In this moment I'm studying English in a ''Language Center" here in my city. I never tried that before and I'm very excited about it but I have an issue... It's difficult for me to express my ideas or my opinions out loud, I don't have enough confidence to speak face to face with "extrangers" not only in English, in Spanish, my native language, too (I'm a shy person) and I don't have any foreign friend to practice, for that reason day after day I watch, listen, read and repeat out loud many frases in my bedroom and I think I've improve (a little I guess) my pronunciation but when I try to generate content, or having a fictional conversation (only me), the words didn't appear.
In many videos on Youtube, the people suggest ''shadowing'' technique but... It's really effective? Do you have any recomendation?
Hey Omar, I am often tongue tied in my own language too, and so I know what you are talking about. I haven't tried shadowing or other such techniques, so I can't advise you about them. I will say that a few years ago I was discouraged in language learning because I didn't have access to speakers of the language I was interested in. I found articles by Steve Kauffman online that greatly encouraged me (you can look him up at his blog, The Linguist). He talks about the validity of being a silent polyglot. One can engage in a language community through reading and writing as well as speaking. I am so thankful for Journaly because it gives me a chance to communicate without having to have a speaker sitting with me--or having to fight through shyness. Good for you for going to a Language Center. That is a brave step.
Thank you for take the time to correct my mistakes in the text, and for the recomendation of the blog "The Linguist" I will give it a look. I discovered this platform today, and I think I'll use it very frequently. As you say this opportunity to have a feedback with native speakers disposed to give you and honest advice is priceless.
I have the same problem. Spoken conversation is difficult for me, even in my native language. Have you tried writing short segments and then saying them out loud? I find it can help if you don’t have to think of what to say while also struggling with unfamiliar pronunciation.
I have a similar experience with learning Spanish, because I am also shy! I have a suggestion of how you can practice speaking without being face-to-face: In the language exchange app "Tandem", there is a feature where you can send voice recordings back and forth. It is not a call (though that is a feature too) and it is not in real time. Exchanging voice recordings takes away the pressure of being face-to-face, but you can still practice listening and speaking with others. Perhaps that could be a technique for you as you build confidence with your speaking skills. :)
Yes!! Steve Kaufman is amazing 🙂
I also use tandem daily with Chinese natives, it’s really good and good thing is I bought a year subscription. That’s where I made all my Chinese friends, I first downloaded it about 3 months ago and fast forward to today I have over 13 good friends on We Chat.
I enjoyed listening to Steve Kaufman. He has one point that I'd like to emphasize: learn through ways that bring you enjoyment. Everyone is different, and everyone has their preferred ways of learning languages. Steve Kaufman really enjoys reading in foreign languages. I enjoy speaking in foreign languages and learning more about others from different cultures. It makes the language come alive to me and gives me motivation for practicing other forms of communication beyond the speaking and listening (reading and writing).