Become a monthly subscriber for just $1.99 per month and receive an additional two to three episodes per week! https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/exclusive-content In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack help out a listener who is anxious about having an accent when speaking English. Dear Xochitl and Jack, I recently moved to an English-speaking country to pursue my studies, and while I'm confident in my academic English, I find it challenging to engage in casual conversations with native speakers. I often feel self-conscious about my accent and worry that I might not be understood clearly. How can I overcome this fear and improve my spoken English in informal settings? Sincerely, Accent Anxieties Transcript: 00:00:00 Jack Hey A-Z listeners, this is Jack here. 00:00:03 Jack And if you would like to become a an exclusive subscriber to the show, you can hit the link in the description and that will take you to our Red Circle page, where for $1.99 a month you will get access to an extra two or three episodes each week. 00:00:23 Jack And be careful, don't hit that donation button if you want to become an exclusive subscriber because the donation button is just a one time donation. However, the exclusive subscriber button will give you access to the extra two or three episodes. 00:00:42 Jack Each week. 00:00:44 Jack So make sure you hit that exclusive subscriber button if you want access to the extra episodes. 00:00:52 Jack Now let's get on with the show. 00:00:55 Jack Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we are. 00:01:03 Jack Doing a dear social and Jack episode where one of our listeners has written or sent us an e-mail. 00:01:12 Jack With some kind of problem that they need help with and it is something language related and so. 00:01:18 Jack Uh, and I know I know what you're going to say already, because I've read this before, so I can kind of predict what your answer is going to be social. But I I like I you've said this before and I I like it so much. I I hope you say it again. So here's the here's the letter. Here's Social and Jack. 00:01:36 Jack I recently moved to an English speaking country to pursue to pursue my studies. 00:01:43 Jack And while I'm confident in my academic English, I find it challenging to engage in casual conversation with native speakers. I often feel self-conscious about my accent and worry that I might not be understood clearly. 00:02:01 Jack How can I overcome this fear and improve my spoken English in informal settings? Sincerely. 00:02:10 Jack Accent anxieties. 00:02:13 Xochitl Alright, acts and anxiety. Well, I think the fear that you're having is really valid. It's really normal. I think anyone who learns a new language feels this way. I know I certainly did when I moved to Korea. I'm going to tell you. 00:02:28 Xochitl The way that you're going to see the most improvement. 00:02:32 Xochitl Is jumping head first just nose diving into that fear? 00:02:39 Xochitl And trying your hardest anyway. Yes, there will be uncomfortable and awkward moments where people don't understand what you're saying. Yes, sometimes people might correct you, some people might be jerks and make fun of your accents. I had people laugh at me in Korea to my face. 00:02:55 Xochitl Yeah, it stings a little bit, but how many languages could they speak fluently so you know, most of the time, any. Yeah. Most of the time, people who can speak two languages fluently are not going to be the same people laughing in your face because they can appreciate how difficult it is to learn a second language. And they're going to be respectful. 00:03:02 발표자 Yeah. 00:03:02 Jack Yeah, yeah. 00:03:15 Xochitl About it. 00:03:16 Jack And what? What does your mom say about people that speak two languages? 00:03:21 Jack Do you remember? Ohh you forgot. Ohh OK. God love. I'll never forget this because your mom, your your mom