S6E39: Just because they’re impatient

Full transcription:

Good morning, happy Thursday and welcome to the Language Confidence Project, the daily dose of language courage for people who love languages and those who really don’t, but have to learn one anyway. And today, I have the quickest message for you.

If you tried to put yourself out there today, and order food, or strike up a conversation, or buy a ticket in your new language and the other person responded badly, don’t be discouraged. If they rolled their eyes. If they pointedly replied in your native language instead. If they screwed their face up like the very act of hearing their language spoken by a non-native was physically hurting them. It’s still not your problem and it’s still not a sign that you should ever stop speaking your language.   

Because that’s how language works.

You’re allowed to speak. You’re allowed to try. You’re allowed to stumble over your words.

Hopefully, the other person will be patient and kind and supportive. It’s not a given.  

Be proud that you did it anyway.

Keep reaching out.

Keep asking questions.

Keep making conversation.

Keep trying to express yourself, even if you’re not sure that what you’re saying is grammatically correct. In fact keep trying to express yourself even if you’re certain that what you’re saying isn’t grammatically correct.

Impatient people exist and people who are not normally impatient but are impatient today, also exist. You can’t stop that. They’re impatient in queues, they’re impatient on the phone, they’re impatient with small children. You can’t stop that. 

But you don’t need to take ownership of it, either. You don’t need to go quiet, just like nobody is disbanding the queue for them or bumping them up the call line. You have stuff you need to do, too. So don’t shrink down. Speak anyway.

You’re allowed to speak and you’re allowed to take up space, even in your new language. You don’t suddenly lose that value when your fluency level goes down.

You have so much value to bring to the world in your new language, and that conversation that you’re replaying in your head is a stepping stone to being the person you want to be in your new language. Every time you speak is a huge act of bravery and not everyone is going to recognise that, so you need to doubly recognise it. Be so proud of what you’re doing, because it’s amazing.

Have a wonderful day, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow.