I’ve been learning Japanese for several years now, and objectively, I think that I can use the language to a level where I am understandable and mistakes are minimal for what I say and write.
However, I have this enormous mental hurdle that I cannot get over and it is that I am extremely afraid of using the language with native speakers in fear of making “mistakes.”
When I write in text on a comment or email or something, I always end the thing with something along the lines of, “I’m not good at Japanese, so sorry if I made mistakes.”
I limit myself to what I say/write in case I’m not able to properly say what I want, and I don’t try to step out of my comfort zone.
This is a huge reason why I’ve avoided looking for speaking practice partners or language tutors because I just am so self conscious about it.
Any advice?
TLDR: Avoiding using the language/highly self conscious when using the language in fear of making mistakes or looking foolish. Help?
8 comments
It’s an understandable mental hurdle. In the end, we humans fear embarassment and rejection and making mistakes. It’s absolutely normal and everyone experiences it at some point.
However: the only way *out* is *through.* Be brave and find someone to talk to. Step out your comfort zone. Just like cold pool water feels gradually warmer once you begin to move, so will stepping out of your comfort zone feel.
What is the worst that can happen? You make a mistake. Someone may laugh or make fun of you. Someone doesn’t fully understand what you said and you panic a little thinking やばいやばいーー恥ずかしい！！It may feel awful and you’re feeling embarassed, but it’s fine. Laugh it off, shake it off, learn from your mistake, move on. Without making mistakes, we don’t learn and don’t grow. How else do you want to overcome this hurdle? By stopping right before the jump?
See it as a challenge and step up. The world will still turn tomorrow if you make a mistake. It’s really just a matter of shifting your perspective. Besides, those who ridicule a language learner for making mistakes don’t even deserve your time and energy.
Plus, you’ve learned one of the hardest languages out there — that’s something to be proud of. Why waste all the opportunities to put the language into use?
I make mistakes with my mother language all the time. Understand it is natural.
It’s a mental hurdle as you said and it can apply to anything in life.
You have to work on the mindset that it is okay to make mistakes.
You could be dead this time tomorrow, for all you know. Aneurysm, stroke. Bye.
What’s someone going to do, be mad? Let them be mad. Ignore you? OK, they’re effectively ignoring you now anyway. Laugh at you? Maybe. And then you’ll be forgotten in a day.
Time’s running out for all of us. Every day.
>I’ve been learning Japanese for several years now, and objectively, I think that I can use the language to a level where I am understandable and mistakes are minimal for what I say and write.
Then you are much better than over 99 percent of Japanese speakers who are learning English. So if you make a language partner with one like that then there is no problem.
By the way there was two mistakes that I (non-native speaker) saw in your English. But I think you must use English every day without fearing mistakes because you accept that nobody cares. Japanese people will also not care.
Just through regular use. Need to normalise it for yourself so the more you hear it, the more natural it will feel to use it. Booze helps too 😉
practice, and that includes the mistakes and handling the situation after the mistake. the embarrassment will fade, and often will be a silly, happy memory, in most circumstances. definitely do not make the mistake of never communicating until you’re “good enough” to try to avoid this. engage early and often and move past this.
just do it, those cuts and bruises add up to calluses and experience