Learning English

Rob
How much and how effectively we learn can depend on how confident we feel about our abilities. Language learning is a journey and losing your self-confidence along the way can happen to many students.  Just listen to this…

Student
When I had to learn English as an adult for my job, I didn't think I would ever be able to remember all the vocabulary, spellings, tenses – let alone have a conversation. I didn't look forward to those classes at all.

Rob
Hopefully our top tips for building your confidence will help you enjoy and improve learning English. To begin with, remember that it takes time to learn a new language. Speak to your teacher to make sure that any goals you set yourself are realistic. Don't be put off by other students who appear to be self-confident.

Remember that everyone finds learning difficult at one time or another; it's just that they may be better at hiding it than you! Also, don’t forget that some people don’t mind making mistakes and because of this they don't allow mistakes to affect their confidence.

Don't worry about getting things wrong or failing in public. Just give it a go! Be supportive of others and they will do the same for you. Making mistakes can actually help you learn. In fact, some people actually ask others to point out their language mistakes so that they can learn more.

If you're making slow progress in your learning, think about what's causing it. Are other things not related to studying distracting you? – sort these out and you might find it easier to learn.

Of course, if you're lacking confidence in your studies, it's a good idea to share your concerns with someone else – so talk to a friend or your teacher – they may have some good advice.

And finally, look back on what you have achieved so far. You might be surprised at what you already know – and that will boost your confidence. Believe in yourself and don't give up! Good luck!