Have you ever felt fear or anxiety about having to speak in Polish? Perhaps your palms were sweaty or your heart was beating faster. These are signs that you were feeling anxious. People often feel nervous and afraid about speaking in front of classmates, communicating with native speakers. They are afraid of making mistakes, being misunderstood, and looking ridiculous in the eyes of others.
Fear and anxiety are common, but if they get in the way of speaking, you're missing out on the opportunity to hone your language skills. You're also missing out on objective feedback on your knowledge and advice on what you need to work on. Not only are you missing out on the chance to be heard, but you're also missing out on the opportunity for others to hear your ideas and thoughts.
Overcoming anxiety and worry takes time! Here are some tips.
Set a goal for yourself
Start small. Set a goal that is a little challenging, but achievable and not too daunting. For example:
- Say "How are you?" to a classmate or friend who speaks Polish.
- Ask a colleague or teacher a question.
- Chat with someone for a few minutes.
- Talk on the phone.
Remember, the goal is not to do these things perfectly, but to just do them! Look for opportunities, and if you achieve your goal, great! Over time, increase the difficulty of your goals.
Think positively
Encourage yourself by telling yourself that it's okay, you can do it. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced Polish speaker, negative thinking will limit you. Positive thinking will help you do your best and improve.
Face your fears
If you feel anxious, it may be best to avoid talking. It may be easier to do something completely different, like reading or grammar exercises. However, avoiding the problem will only make it worse and scarier. Don’t wait – start talking little by little. Everything will work out.
Mark your progress
Over the course of a few days and weeks, experiment with different ways to reduce and cope with anxiety, and take notes on what works for you and what doesn’t. Also write down your goals and mark them as you achieve them, so you can see your progress and build positive experiences with communicating in Polish.
Reward yourself
If you try, but the only reward is practice, it cannot motivate. Reward yourself with something pleasant, for example, eat a chocolate bar, buy a new notebook. Find time to relax, or do something to make you feel good. Reward yourself every time you achieve a goal or overcome a problem!
You can do it!
