How to Become Confident in a New Language

Learning a new language can be a huge boost to your confidence, but the process can also come with a lot of self-doubt and anxiety along the way. Here’s how I became a more confident language learner and overcame many of my fears and doubts when it come to learning a new language!
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✨More tips for overcoming the fear of speaking
↳ • Overcome the Fear of S...
✨Some small speaking progress you can celebrate
↳ • 10 Signs Your Speaking...
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✨About/FAQ
↳ Hi! I’m Abigail (she/they). I love learning languages and using them to live a multilingual life. I post videos sharing my honest experience learning, improving, and maintaining multiple languages, and tips and advice based on the things I've learned along the way. My goal is to create a supportive community of people who love languages and the things we can do with them as much as I do! My current languages-- English (native), French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Bulgarian.
✨ Chapters
Intro 0:00-1:48
Spend more time using the language 1:48-5:57
Get outside of your comfort zone 5:57-8:56
Celebrate your progress 8:56-10:58
Avoid comparison 10:58-14:44
Conclusion 14:44-16:00
#sprint202301
✨ Disclaimer
↳ This video is sponsored by Lingoda.

[@PolyglotProgress]

If you want to start the year off with a boost to your language skills and your confidence, I highly recommend the Lingoda Language Sprint! Click the link below for more information and use my code WINWITHABIGAIL for 20 euros or 25 dollars off your Sprint registration! Maybe I'll even see you in some German classes 👀 try.lingoda.com/PolyglotProgress_LanguageWins

[@bhaskaranjan6674]

Vielen Dank.

[@alexe2255]

One small, yet frequent success that I always try to celebrate is when I automatically read a sign or label in Spanish before even realizing it’s in Spanish. In a small way, it is proof that I really am learning and internalizing my TL.

[@AdamYLM]

I always celebrate my progress, whatever little thing it is, I celebrate it. It not only helps my confidence, but also motivation.

[@skorpi09irl]

Something I like to tell other language learners and I like to remember it for myself, is just think about how many times people make mistakes in their own language. Saying the wrong word, or using a word out of context. Or how many times we can’t remember a word or don’t even know a new word that we hear or see. Our first time pronouncing that new word. It happens to everyone. Nobody knows an entire language, not even as native speakers. We just get used to words and how to use them. When I thought about this, it helped me a lot.

[@khalilahd.]

Oh my god no one talks about this part! I’m currently learning Japanese and speaking literally terrifies which is why I avoid it (terrible I know) but I’m working on it! 😊

[@dutchessdreamer4543]

Do you have any tips for learning Japanese?

[@aymenh2834]

I'm glad you're making videos again I started watching your videos 4 years ago

[@mollyggg]

I just binged watch all of your KZbin videos in the past week and it helped me to get out of my language learning slump soooo much❤

[@davidward6908]

I'm not a polyglot. I'm learning the German. And my teacher tutor told me that practice makes the master. And the lady had some very helpful. Nobody wants to make mistakes, but unfortunately that's how we learn.

[@dutchessdreamer4543]

Here’s some apps my friend used to help learn German: Duolingo Infinite German Drops Lingo Legends

[@Ashikawahong]

It's so important what you said here about celebrating you progress! I have always been socially awkward and I was always told that it would magically stop being this way once I was older. Which - obviously - wasn't the case. It still takes a lot of courage to even do the most simple tasks that involve talking to others (like going to the bakery or telling the landlord about a problem in my apartment etc) and for that reason, I tend to avoid doing these things. Sometimes I wonder why I became so interested in languages of all things. Language is all about communication and my life is... all about avoiding these exact situations lol. The Lingoda challenge you talked about sounds really cool but also daunting. xD I've been in another country for the last few months and I had the chance to practice my two most important languages with native speakers. I've definitely gone out of my comfort zone a lot more than ever before and still I feel like I could have done more because I'm still nervous before every single exchange. While I agree that speaking as much as possible is key to improving, I would like to point out that it's okay to take a break if your social batteries are depleted (I feel like this is the wrong verb to use in this context but I can't think of another, sry). I think this goes hand in hand with celebrating your progress. It's motivating to hear about the work you put into your speaking confidence up until now and I am sure you'll continue to feel more and more comfortable. Viel Erfolg bei den Deutschstunden an dich und alle anderen Teilnehmer!

[@nicetomeetme.]

About the comparison part: yeah, it's a cliche but I'm always thankful when I hear someone else talk about it. It's true, that's why it never gets old.

[@languageishard]

I like watching language KZbin but as you said, it's hard to not compare yourself to others. Something that has helped me is watching people who are studying different languages than I am. I love watching videos of people learning French or Japanese, 2 languages I don't study and don't plan to study any time soon. The only downfall is if you watch people studying languages you aren't studying but want to study, you will definitely start dabbling 😅 so I try to pick languages that I have less interest in because it's still fun to learn about those languages and other people's study techniques

[@Overlycomplicatedswede]

I went on a German discord and just got into a vc with some natives who said they were willing to help me build my ability to speak the language and now I feel very good after a couple weeks of practice! Great tips Love from Sweden

[@miriamcortes4668]

Can you do an updated bookshelf tour please? While there are many bookshelf tours on KZbin, language ones are a bit rarer. I know you’ve made some in the past and I loved watching them.

[@PolyglotProgress]

Added to my list!

[@NataliaGarza]

I agree soooo much with your thoughts on comparison. It just doesn't make much sense to compare our fluency with that of others~ For example, I jumped two levels in Korean within the span of six months because I was studying it full time through an intensive program here in Korea~ Not to mention I was still taking italki classes every now and then to supplement my studies. If someone only heard that I made such big leaps in my abilities in such a short amount of time, they could feel like they aren't cut out for Korean or learning languages because they've been the same level for months or even years. But, most likely, they are a uni student or work full time and can't spend the 30+ hours a week I was spending on the language. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO SELF-SABOTAGE OURSELVES LIKE THAT!! Okay sorry. Rant over.

[@elsa246]

Thanks for this very interesting video! I have learned a lot of new vocabulary. I hope my level is gonna increase

[@lofi-lullaby4513]

I’ve been learning Spanish for 4 years in uni and I’m still not confident in it. The learning process was really toxic… At the same time I learn Norwegian and I’m at a much lower level. However, I am pretty confident about the language. It’s my first foreign language outside my university, so it’s like unlearning all negative believes and finding confidence within. Love this journey so far! Thank you for the video 🧡🐣

[@J17891]

I agree! I tried to do a Spanish minor in university and halfway through I had to quit the minor cause it stressed me out terribly and sucked the fun out of learning. 1.5 years later, almost done with university and I finally have some confidence to continue studying Spanish outside of school. Luckily I’m still at the intermediate level like before. One day I’d love to learn Norwegian! I’ve only dabbled in it at this point

[@lofi-lullaby4513]

@@J17891 thank you for sharing!! I wish you a lot of fun on your language journey!🫧🐣

[@foreignlanguagesisfun8143]

The only time I speak my target languages is when I Practice in repetition by myself in private. This might change over time. I just don't feel really comfortable talking to strangers in target languages.

[@polyglotsjourney]

Nice video Abigail! I would add that building confidence starts with our positive experience in the target language even though we are sometimes terrible in the target language. You just have to start speaking somewhere even thoough you know you are not perfect. That's why that first contact is so important. At least for me learning a language means that I want to use it to communicate with people and discover the things such as culture, history, cuisine etc. Therefore, there is no better way than hearing about that from the natives, or through reading the books in the original language. Thanks for sharing the vid!😊

[@materiagre]

i love your videos 💜

[@bhaskaranjan6674]

Recently I started the Deutsch language course. Please give me some tips about Deutsch language. Thank you so much.

[@darinavasileva1497]

Hello, nice to meet you! l’m Darina from Bulgaria. l watch your youtube videos and I understood that you are learning Bulgarian. I’ m learning English and Spanish. I’m really keen on becoming proficient and fluent in English. I’d like to start speaking naturally and confidently. Would you like to be language exchange partner? Do you want to make a language exchange?

[@bhaskaranjan6674]

Hi, Iam watching your videos. You're explaining so spectacular.

[@PolyglotProgress]

Thank you so much 🙂

[@bhaskaranjan6674]

Willkommen.

[@bhaskaranjan6674]

@@PolyglotProgress Willkommen.

[@bhaskaranjan6674]

@Louisa ♡ Danke schön

[@bhaskaranjan6674]

@Louisa ♡ Meine Deutsch spreche nicht so gut.

[@malvanlondon8683]

Thanks for the helpful video. What languages are you studying (or have studied) and to what levels (e.g. B2 or C1 etc.)?

[@calebgiovanni9613]

Hey misses Abigail! I must ask something completely unrelated and possibly an idea you can take for consideration. What are your thoughts on chatGPT for language learning? I learned that this can possibly disrupted the process of learning traditionally since this chat bot can explain grammar points. Speak at a CEFR level you prefer and ETC. I would like to know your feedback upon this wide topic!

[@sheeliekittie9298]

Hi dear Abigail! I really commend you and Anyone for that matter, with learning German, I'm taking a class right now and I wonder am I just really dumb because the grammar is hard =/ It's these dative / accusative noun changes, and prepositions that make the words change in these ways, well, however do you recommend learning this well? As an adult language learner. I feel I need to get that solid grasp of the grammar. I feel like I'm already overwhelmed with resources, too many books, videos, websites. Would love your thoughts, thank you =)