Stage 1 · Lesson 3 of 7
Speaking in a second language is extra work
If English is not your first language, speaking up means doing two jobs at once: thinking about the idea and building the sentence. By the time your sentence is ready, the conversation may have moved on, and you worry about grammar and accent while others are already talking.
That is a real load, not a lack of intelligence. It gets lighter with practice and with preparation: think of your point in advance, keep sentences short and learn a few phrases for joining in, which stage 6 covers. Remember that many people in global teams speak English as a second language too.
Common trapdeciding you will speak up once your English is perfect, a day that never comes.
A question to check yourself and an AI practice session come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it
Resources for this stage
Start with· follow one of these
- VideoFreeThe Skill of Self Confidence (Dr. Ivan Joseph, TEDxRyersonU)
Dr. Ivan Joseph (TEDxRyersonU)
Confidence as a skill built through repetition, from a university sports coach
- BookPaidQuiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking (Susan Cain)
Susan Cain (Crown) · Paid book
Why quiet people bring real strengths, and how to contribute in your own way
Keep handy
Also worth your time
Struggling right now? If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact local emergency services or a crisis line: Find a helpline (any country), Umang (Pakistan), Tele-MANAS, 14416 (India).