good at it.
3. Making weird new sounds in front of peers in a class is even more awkward than when you are by yourself. You are concerned that they might think you are a "show-off." I've seen this over and over, especially in college classes.
You might think "if she gets away with butchering that sound, I probably will too," and if the teacher isn't consistent in intervening, you'll pick up the "class accent." This is the lowest common pronunciation denominator, where pronunciation is closest to American-English and bares no resemblance to a native speaker's.
What to do?
Here are a few thoughts and tips for you to consider:
1. Our feeling uncomfortable producing new sounds has a lot to do with faulty self-perception. Get a reality check! Stand in front of a mirror and make the new sound, be it a German "r," a French "u," or whatever is troubling you. Say a few sentences. You will find that you don't look like a cow, nor is there anything repulsive about your face when you roll an "r" in Spanish. In fact, native speakers don't look ridiculous speaking their language, so why should you?
2. Close your eyes when you practice that new sound, especially when you are in a classroom. Tuning out your surroundings helps you concentrate on what you are learning and be more willing to experiment. You'll be less tempted to compare yourself to your classmates or to feel foolish.
3. Be playful. Children are oblivious of their surroundings' reaction to their babbling. They don't mind repeating something a thousand times, laughing all the while. They're having fun with it!
In many ways, the mindset of a child is the only one that will help you overcome self-consciousness. Just try again and again and again - experiment and exaggerate. Eventually you'll find out how to curl your tongue the right way, or to sound like a hissing cat or a growling tiger. Keep a sense of humor!
4. Take a close look at your attitude. Learning a new language means getting out of your comfort zone, there is no way around it. It starts with the sounds... and ends with the culture. Traveling to that new country will give you opportunities to face situations that you could never come up with in your wildest dreams. If you are determined to succeed - get used to it now!
5. Find a native speaker who doesn't speak English. When you really need someone to understand you, you will find a way, even if that means making funny sounds. Before you know it, your need to communicate will become more important than your pride.
And that's what it's all about.
© 2007 Nathalie V. Fairbanks
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE? You may, as long as you include this blurb with it: SpeakEZ Languages publishes "Language Learning Express", a free bi-weekly e-zine for language learners who are eager to discover the secrets of efficient language learning, transition seamlessly into a new culture and have fun on the way. Get your FREE subscription and your FREE e-book now at http://www.SpeakEZLanguages.com.
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