You're traveling or working abroad, and people speak differently to you than to your mother tongue. Perhaps you feel lost or disoriented because of this difference... But don't worry, it happens to everyone at first! In this post I've put together my top tips to help you overcome this language barrier!
FOCUS ON KEY WORDS AND USE SIMPLE SENTENCES
In the beginning, when speaking with someone in another language, stay focused on the key words (you know, the words with accented syllables that contain the essential information). This will help you to understand what the person is saying, and therefore to be able to respond. If you haven't understood at all what the person has said, politely ask them to repeat it or explain it in another way. You can use these phrases:
Sorry, I'm afraid I don't follow.
Excuse me, could you repeat the question?
I'm sorry, I don't understand. Could you repeat it?
I'm confused, I didn't understand. Could you speak more slowly?
Once you've understood the main idea, you can answer. Take your time and don't rush. The main thing is to communicate with this person, not to make a long speech! So keep your sentences simple, and if you need a specific word you don't know, don't get stuck. On the contrary, find a synonym for that word, or a word close to it, to express your idea. It's normal to search for words at first, so you can use "Um, let me see", for example, to give yourself time to find your words. Over time, you'll see, it'll become easier to talk to someone even if it is not planned!
REVIEW AND PRACTISE EVERYDAY
It may sound basic, but reading English and learning new vocabulary will help you progress quickly. It's important to have the vocabulary to express something specific. And reading a few lines of English will also make it easier for you to understand and speak English. I advise you to take 10 to 15 minutes a day to learn vocabulary and read a few lines of English aloud (or in the language of your choice). Your mouth and tongue have muscles, so train them regularly! Little by little, you'll see your progress. In other words, practice!
Another important aspect of English is pronunciation. As you may know, words in English have very similar sounds, and it can be very difficult for a non-native English speaker to tell the difference. So use context, and don't hesitate to ask the other person to repeat themselves if necessary.
Also, at first, don't try to speak English with an accent. No, try to speak English with your accent, even if you read and speak English as if it were French. Once you feel comfortable in English, you can try accentuating words. Above all, remember that everything comes with time!
ENGLISH IS NOT EVERYONE'S FIRST LANGUAGE
I think this is the most important piece of information I can give you: the person you're talking to may be in the same situation as you. In other words, this person may come from another country where, for example, English is not their mother tongue! So they too are looking for the right words to communicate!
As for me, at the beginning I was surrounded by people who spoke better English than I did, and when I got to know them, only one of them was a native English speaker! What's more, they were very kind and patient with me because I was a native French speaker. All this to say: don't get stuck, because there will always be people who speak better English than you, and with a better accent. The most important thing is to be able to communicate, i.e. to understand your interlocutor and then respond.
If you're a bit stressed about meeting someone for the first time and talking to them, I'd advise you (I've done it and it works) to tell the person you're talking to that you're not a native English speaker, and therefore to speak slowly to understand. It works, and you'll feel much more comfortable talking!
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