Archive for February, 2010

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How To Gain A Rock-Solid Linguistic Self-Confidence

February 4th, 2010 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Languages


One of the most common reasons people stay mediocre foreign language speakers is that they’re too ashamed to use the language consistently. Big mistake. Huge (as Julia Roberts points out in Pretty woman)!

You need to practice, if you want to achieve mastery (or any solid linguistic level, really). It’s that simple!

You probably wonder now how can you practice if you don’t feel confident enough, right? I totally get your point, believe me… but as the saying goes, sometimes you just have to jump and learn to swim along the way, otherwise you get stuck in a vicious circle of shame and mediocrity. Ugh! Not the most fantastic place to be in, agree?

Let me help you out here, OK? There are 7 simple truths you can start appreciating immediately to leapfrog your linguistic self-confidence and knowledge to a whole new level.

1. Overall self-confidence is a must if you want to gain the linguistic one!



It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? If you’re generally insecure, you probably feel embarrassed around people no matter what language you’re using at the moment. However, it’s very likely that a foreign language will make you even more nervous than your native one, so if you want to have a shot at being self-confident (instead of overly self-conscious) as a foreign language user, take care of the overall self-confidence first. Before »wasting« time on anything else!

2. Mistakes raise your awareness – which is not only good, but freakin’ awesome!



Yes, mistakes are annoying, especially when you’re the one making them – no good denying that, right? But don’t get too upset – mistakes can actually do you an XXL favor if you just listen to their message. Learn from your mistakes, analyze them and start using the correct expressions or grammatical forms right away! No waiting and ranting period allowed. Ever.

3. No-one’s perfect – no, not even you!



I’m sorry to step on your toes, but in language learning there’s no such thing as perfection; the best you can hope for is proficiency. Next time you’re worried to show your imperfect linguistic knowledge to the world, remember that when it comes to humans, perfection is a myth. Deal with it and move on – maybe you’ll start enjoying your less-than-perfect-but-sooooo-adorable attempts to conquer foreign language skills.

4. Seek occasions to speak and write in your target language… over and over again!



It’s a neverending story, you know that, right? Mastery requires work and taking smart action. In the magic world of language learning, this means you never ever stop looking for opportunities to use your written or oral linguistic knowledge, preferably in communication with native speakers of your target language. Get a penpal, chat online, join a local organization of foreign students, travel while leaving your native tongue at home… I’m sure you’ll find a way!

5. Put some effort in your speaking and writing – and please, USE the new vocabulary you just learnt!



Sometimes, going with the flow is not the best strategy. If you don’t pay attention to what you’re saying or writing, you’ll keep stagnating at the same linguistic level – and that’s the best case scenario. The worst case scenario shows your knowledge deteriorate due to repeated mistakes that are, by now, well-anchored in your mind. To avoid that horror movie, check out your script now and then – incorporate your most recently learnt words and/or grammar structures in your speaking and writing, even if you’re not 100% sure how. Keep trying and you’ll get there…

6. After every speaking or writing exercise, jot down the words or grammar patterns you had a hard time with!



…and you’ll get there faster if you do your homework. Remember the part where mistakes become freakin’ awesome? It’s right at this point of the story – when you acknowledge the problems you encountered while speaking and/or writing – that you get the chance to step up. So, write down the trouble areas and work on them ASAP.

7. Practice regularly and your self-confidence will grow by the day!



Practice implies consistency. If your efforts are not focused AND regular, you can’t expect miracles… no magic will just knock on your door! It’s you that have to make it happen – by following a flexibly designed schedule that you’ll feel great about. And don’t say you don’t have time for language learning, bacause you do!


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Basic EFT For Public Speaking – The Road to Successful Public Speaking

February 3rd, 2010 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Linguistics


It’s easy to understand why speaking in public can disrupt anyone’s nerves. Addressing a crowd takes a certain amount of confidence and efficient communication skills. Some people, however, are more than afraid of speaking in public – they have phobias. They have nightmares about getting utterly humiliated by speaking in public. They have buckets of cold sweat when put on the spot. Their hands shake and their whole body trembles as their turn to speak fast approaches. If you’re one of these people, then you know it’s time to get the help you need to overcome your fear – it’s time to give Emotional Freedom Techniques or EFT for public speaking a try.

One of the many reasons why EFT is an effective weapon against public speaking phobia is that, unlike other therapy methods out there, EFT aims to get rid of the trigger. Teachers and speech communication coaches bother themselves with learning and teaching more skills to their students who have problems with speaking in public. This only leads to more confusion and puts more pressure, causing the students to become more afraid of speaking in public than ever. EFT for public speaking does not require the knowledge of public speaking skills, which makes it a convenient solution.

Practitioners of EFT for public speaking normally recommend undergoing three sessions, from the basic to the advanced, for a more effective treatment. You can find courses on the Internet, but personal attendance in real-life venues is suggested. The basic course is a great option for people who are interested in self-help or would like to work with family and friends and for people who would like to become therapists or are already in practice but would like to improve their skills. No experience in EFT is required since the course will serve as the foundation; it is simply a beginner’s course.

The EFT for public speaking basic course will allow you to learn what you need to know in order to work on a vast range of issues. Naturally, you will be taught the background and history of EFT to understand what it’s really all about. EFT puts emphasis on the body’s energies and how disruptions are the primary factors for a number of health problems suffered by the mind and body. More often than not, the reason why people fear speaking in public is a history of humiliation. You might have suffered from a traumatic moment related to public speaking long ago or just recently, and now your memory haunts you and cripples you from recovery. EFT helps correct this destructive effect so you can speak in public without worry or fear. Another reason why you are afraid of speaking in public is probably a variety of misconceptions, such as the how making a mistake is bad and can kill your reputation. Sometimes, fear of the fear itself is more dangerous because your mind tends to close out reason. The procedures of EFT are effective in finding and wiping out these misconceptions.


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