Let's break the bubble once and for all, shall we?
Sounding confident in a language has little to do with the language itself and more to do with the way you present that language. You don't have to know the most complicated vocabularies and phrases out there to seem confident in your language. All you have to do is make certain changes and adopt a few techniques mentioned below that are quite easily adoptable.
P.S. Don't try these unless you want to see some changes in the way you present yourself!
Watch the speed of your language
The most common attribute of people who aren't confident about their language skill is their increased rate of speech. They do this because, subconsciously, they believe if they speak fast, they will have to spend lesser amount of time speaking that language. On the other hand, speaking in a slow and controlled manner not only makes you seem confident but also gives you the time to think through, before spurting out something that you might potentially regret.
Okay now! We can hear you yelling, "But how do I control the speed ?" Here's the secret - PUNCTUATE! Yes, punctuation is not just for writing. It informs you where to pause when conversing, enabling you to speak in a rather understandable and elegant manner. Take a breath! Pause!
Take control of your tone
The very next thing you should attend to is your "tone". Tone is what communicates beyond words, it communicates the feelings and attitude, more so, your passion towards the topic of discussion or sometimes even the object of your discussion. Your tone is directly proportionate to the kind of attention you'll gain from your audience.
Here's what you should do - READ THE ROOM! Observe the place that you are in; the rapport you share with your listeners; the occassion of the meeting and so on. This will allow you to conclude if you can be formal or friendly with your tone and how far can you take your sense of humor, if you have any. What's the worse that could happen if you get the tone wrong? Well, you might miscommunicate your intended meaning thereby offending your colleagues, friends and sometimes even your higher-ups (which is not great for your job)
Pitch it!
Pitch is one of the most important aspects when it comes to showing people how assertive and confident you can be. A really balanced pitch will demand more attention and help you communicate your ideas flawlessly, no matter the size of the crowd. On the flip side, mumbling or speaking in a uniform tone is certain to make your audience doze off as it sounds unassertive and expression-less; A high pitch would make you sound unnecessarily excited or even controlling, either of which is hardly welcomed in a social space.
So here's how to get the pitch right - Follow the emotions behind the topic of discussion but don't get carried away by it- Keep your emotions in check! Shouting and whispering is a no-no. Practice enunciating your words in a clear-cut manner.
Learn the art of non-verbal communication
Communication is equally dependant on verbal and non-verbal interactions. Maintaining eye contact with listeners and smiling during the conversation are two of the most significant non-verbal communication skills that scream confidence.
Another important one that is often overlooked is your hand gestures.
If you notice yourself when you talk in your native tongue, you'll see how much you actually move your hands and animate your expressions. This is a consequence of being completely at ease with yourself. You hardly pay attention to the words which come out of your mouth but rather focus almost entirely on conveying the idea in your mind to the listeners. So, loosen up a bit, jiggle your shoulders and hands. Now start making subtle yet conscious gestures with your hands. (Note: Avoid pointing your fingers too much, unless you intend to show authoriy and offend people)
Learn your grammar
Let's state the obvious now! No matter the language, you can be a confident speaker only if you've understood the nuances of its grammar. You might have a sound knowledge in your field but without proper grammar you will never be able to courageously articulate them to the world in English, considering the fact that most workplaces and social spaces are multilingual.
Honestly, it is actually not as bad/ difficult as people make it sound.
If you're like most people who hate grammar rules and couldn't for the l0ve of God get it right, then use the flip method called Inductive learning where you learn the grammar rules as a consequence of intense practice using the trial and error method. Stop getting intimidated for every tiny mistake you make. Practice despite the errors! People are not as bad as you think, mature ones will always understand that mistakes are a part of learning.
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