Confidence is key when it comes to learning to speak English. Keep reading to learn how to feel confident while you change your accent.

Learning to speak English and feeling less than confident?

Learning to speak English serves as important part of landing a job, and even getting around. As you learn, you might experience feelings of nervousness, anxiety, and insecurity. You’re not alone.

You can feel more confident as you change your accent and learn to speak fluent English. In fact, feeling more confident in your ability to learn is as important as learning vocabulary and grammar.

In this article, we’ll discuss some steps you can take to feel more confident in the process of changing your accent.

Practice Out Loud to Master Fluency

Part of feeling confident in yourself is speaking clearly. An easy way to practice your fluency is to read a piece of text out loud to yourself.

Repeating the new sounds of English will make the language more familiar and more natural as you practice more and more. 

Begin by reading the text to yourself in front of a mirror. Listen close to the words but also pay attention to your body language.

Are you fidgeting? Do you sway from side to side?

A large part of gaining confidence as you change your accent is changing your body language. Stand up straight. Speak in a clear, loud voice.

Use the same piece of reading material until you memorize it. It is best to use a piece of material you’re familiar with.

When you feel more confident, practice in front of a close friend.

Record Your Practice

Recording yourself allows you track your progress. 

Film yourself when you begin and then again after you memorize the material. This will not only help you pinpoint what you need to work on but getting used to hearing yourself speak English will make the process more familiar.

You might feel uncomfortable at first. It is okay to feel this way. As you record and listen to yourself more and more, you’ll feel more at ease. 

Study English Television Personalities to Help Change Your Accent

If you want to feel more confident, study people like news reporters and presenters. These people speak in front of millions each day. They must embody a level of confidence in their body language and speech.

Practice your listening skills. Most broadcasters speak with a “general American” accent.

Note the neutral tone of voice they use and how fast or slow they speak. Practice mimicking this tone and pace.

Next, pay attention to how they carry themselves. How do they sit? What kinds of facial expressions do they make? 

Practice Positive Thinking

Reflect on your achievements. You know you’ve worked hard. Keep a journal of what you worked on each day and any goals you met that day.

Think about your mistakes as chances to learn instead of setbacks or hurdles.

If you work with a teacher, ask for feedback on your skills. Also, ask about your progress.

Remember, feeling confident about speaking is a problem even native English speakers go through. There’s no need to feel ashamed or hold yourself back from learning.

Learning English isn’t easy. Yet, it is important. For more helpful tips on how to change your accent and improve pronunciation, click here!