How to Reduce Anxiety When Speaking English
Are you scared or nervous when you speak English?
You're not alone.
Many people feel the same.
The good news is: you can learn how to reduce this anxiety. In this post, I will show you simple tips that really work.
✨ Why Listen to Me?
My name is Manoj Sharma, and I’ve been teaching English and soft skills for over 10 years. I’ve helped thousands of students, especially in India and Asia, become more confident speakers. I know how it feels to be nervous because I also struggled when I first started speaking English in public. But now, I teach it every day. I’ve tested all these tips myself and with my students. They work.
Let’s begin!
😰 What Is Anxiety When Speaking English?
Anxiety means feeling worried, scared, or nervous. Many learners feel this way when they have to speak English. Some common signs of anxiety:
Fast heartbeat
Sweaty hands
Dry mouth
Forgetting words
Speaking too fast or too slow
Avoiding conversations
This anxiety can happen even if you know English grammar and vocabulary. Why? Because speaking in a different language feels risky. You fear making mistakes or being judged.
But don’t worry. Let’s look at how to reduce this fear step by step.
🧠 Step 1: Understand That Mistakes Are Normal
Even native speakers make mistakes. Yes, really. No one speaks perfectly all the time. When you accept this truth, your fear will reduce.
🔹 Say this to yourself: “It’s okay to make mistakes. Every mistake is a step forward.”
When babies learn to walk, they fall many times. But they don’t stop trying. Learning English is the same.
🗣 Step 2: Speak a Little Every Day
Practice makes confidence. You don’t need to speak for hours. Start with 2–5 minutes a day. Talk about:
What you did today
What you plan to do tomorrow
Your favorite food or movie
📌 Tip: Speak in front of a mirror. Look into your eyes and talk. It builds self-confidence.
You can also record your voice and listen later. You will slowly notice improvement.
👫 Step 3: Practice with a Friendly Partner
Find someone who is kind and supportive. Practice with them. This could be:
A classmate
A friend who also wants to improve English
A tutor
🎯 Important: Choose a person who encourages you, not someone who laughs at your mistakes.
When you speak in a safe space, your anxiety will drop quickly.
📚 Step 4: Learn Useful Phrases, Not Just Grammar
Many students focus only on grammar rules. That’s helpful, but learning phrases is faster and more useful.
👉 For example, instead of learning how to form questions, learn ready-made phrases like:
“Can you help me?”
“I don’t understand. Can you repeat, please?”
“That sounds interesting!”
These common phrases help you speak naturally without thinking too much.
🔄 Step 5: Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Repetition reduces fear. When you repeat something many times, it becomes easy and automatic.
For example, say the sentence: “I would like a cup of coffee, please.”
Now say it again 10 times. You will feel more confident saying it in real life.
💡 Choose 5–10 useful sentences and say them every day for a week.
📺 Step 6: Listen More to English
Listening helps you speak better.
Watch English videos with subtitles
Listen to English podcasts or news
Watch your favorite movies in English
When you listen often, your brain gets used to English sounds. This reduces the fear of speaking.
🎧 Even 10 minutes a day is enough to make a big change.
💬 Step 7: Use Simple English
You don’t need big words to speak well.
Instead of saying: “I am feeling extremely exhausted.” You can say: “I’m very tired.”
Simple English is clear, easy to understand, and correct. It also makes you feel less nervous.
🪄 Speak like this:
“I like it.” (Not: “I’m highly appreciative of it.”)
“It’s easy.” (Not: “It is uncomplicated.”)
“Let’s go.” (Not: “Shall we proceed?”)
😌 Step 8: Breathe and Relax Before Speaking
Before speaking in English:
Take a deep breath in
Hold it for 2 seconds
Breathe out slowly
Do this 3 times.
It relaxes your body and mind. You will feel calmer.
🧘 You can also smile. Smiling helps reduce stress and makes your voice sound better.
📖 Step 9: Prepare Before Speaking
If you know you need to speak in English (like in a meeting, call, or class), prepare before:
Think about what you want to say
Write down key words or phrases
Practice a few times
📋 Example: If you're going to introduce yourself, prepare like this:
“My name is…”
“I live in…”
“I work as…”
“In my free time, I like…”
Planning removes the fear of forgetting.
💡 Step 10: Focus on Communication, Not Perfection
Your goal is to communicate, not to speak perfect English.
Even if your grammar is not perfect, it’s okay. People will understand if your message is clear.
Instead of thinking:
“What if I make a mistake?”
Think:
“How can I share my message clearly?”
Changing your focus will reduce anxiety.
⏳ Step 11: Be Patient with Yourself
Learning a language takes time.
🎯 Think about how long it took you to learn your first language. Years!
So be kind and patient with yourself. You’re doing something amazing. Every day you speak English, you grow.
✅ Step 12: Celebrate Small Wins
Every small step counts.
Did you speak one sentence today? Celebrate!
Did you try to ask a question in English? Great job!
Did you join an English conversation group? That’s brave!
Keep a small notebook and write down your wins every day. It will make you feel strong and motivated.
🧍♀️ Real Story: Meena’s Journey
Let me tell you about Meena, one of my students.
She was very shy and afraid to speak English. In class, she would always stay quiet. But she wanted to become a teacher, so English was important for her.
We followed the same steps I’ve shared here:
Spoke in front of a mirror daily
Practiced with a classmate
Learned simple phrases
Celebrated small wins
Now, after 6 months, Meena speaks in front of 30 students in English. She still makes mistakes sometimes, but she speaks with confidence.
If Meena can do it, so can you.
🌟 Final Thoughts
You are not alone. Many people feel nervous when speaking English.
But anxiety is not a life sentence. You can train your mind, practice smart, and gain confidence step by step.
Here’s a quick reminder of all the tips:
Mistakes are okay
Speak a little every day
Find a kind speaking partner
Learn useful phrases
Repeat sentences often
Listen to English
Use simple words
Breathe before speaking
Prepare and plan
Focus on communication
Be patient
Celebrate small wins
🌱 Start with one step today. You don’t need to do everything at once. Just begin.
🤝 You Are Not Alone
If you’re an English learner, I’m here to help. You can follow this blog for more tips. I also share real conversations, vocabulary, grammar help, and confidence-building exercises.
📨 Want help with your speaking practice? Leave a comment or message me. I’m happy to support you.
🧠 Helpful Practice Exercise (Do This Today!)
Here’s a simple 5-minute activity:
Step 1: Look in the mirror Step 2: Say this out loud:
"Hello, my name is ___. I live in ___. Today I feel ___. I want to improve my English. I can do it."
Step 3: Repeat 3 times.
You’ve already started speaking English. Great job!
✍️ Your Turn: Leave a Comment
What makes you nervous when speaking English? Which tip do you want to try first?
Let me know in the comments below. I read every one. 😊
🏁 Conclusion
Speaking English can feel scary, but you are stronger than your fear. By using these simple tips, you can reduce your anxiety and speak English with confidence.
Start today. Keep going. And remember, I believe in you. 🌟
Read more: How to Politely End a Conversation in English English Conversation Topics for Daily Practice Basic English for Hoteliers | English for Hotel Staff How to Talk About Months in English Learn English Through Movies and TV Shows