Many foreign language learners fear making mistakes when speaking either to native speakers, or, perhaps even more so, infront of their colleagues and peers.
A lot of my students have requested that they want to be able to speak English without making any mistakes and at the same time sound fluent without too many pauses for thought. It is not an impossible task, but requires a balance between accuracy and fluency in which sometimes fluency prevails which can lead into mistakes.
My first piece of advice is to pay attention to what you are saying. Quite often the mistakes I hear are basic and have already been taught. Second don't let the fear of making a mistake stop you trying. This perhaps is worst thing you can do to hinder your development with the language, because if you don't try to speak you won't be able to speak. Third if you hear your own mistakes correct yourself, out loud, immediately. Why? Because you will train your brain into using the correct word or expression rather than repeating the mistake. This reprogramming can take some time, so be patient, but keep correcting yourself. Finally, put your mistakes into perspective, if you have still managed to express yourself and make your point you have communicated, which really is the whole point of languages.
How can you achieve this balance between accuracy and fluency? It depends on your level if you make a lot of mistakes and are not aware of them maybe you still need to learn the grammar. If you know you are making mistakes stop, correct yourself and make a note somewhere. Pay attention when the teacher corrects you, remember the classroom is a safe place where you can comfortably make mistakes and be corrected without fear of embarrassment.
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