When speaking a foreign language, nerves can make you rush your words, leading to mistakes and frustration. But one of the most important things you can do is speak slowly and clearly.

When you're speaking with someone in your target language, don’t feel pressured to speak as fast as they do—unless you’re completely comfortable. Speaking slowly doesn’t make you sound less fluent, it makes you easier to understand.

If you’re not yet comfortable speaking, keep your sentences short and simple. And most importantly, learn how to ask people to repeat themselves.

A great phrase to use is:
✅ “Sorry, I’m still learning [insert language], say it again, please.”

Getting used to asking for repetition without feeling embarrassed is a key skill in language learning.

When you slow down, you’ll:

✔ Have fewer slip-ups
✔ Be more understandable
✔ Feel more in control of the conversation

But if the other person still doesn’t understand you, don’t panic. Just try again. Every language learner has been there—it’s a normal part of the process.

If you give up and switch to English, you won’t progress. Just keep going, no matter how awkward or embarrassed you feel.

Embarrassment is temporary, but the joy of being understood will stay with you for a long time. There’s no greater feeling than being able to communicate freely in another language—but to get there, you’ll need to push through the uncomfortable moments and grow a thick skin.

So next time you’re speaking in another language, slow down, stay calm, and keep going—your future fluent self will thank you for it.