Hi, dear friend. Please remember that the only way to learn English is by speaking. You may not be able to practice directly in presentations, but you need to regularize it by speaking in English to people around you. They may laugh at you, but trust me, out of 10 people laughing, one person would certainly try to help you. This is more than enough to improve.
I am sharing this from my own practical experience. The only thing I tell you is to never lose courage. You will certainly achieve your goal.
From India, Hyderabad
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1I am sharing this from my own practical experience. The only thing I tell you is to never lose courage. You will certainly achieve your goal.
From India, Hyderabad
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Hello Sekhar,
If you are from Hyderabad, I suggest you go to Ramakrishna Math and enroll in their English courses. I can vouch that they are very good for people like you, especially as they insist on students coming from a non-English medium background.
There are different levels available, and you can choose depending on your comfort level. Another intangible reason why such courses are helpful is that you end up meeting others who may be worse than you. This acts as a confidence booster while you are in the learning process.
Please note that this suggestion is IN ADDITION to what others here have suggested. Try to speak in English to the best of your ability, making mistakes along the way (I remember a quote here: "A mistake is a mistake until you learn from it. Then it becomes an experience"). Additionally, try reading English newspapers/books out loud to start with (please don't overdo this—I know people who, even after becoming proficient in English, still can't understand unless they read aloud, even in offices; it becomes a force of habit). Also, watch English TV programs like news, etc.
Regards,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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If you are from Hyderabad, I suggest you go to Ramakrishna Math and enroll in their English courses. I can vouch that they are very good for people like you, especially as they insist on students coming from a non-English medium background.
There are different levels available, and you can choose depending on your comfort level. Another intangible reason why such courses are helpful is that you end up meeting others who may be worse than you. This acts as a confidence booster while you are in the learning process.
Please note that this suggestion is IN ADDITION to what others here have suggested. Try to speak in English to the best of your ability, making mistakes along the way (I remember a quote here: "A mistake is a mistake until you learn from it. Then it becomes an experience"). Additionally, try reading English newspapers/books out loud to start with (please don't overdo this—I know people who, even after becoming proficient in English, still can't understand unless they read aloud, even in offices; it becomes a force of habit). Also, watch English TV programs like news, etc.
Regards,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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Dear Sekar,
You should find where your problem started from. Of course, you had identified that you are having a complex.
Please note no one is perfect at speaking English in India, so don't worry about it.
First of all, start speaking with available words in English for conversation, and over a period of time, you will definitely find improvement in your style of English and usage of words. Read some English newspapers that are very ordinarily understood by everyone (simple English). I used Indian Express initially and then changed to The Hindu slowly once I felt understood. Never mind conversing with anyone; the only thing that matters is how people understand your communication. Do not underestimate your speaking skills.
Also, make others speak English with you rather than your own language; otherwise, learning from them won't be possible. This is how you learn from the opposite person with whom you interact.
Do not get into thinking about what you had spoken while speaking (like whether I used prepositions correctly, degrees correctly, sentences conveyed are correct or not, etc.). Whatever you had spoken is out and will not come back unless the opposite person reacts to it. They will take care of it.
I am sure people like you are perfect translators because during the thought process, you always feel to form sentences of speech in your own language and then try to convert them to English before delivery. Please try to see that whatever you feel should be in English and through the words/sentences as they are. Later on, you will find the art of language skills improving.
You can even see some people use fillers during conversation like "you know, um, yes," to keep the continuity of the speech on.
Hence, don't worry about what you don't know. Keep speaking what you know.
Ironically, I have been improving my English style for the last 10 years for MNC companies, but I ended up with a Japanese MNC where I used telegraphical speaking with them, which is absolutely comfortable for my Japanese superiors.
With kind regards,
RAGHU
Hi All, I have a peculiar problem. I have a lot of fear and inferiority complexity due to which I am unable to talk and give presentations in my office. Basically, I am from a Telugu medium. Please suggest ways to improve my English and overcome fear.
Thanks and regards, Sekhar
From India, Madras
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You should find where your problem started from. Of course, you had identified that you are having a complex.
Please note no one is perfect at speaking English in India, so don't worry about it.
First of all, start speaking with available words in English for conversation, and over a period of time, you will definitely find improvement in your style of English and usage of words. Read some English newspapers that are very ordinarily understood by everyone (simple English). I used Indian Express initially and then changed to The Hindu slowly once I felt understood. Never mind conversing with anyone; the only thing that matters is how people understand your communication. Do not underestimate your speaking skills.
Also, make others speak English with you rather than your own language; otherwise, learning from them won't be possible. This is how you learn from the opposite person with whom you interact.
Do not get into thinking about what you had spoken while speaking (like whether I used prepositions correctly, degrees correctly, sentences conveyed are correct or not, etc.). Whatever you had spoken is out and will not come back unless the opposite person reacts to it. They will take care of it.
I am sure people like you are perfect translators because during the thought process, you always feel to form sentences of speech in your own language and then try to convert them to English before delivery. Please try to see that whatever you feel should be in English and through the words/sentences as they are. Later on, you will find the art of language skills improving.
You can even see some people use fillers during conversation like "you know, um, yes," to keep the continuity of the speech on.
Hence, don't worry about what you don't know. Keep speaking what you know.
Ironically, I have been improving my English style for the last 10 years for MNC companies, but I ended up with a Japanese MNC where I used telegraphical speaking with them, which is absolutely comfortable for my Japanese superiors.
With kind regards,
RAGHU
Hi All, I have a peculiar problem. I have a lot of fear and inferiority complexity due to which I am unable to talk and give presentations in my office. Basically, I am from a Telugu medium. Please suggest ways to improve my English and overcome fear.
Thanks and regards, Sekhar
From India, Madras
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Dear Shekhar,
Follow these:
1. You practically need only 10 days to speak English.
2. Most of us have completed education through our mother tongue.
3. So, you are not different.
4. Spend daily 1 hour reading the Times of India aloud without fail.
5. Find a mentor who will interact with you in English at your office.
6. Consider paying some fees to this person.
Otherwise, come to Mumbai and spend 10 days at my place, that is all. You can call me on 09324 64 25 44.
Good luck,
Bharat Ketkar
From Switzerland, Langenthal
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Follow these:
1. You practically need only 10 days to speak English.
2. Most of us have completed education through our mother tongue.
3. So, you are not different.
4. Spend daily 1 hour reading the Times of India aloud without fail.
5. Find a mentor who will interact with you in English at your office.
6. Consider paying some fees to this person.
Otherwise, come to Mumbai and spend 10 days at my place, that is all. You can call me on 09324 64 25 44.
Good luck,
Bharat Ketkar
From Switzerland, Langenthal
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Dear All,
Please advise if there is a site where one can post one's query pertaining to English Grammar. This will solve problems for a lot of people like Sekhar, who either cannot converse freely in English or make a lot of grammatical mistakes but are shy of asking others.
Regards,
Surabhi
From India, New Delhi
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Please advise if there is a site where one can post one's query pertaining to English Grammar. This will solve problems for a lot of people like Sekhar, who either cannot converse freely in English or make a lot of grammatical mistakes but are shy of asking others.
Regards,
Surabhi
From India, New Delhi
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Hi Friends Thanks a lot for all your excellent suggestions. Definitely I will follow your suggestions and try to avoid my fear. Thanks and Regards sekhar
From India, Bangalore
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From India, Bangalore
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Hi,
Please forget about this word 'FEAR' because this is the only thing that is dancing in your head and restricting your hidden talent. People are not born with the habit of speaking English; they hear from others and learn to speak.
The best solution is to watch cricket matches, English movies, cartoons, news (whichever you prefer), etc. Don't just watch, but listen to the commentary/words and try to speak or pronounce the same way they are doing. Initially, you may feel ashamed of pronouncing wrong words, or you may worry about what your neighbors or friends would think. To solve this problem, increase the volume of your TV so that no one can hear you, and you can listen properly and practice.
Try it for a few days, and you will notice the change, but never lose hope and always have confidence.
Regards,
PRATEETY
9830534203
From India, Calcutta
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Please forget about this word 'FEAR' because this is the only thing that is dancing in your head and restricting your hidden talent. People are not born with the habit of speaking English; they hear from others and learn to speak.
The best solution is to watch cricket matches, English movies, cartoons, news (whichever you prefer), etc. Don't just watch, but listen to the commentary/words and try to speak or pronounce the same way they are doing. Initially, you may feel ashamed of pronouncing wrong words, or you may worry about what your neighbors or friends would think. To solve this problem, increase the volume of your TV so that no one can hear you, and you can listen properly and practice.
Try it for a few days, and you will notice the change, but never lose hope and always have confidence.
Regards,
PRATEETY
9830534203
From India, Calcutta
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Hi Sekar,
You have received great suggestions from our members.
But there is something that I need to let you know - your very attitude to come out and ask for help states that you are set to improve. Learning the language is very simple - and not a life-threatening one.
How I learned...
My parents knew very little of the English language before they were blessed (:-D) with two daughters. They had no idea on how they would be able to encourage us, and they did not want us to feel sad about not knowing the language. They encouraged us to talk only in English at home (right from childhood - right from my LKG and UKG). They read our books and taught us. They became fluent with the language in a couple of years - not because they wanted to, but because they were eager to teach me and my sister. They are proud now! All of us speak confidently at home and also to outsiders. I am amazed by the way my mother and father speak to people - just excellent! They were their own teachers.
The same with teaching us Hindi. We are South Indians. My mother first started learning it through our books - taught us after learning it. We scored great marks! She is good with the language now. I am not fluent though - because I did not feel the need to do so. But English - I had to learn (unknowingly) because everyone communicated in English.
I hope you understood the message I wanted to convey. It's the mindset and the need. If my parents could do it just because they wanted me and my sister to be perfect in the language, you can do it if you want to. Add positive hope; you will succeed.
From India, Madras
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
You have received great suggestions from our members.
But there is something that I need to let you know - your very attitude to come out and ask for help states that you are set to improve. Learning the language is very simple - and not a life-threatening one.
How I learned...
My parents knew very little of the English language before they were blessed (:-D) with two daughters. They had no idea on how they would be able to encourage us, and they did not want us to feel sad about not knowing the language. They encouraged us to talk only in English at home (right from childhood - right from my LKG and UKG). They read our books and taught us. They became fluent with the language in a couple of years - not because they wanted to, but because they were eager to teach me and my sister. They are proud now! All of us speak confidently at home and also to outsiders. I am amazed by the way my mother and father speak to people - just excellent! They were their own teachers.
The same with teaching us Hindi. We are South Indians. My mother first started learning it through our books - taught us after learning it. We scored great marks! She is good with the language now. I am not fluent though - because I did not feel the need to do so. But English - I had to learn (unknowingly) because everyone communicated in English.
I hope you understood the message I wanted to convey. It's the mindset and the need. If my parents could do it just because they wanted me and my sister to be perfect in the language, you can do it if you want to. Add positive hope; you will succeed.
From India, Madras
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Dear,
A language is only the medium to convey your message. You need not worry about that. I think it would not be the case that all your staff members can't understand Hindi or other local languages that you are comfortable in. You can use the language you know for your presentations. But you should be confident in that. Prepare yourself well and keep working on your English efficiency simultaneously. Hope you will overcome this difficulty very soon.
Regards,
Daleep Sharma
Email: dilip_0805@yahoo.co.in
From India, Mumbai
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A language is only the medium to convey your message. You need not worry about that. I think it would not be the case that all your staff members can't understand Hindi or other local languages that you are comfortable in. You can use the language you know for your presentations. But you should be confident in that. Prepare yourself well and keep working on your English efficiency simultaneously. Hope you will overcome this difficulty very soon.
Regards,
Daleep Sharma
Email: dilip_0805@yahoo.co.in
From India, Mumbai
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