How to overcome foreign language anxiety when moving abroad

We know that for most people it can be difficult to learn and speak another language. It can even be really stressful if you add moving abroad where you don't understand or speak their official language.

Some people dare to converse and make themselves understood in a language they do not speak, relying on gestures, mannerisms and, of course, their confidence. However, if you are part of the vast majority of people and this type of interaction causes you anxiety or fear, this can become a problem as it prevents you from expressing yourself the way you would like to, even with basic knowledge. 

Here are some strategies that, when put into practice, will help you to level your anxiety and communicate better in a foreign language. This is to enjoy and make the most of your international move and time living in another country, whether for a work assignment or any other reason.

STEP 1: Understand why it causes you anxiety

Anxiety when speaking a different language usually stems from a fear of failure or of simply looking ridiculous in front of other people. However, it's anxiety itself that pushes us to make more mistakes by mispronouncing certain words or decreasing our ability to process language in real-time.

If we understand that we are learning from scratch a new vocabulary and grammar, and we are about to apply it in the country of this language, it's even easier to get blocked and fail to make ourselves understood. That is why it is so important to dismantle this fear, breathe and remember that no one would expect you to communicate perfectly if you are in a learning process and it's not your native language.

STEP 2: Listen to yourself and recognize your feelings

There are different levels of anxiety when speaking another language. It's important to recognize when you are feeling more or less nervous, for example, it is different to have a conversation with a stranger in a store than with your boss or in front of a large group of people.

When you experience these situations it is advisable to listen to your own body and identify which sensations stand out along with the level of intensity. It can be anything! from trembling hands, your heart racing, or you start sweating, among other common reactions. You should simply 'acknowledge' these sensations, give them their place and avoid labeling them negatively. Remember that these are natural reactions!

STEP 3: Identify and analyze the thoughts that arise

Many times the interpretation we give to situations and the thoughts that are generated are indeed the reason for the physiological reactions that we identify as 'anxiety'. When speaking a foreign language we may be thinking that if we make a mistake we are going to make a bad impression, look ridiculous, or even offend someone, which increases our nervousness and causes more mistakes when speaking or understanding the language.

It is therefore important to try to identify and write down these negative thoughts and then analyze them more calmly. This way you will be able to reflect and ask yourself: What is the worst thing that can happen? How can it affect you? among other questions that will make you transform negative thoughts into constructive ones, realizing that you are making an effort to express yourself and communicate your ideas.

STEP 4: Use the pause, think and answer technique

During this stage of learning a new language, your brain naturally takes longer to process the words, translate them into your native language, and think of the response you want to verbalize. To improve your agility you can focus on the part that is more difficult for you, between understanding the person who is addressing you or expressing yourself coherently. 

However, you should not forget to listen to the person and focus your energy on trying to understand him/her, instead of thinking about what to answer. When you have finished, you can pause a little, understand the language and then answer.

STEP 5: Set the pace of your conversations

Consider that when conversing with several people who speak the language, the conversation may speed up and become complicated to understand. Therefore, it's important that at the beginning and as much as possible, you manage conversations with one person at a time, to practice your language skills.

Also, keep in mind that you can be the one who sets the pace of the conversation, that is, if you speak calmly and pronounce the words clearly, the receiver will likely imitate you and do the same. Otherwise, it never hurts to ask politely to go slowly when communicating.

STEP 6: Jump in!

To overcome anxiety sometimes all you have to do is dare. The more you practice and the more you speak the foreign language, the easier and more fluent it will become and you will normalize it. There will always be negative experiences, but these should not stop you from starting conversations and learning.

Whether it's your native language or another language, the key to conversing with someone you don't know is to take a chance, so don't overthink it! If you are traveling on your own or living abroad for study or work, chatting with locals will enrich your experience.

STEP 7: Through it all, keep going!

Moving to another country, whatever the reason, can be nerve-wracking and even more so if you use a language that is foreign to your own. So when you are learning the language you should expect some difficulties and understand that there will be people with less or more tolerance who are willing to support you and understand you even with your foreign accent.

You will probably make mistakes along the way, so if you make an effort and a conversation doesn't go well, don't get discouraged! Everything is a process, take it easy.

TIP: Language comprehension and speech are trained 

• • Listening to and watching audio-visual content such as series, movies, podcasts or even music can help train your language comprehension and, of course, improve your speech by expanding your vocabulary and pronunciation.
    
  • To speed up your understanding and speaking, take advantage of those conversations that are repeated regularly, whether it's ordering in a restaurant or while shopping with a salesperson. These interactions can help you lose your fear and gain confidence and security in the language.

Remember that there's nothing better than practicing to increase fluency and decrease anxiety when speaking a foreign language. When you make mistakes, take those mistakes as tests to continue learning.