How to Learn English if You're Shy
I used to be very shy – too shy to pick up the phone and talk to my friends. After many years of practice, I’m have improved and have made great progress overcoming this. I still have some way to go but I’ve definitely learnt that making mistakes is not a big deal in foreign languages.
Episode Summary
💬 Learning English as a Shy Person
I reached out to my Instagram followers for advice on learning English as a shy person. Here’s what they said:
📌 Follower Tips
- Follow people on social media, read English books, and listen to podcasts.
- Read everything in English and listen to how people talk.
Great advice for learning without leaving your comfort zone—but they didn’t mention speaking! Speaking is often the most important part of learning a language.
🌟 Advice from Catia (Student)
- Improve your confidence: Overcome the fear of speaking and you’ll improve faster. Practising speaking a foreign language also helps your native language.
- Speak and make mistakes: Don’t worry about what others think. Just be yourself.
- Native speakers make mistakes too: When you start speaking with them, you’ll notice this. Don’t expect perfection!
💡 My Advice
- Small increments matter: Tiny daily changes add up over time.
- Set a small daily goal: Don’t aim for the stars—just something achievable.
- Practice every day: If possible, say one English word to someone every time you go out.
English In The Media
🎬 Chernobyl – TV Series
Some key phrases from the series and their meanings:
⚠️ You’re treading on dangerous ground
= Doing something that’s likely to cause upset or problems for people.
Example: The people’s lust for revenge makes it very attractive to find scapegoats.
💥 Other Key Phrases
- Lust for revenge: A strong desire to do something bad to a bad person.
- Scapegoat: Someone to blame for a problem.
- Throw meat to the dogs: Giving them what they want.
I love this episode. I am going to share Catia’s tips with my class as a listening exercise. I think it will be really encouraging for them.
Hello, Michael
Today the topic it is important for us. The shy always is dangerous. Why is it dangerous? Because you’ll lose many chances in your life. Maybe, sometimes you’ll misunderstand by people , cause of you can’t express yourself due to be shy. I reckon you should speak with online teacher in order to help you to come out of your shell.
Now, I’ll use what you give me form phrases:
1-it’s hard to throw meat to the dogs. Because, the impossible to satisfy all people.
2- when someone always scapegoat in their lives. They can’t achieve progress in their lives.
3- Lust for revenge is unhealthy. Because, it will generate envy and fight between people.
Speaking to an online teacher would be nice! Just one little step outside your comfort zone.
I like your expressions used in your sentences there. Good job!
very good well done thank you..
Glad you liked it!
Hello Michael. When I went to school, teachers didn’t teach me how to speak English (or any other foreign language). The most important things were words and grammar, but I was not taught how to use them together.
When I was saying something, the teacher interrupted me because I said something wrong. He/she embarrassed me. As a result, I closed myself off and didn’t say anything. Today I still don’t speak English. 🙁
I’m sorry to hear that! It can take a moment to break confidence, but many years to work up the courage to overcome shyness. Keep it up and I hope you’re able to get speaking confidence soon.
Hi Michael. Can u recommend free online teacher? I think it’s 1 best way improving English conversation.
Hello, I don’t think there’s such thing as a “free online teacher”. We wouldn’t ask for a free haircut or a free taxi ride, and I think online teachers also deserve to be paid for their work.
A language partner would probably be more suitable. If you want more information on how to find a language partner, I summarised my advice in a short YouTube video on my channel. I hope it helps!
I agree with you Michael. I am an online teacher. Even though I make a living out of teaching online I always recommend a language partner. Once you feel comfortable with that partner you become more relaxed and don’t overthink how to say something correctly. Eventually, correcting yourself and the sentences you build becomes second nature.
Nice to hear you agree! Hope your teaching is going well 🙂
I agree with you Michael, l was feeling uncomfortable before the first lesson we had.
As you said, teachers understand feeling of students in the first lesson and help them to make feelings better
Hi Suleyman, nice to hear from you and thanks for the comment. Yes absolutely! I was incredibly nervous during my first ever lesson.
Interesting podcast!!!
Thanks Debb! Appreciate you 🙂