Tips for getting over my fear of speaking Spanish

Question

I really enjoy learning Spanish and although I'm new to this site, several years ago I took three years of Spanish in college and got to the point where I just needed to practice it. However, I seem to have this mental block about actually using the Spanish even to my friends who speak Spanish fluently. Its so hard for me to make myself speak in Spanish because I'm embaressed about the mistakes I'll make. I'm not usually a shy person but I just can't seem to get past this. I know they won't judge me for the mistakes but I just can't seem to do it. When I do speak in Spanish, I get so nervous that I have difficulty understanding what they're saying and that just makes it worse. It got in the way of my learning Spanish before, and now that I'm making another go of it, I want to get past this problem once and for all. Any suggestions?

• Welcome to the forum! - --Mariana-- Nov 23, 2011
• Thank you! - AnnaKaris Nov 23, 2011

Answer 1

Start slowly and with simple sentences.

When your friends are speaking Spanish and ask how you are, vary the answer with "Estoy bien/más o menos/fenomenal/etc."

When your friends say something that you agree with, say, "Estoy de acuerdo."

If you don't agree, begin with, "En mi opinion...."

Practice with your dog or cat (It really works).

• Jejeje good tips Mariana! Wish I had a cat... I have a boyfriend though ;). Not sure if the effect will be the same jejeje! - chicasabrosa Nov 23, 2011
• Yes, it's the same...you get a blank stare! - --Mariana-- Nov 23, 2011
• L O L :)!!! - chicasabrosa Nov 23, 2011
• Well according to many of the ladies on here that is what you get anyway. :)) - ian-hill Nov 23, 2011
• Jajaja. Eso sí es la verdad. Mi perro habla español muy bien ahora! - MLucie Nov 30, 2011
View 2 more commments >>

Answer 2

Hi AnnaKaris and welcome to the forum

What worked for me was singing along to Spanish songs I liked, just to get the feel of using Spanish and mumbling to myself during the day trying to build small sentences like "what shall I eat today" or "I have to do some shopping" or "I wish I had bought chocolate earlier" . It makes it more natural and less awkward to actually say something in Spanish.

I also like to butt in whenever I see Spanish tourists in my capital asking each other where to go. I offer help in Spanish and try to explain to them which way to go or which bus to take. This took some courage but tourists mostly are always very patient. One particular group was very grateful to find someone who spoke some Spanish since their English wasn't very organised either .

Hope this helps

Saludos, Chica

Answer 3

...........

Get drunk and you will be singing in Spanish

• Sorry about that Louisa - took a while to get the pic. :) - ian-hill Nov 23, 2011
• Jajaja I got drunk once and spoke to the guy at Taco Bell in Spanish to show off and then it turned out he spoke Spanish and corrected mine...won't do that again. lol - AnnaKaris Nov 23, 2011
• Why not ? :) - ian-hill Nov 23, 2011
• Go back to that Taco Bell often, is my advice. - pesta Nov 23, 2011
• Great graphic, Ian. I'm getting tipsy just watching her. - pesta Nov 23, 2011
View 1 more commments >>

Answer 4

Get tipsy... Works for my husband. Just kidding. Don't be shy, people really appreciate your effort. If anyone makes fun of you, ask them to speak in another language and see how they do.

Answer 5

Hi! I totally know what you mean, but with French. I took three years of French, then went to France and totally froze. I literally forgot anything of use except for, "Parlez-vous anglais?" I'm pretty sure how I felt (which was horribly pathetic) came across on my face because those who spoke English instantly switched and most of the ones who didn't kept apologizing for not speaking it (and people say the French are mean).

Anyway, after I got back I started practicing like crazy. I did everything chicasabrosa and Mariana said. I got a bunch of French music to listen to in the car, always talked to my pets in French, and I used to count out loud from 1 to the highest number I could remember (when you're bored it comes in handy, I mainly did it while walking my dog). Sounds weird, but it got me used to speaking French. You could really repeat anything, not just numbers. When I went back to France two years later, I could actually speak to people. Granted my French was still mediocre, but at least I could talk!

I'm already employing these same techniques with Spanish, even though I'm only a beginner. My sister and I are learning together and we both already talk to one of my cat's in Spainglish and as we learn we switch to actual Spanish (he likes the sound of trilling r's). We both also watch some tv in Spanish and my ipod is slowly amassing Spanish music. To find music I generally go into my iTunes and switch the country to Spain or Mexico, etc. and see what's popular there and scroll until I find what I like and then check and see if it's in the U.S. store. With the exception of one album, I've found it usually is. You can also check Amazon's mp3s.

Anyway, I pretty much just expanded on what others have said, so I think they deserve the vote, but I wanted to share my story! You're not alone

Edit - In the Spanish Media section under Reference, there is a spanish radio station (I clearly need to click around more). Makes finding music much easier!

• Hi and welcome to the forum! Great story! I''m sure this will encourage many. :) - Nicole-B Nov 30, 2011
• Thanks!! - KatHC3 Nov 30, 2011

Answer 6

I sympathize with you because I'm in the same boat. I get so nervous when I have to speak in Spanish that I become completely paralyzed.

I'm trying to work around it by using the Speak lessons on this site and on another site that I've been taking lessons on. The other site in particular allows native speakers to comment on your spoken submissions and you can review them later. I find that the separation between the time I make the recording and the time I get the feedback helps me to feel more confident when I record and less embarrassed when I'm given corrections.

I hope some other commentors can add real advice and not just sympathy because, frankly, I could use some good advice, too.

• Any advice is good advice Peggy, since we've all tried different methods and they all give a different outlook :) - chicasabrosa Nov 23, 2011
• What is the site that lets native speakers comment on it? - AnnaKaris Nov 23, 2011
• livemocha. - Peggy_Hill Nov 23, 2011
• http://www.livemocha.com/ - Peggy_Hill Nov 23, 2011
• Thanks! - AnnaKaris Dec 1, 2011
View 1 more commments >>

Answer 7

Practice Spanish with someone else who is learning it (whose mother tongue is not Spanish). Because I understand that speaking to a native or someone fluent can be a bit intimidating haha.

Also try to put yourself in a situation where you HAVE to speak Spanish. It's kind of hard to do, I guess, but if it a necessity, then you are more likely to do it. If you could find a Spanish native who can't speak English very well....but yeah, that is hard to do haha

Just be confident! And about the mistakes...well, the worst that could happen is that you learn from them? right?

• That is true I can quiet happily chat in Spanish with other students, the disadvantage of course is that they often don't know more than me so don't correct my errors but at least I open my mouth. - MaryMcc Dec 2, 2011

Answer 8

Hi Anna, it is nice having you in the forum!

If you're interested, Encouragement Islandis a continuous thread filled with tons of stories and tips members have posted on this very subject.

• Thank you! I'll have to check that out! - AnnaKaris Dec 1, 2011

Answer 9

I can help you but help me too!!

I am spanish speaker I am learning English

my skype ID is: luzpariseiffel

• ¡Bienvenida al foro! - pesta Dec 2, 2011
• What a wonderful idea: a Spanish/English exchange :) - FELIZ77 Dec 2, 2011

Answer 10

Hi Anna! If I can lose my 350 extra pounds, (no matter how long or how hard it will be)... You can get over your fear to speak Spanish.

Sure! You can!