Non-native English speaker

English is a language that helped me the most while at job, while I travel for work , leisure and in many other occasions. For a non-native English speaker like me, there were (and are) so many challenges when it comes to talking and sometimes understanding native English speakers. Attempt here is to think a little about some challenges and how we can overcome those.

Understanding English is different from what I read(of course in my own way), and from what spoken at home country.

• This is very usual; mother language may have influenced your way of talking and what you have heard so far. This is not anyone’s mistake. Maybe that’s the first attitude change that you have to come with. You are multilingual; that comes with the advantage of communicating better and wider than a uni-lingual person; however, comes with a slight influence from another language.
• So to understand what the other one says, you have to do a little bit of homework. Listen to small conversations from online videos or movies(hmm sometimes tough without subtitles), try to hear the way words and letters are sounding. Sports commentary was an easy thing that I personally found easier. This way you get more about daily conversations, how it sounds and more importantly how it differs (sometimes) from your own way. Again it is not your fault; it is your influence from the extra advantage.

Yes I understand now; how can I talk back like them?

• Do not attempt to copy ; have your own tone, way of speaking; however now you know to consciously reduce the influence on certain words that can give a complete difference to the context, and some raised eyebrows. Again having an accent is not a fault. You can slowly keep it more towards neutral.
• Many times you also have to understand that it’s not just words. Gestures, body language and everything has a part to play as in many languages.

Tenses, adjectives, phrases…

• Yes sometimes that’s really tough. There is no shame in asking to repeat in a way you would understand, maybe ask for a simple word. And while talking back, you may fail to put the right grammar; unless you are a budding Shakespeare ; thats pardonable. Do not think about tenses etc, a lot. A language primarily is for communicating. As long as purpose is served, you are doing great. Improvements will come along.

Time for some motivation and cliche stuff

Without confidence you cant speak it.

Confidence plays the most important part here. You have to think in mind, you are going to attempt it, lets see if mistake comes.

Be sure to say if you dont understand. Observing gestures and trying to guess it is still fine. But as long as you are not sure, dont just nod head; it might be a question.

Guess what, its a simple language to learn

Most times it might be fact that you are already handling an even complex language with ease. So it's just a matter of time with effort and attempt. English is easy to learn

Its not a shame if you use translators

Sometimes you fail to find the word that you want to say. It’s perfect to use technology unless you are a user of the paper map in these GPS times. Technology helps , use it, but soon reduce it

Before ending, I must say another important point here. A language is for communicating and proficiency in any language is a plus; however it is never a measure of your knowledge on other areas. So a scientist who cannot express his knowledge in a language that you understand, still keeps him a scientist.