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Beating Speaking Anxiety

Intermediate level

How to build your speaking confidence

Episode 260210 / 10 Feb 2026

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The fear of speaking in front of others 

The fear of public speaking is common even in a person’s first language, and in a foreign language, it can feel even scarier. This fear can come when you’re doing a presentation, but it’s also common during conversations, especially in groups. Speaking is different to other skills because it’s related to how others see you – you’re presenting your personality.

Try these tips

  • Either jump out of your comfort zone and speak in front of people as much as possible, or try removing the face-to-face aspect of speaking at first:
  • Talk to yourself.
  • Communicate with someone via voice message.
  • Try a phone call.
  • Go for a walk with someone and have a conversation side-by-side.

Next

Learn more from experts and learners in the podcast epsiode:

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Discover the latest programmes from BBC Learning English. 

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Email us

Do you have experience with English speaking anxiety? What do you think of this series? Send us an email to learningenglish@bbc.co.uk and tell us all about it. 

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