Help! What to do when you don't understand people: Beating Speaking Anxiety

worry

To feel anxious about something, or to make someone feel anxious.

often

Many times or on many occasions.

think

To use your mind to form ideas, opinions, plans, or memories.

how

In what way or by what method.

scary

Frightening or making people feel afraid.

speak

To say words aloud; also to use a language.

important

Having great value, meaning, or effect; needing attention.

part

One piece, section, or role of something larger.

listen

To give attention to a sound or to what someone is saying.

happens

Takes place or comes about, often without being planned.

understand

To know the meaning of something; to realize how someone feels or why something happens.

person

A human being, considered as an individual.

practise

British spelling of practice as a verb: to repeat an activity to improve.

environment

The natural world or the conditions around a person or thing.

teacher

A person whose job is to help students learn.

probably

Used to say that something is likely to happen or be true.

clearly

In a way that is easy to see, hear, or understand.

maybe

Possibly; used when something is not certain.

slowly

At a low speed, or with little speed.

tests

The plural form of test: exams, checks, or trials used to measure knowledge, health, or quality.

make

To create, build, prepare, or cause something to happen.

level

A height, amount, stage, or standard in relation to others.

play

To do a game, sport, music, or enjoyable activity.

again

One more time, or as before.

outside

In or to a place that is not inside a building, room, or container.

classroom

A room where students are taught.

people

Human beings in general, or the men, women, and children in a group.

quickly

At a fast speed or after only a short time.

use

To do something with an object, tool, method, or ability.

idiomatic

Natural and correct in a language, especially using expressions that native speakers normally use.

expressions

The plural form of expression: a look, phrase, or way of showing thoughts and feelings.

heard

The past form of hear: noticed sounds with your ears or received information.

plus

An advantage or good feature.

sorts

The plural form of sort: types or kinds of people or things.

different

Not the same as another person or thing.

accents

The plural form of accent: ways of pronouncing words.

get

To receive, obtain, become, understand, or arrive at something, depending on context.

world

The earth and all its people, places, and things; also a particular area of life or experience.

main

Most important, largest, or used more than the others.

issue

A subject or problem that people discuss or need to deal with.

anxiety

A feeling of worry, fear, or nervousness.

students

The plural form of student: people who study at a school, college, or university.

familiar

Known well or easy to recognize.

look

To use your eyes to see; to seem or appear a certain way.

experience

Knowledge or skill gained from doing something, or an event lived through.

always

At every time; on every occasion.

erm

A sound people make while pausing or hesitating.

expose

To show something hidden, or put someone in contact with danger.

variety

A number of different types of things or people.

tends

Usually behaves in a particular way, or takes care of someone or something.

because

For the reason that something is true or happened.

movies

Films that tell stories, show real events, or provide entertainment.

culture

The customs, ideas, arts, and way of life of a group.

music

Sounds arranged with rhythm, melody, or harmony, often made by voices or instruments.

sort

A type or kind of person or thing.

thing

An object, idea, action, or fact when its exact name is not given.

hear

To notice sounds with your ears, or to be told information.

lots

The plural form of lot: large amounts, groups, or areas of land.

voice

The sound made when a person speaks or sings; also a way to express opinions.

ready

Prepared for use, action, or a planned event.

anything

Any thing or event, often in questions or negatives.

better

Of higher quality, health, skill, or suitability.

here

In, at, or to this place or position.

workshop

A room or building where things are made or repaired; also a short practical class.

learners

The plural form of learner: people gaining knowledge or skill.

practising

The present participle of practise: repeating an activity to improve or working in a profession.

situation

The set of facts or conditions that affect what is happening.

difficult

Hard to do, understand, or deal with.

describing

The -ing form of describe: saying or writing what something is like.

picture

A drawing, painting, or photograph.

while

During the time that something happens, or although something is true.

draw

To make a picture with lines, pull something, or attract attention.

noisy

Making a lot of sound, especially unwanted sound.

room

A part of a building with walls, a floor, and a ceiling; also empty space.

read

To look at and understand written words or symbols.

lips

The plural form of lip: the two soft edges around the mouth.

face

The front part of the head, including eyes, nose, and mouth.

easy

Not difficult to do, understand, or deal with.

watch

To look at something for a period of time, especially with attention.

questions

The plural form of question: things asked to get information or answers.

clarify

To make an idea, statement, or situation easier to understand.

understanding

Knowledge about what something means or how it works; sympathy for another person.

got

The past form of get: received, became, reached, or understood something.

lake

A large area of water surrounded by land.

yeah

Informal way to say yes.

swimming

The activity or sport of moving through water with your body.

right

Correct, suitable, or morally good.

hand

The part at the end of your arm, with fingers and a thumb.

side

One of the flat or outer parts of something.

left

On or toward the side of your body where the heart is usually felt.

bottom

The lowest part of something

centre

The middle point or main place of an area or activity.

center

The middle point or main place of an area or activity.

animal

A living creature that is not a plant, often able to move.

chicken

A common farm bird, or its meat used as food.

chick

A baby bird, especially a young chicken; informally, a young woman.

really

Used to say something is true, strong, or more than expected.

good

Of high quality, pleasant, useful, or morally right.

oh

A sound used to show surprise, pain, understanding, or another quick feeling.

windmill

A tall machine with large turning blades that uses wind to pump water or make power.

everything

All things, facts, or matters.

asking

The -ing form of ask: requesting information, help, or permission.

someone

A person whose name or identity is not known or not stated.

say

To speak words, express an idea, or give information.

helpful

Giving useful support, advice, or information.

improve

To become better, or to make something better.

listening

The act or skill of paying attention to sounds or spoken words.

skills

The plural form of skill: abilities learned through practice, knowledge, or training.

firstly

Used to introduce the first point in a list or argument.

ask

To request information, help, or permission.

repeat

To say, do, or happen again.

themselves

Used when the people, animals, or things doing an action are also affected by it.

key

A small shaped piece of metal or plastic used to open a lock.

plenty

A large or sufficient amount of something.

exposure

Contact with something, or public attention to something.

try

To make an effort to do something or to test whether something works.

few

A small number of people or things.

times

Plural periods, occasions, or moments when something happens.

week

A period of seven days, usually counted from Monday to Sunday or Sunday to Saturday.

sure

Confident that something is true; certain about something.

watching

The present participle of watch: looking at something carefully for a time.

something

A thing that is not named or not known exactly.

film

A movie, or a thin layer covering something.

series

A number of similar things, events, or programs that come one after another.

things

Objects, facts, ideas, or activities, especially when not named separately.

include

To have someone or something as part of a group, list, or whole.

natural

Existing in nature, not made by people; normal or expected in a situation.

speech

The ability to speak, or a formal talk given to an audience.

like

Similar to someone or something, or in the same way as them.

interviews

The plural form of interview: formal question-and-answer meetings.

talk

A conversation or a speech given to people.

shows

The present form of show: lets someone see something or makes something clear.

podcasts

The plural form of podcast: audio programs available online.

example

Something that shows what a group, rule, or idea is like.

podcast

An audio program available online that people can download or stream.

stories

The plural form of story: accounts of events, made-up tales, or levels of a building.

tell

To give information to someone by speaking or writing.

real

Existing in fact, not imagined, false, or artificial.

lives

The plural form of life: the experiences of people or the state of being alive.

enjoy

To get pleasure from something.

video

A recording of moving pictures, often with sound.

check

To look at something carefully to make sure it is correct or safe.

episode

One event in a series, or one part of a television story.

fear

The bad feeling you have when you think something dangerous may happen.

both

Used to refer to two people or things together

experts

The plural form of expert: people with special knowledge or skill.

topic

A subject that people talk, write, or learn about.