No Fear! (Part 1)

Learning another language can be scary. It is especially scary if you move away from your own country to live in an English-speaking country for a while, and you are trying to learn English and advance in your other studies at the same time. Language is such an important part of life and culture that if you are not comfortable speaking a particular language yet, it can be frightening or intimidating to try and do anything else in that culture (such as school, work, or other social activities).

In other words, knowing a local language--at least to some degree--is necessary in order to do almost anything else with other people in that culture. When you don't know the language very well, it is easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged by other events or activities that require you to speak the language.

But you don't have to be afraid! You don't have to feel overwhelmed or discouraged! Do you believe me? Ask yourself these questions to find out if I am right:

1) You have survived so far. Is that correct? You have all your basic needs met: food, shelter, clothing, people to help if you need help. Right?

2) You have already had English conversations with other people, even if they are small or simple conversations. Right? At least, you have spoken polite greetings successfully to people once or twice. Yes?

3) You know more English today than you knew yesterday. Correct? At least, you learned something new today about English. Correct?

4) No one has made fun of you for your English skills yet. Have they? (If so, I am SO sorry. But for most of you, this has not happened, and probably will almost never happen. So don't be afraid).

Ok. See? Nothing bad is going to happen because you aren't fluent in English yet. You will continue to learn a little bit, every day. One year from now, if you work hard and do not get discouraged, you will know so much more English, and you will be so proud of yourself!

Hopefully, you will also make some new friends along the way, and you can practice English with them all the time!

So don't be afraid, don't be discouraged, and don't feel overwhelmed. Take one day at a time and keep working hard. It will pay off in the end.