10 Ways to Overcome a Fear of Learning a Foreign Language

Xenoglossophobia is the fear of learning a Foreign Language! The symptoms are intense anxiety that triggers a flight or fight response at the very thought of trying to converse in a foreign language.

So how does one overcome a fear of learning foreign words?

1. Seek Professional Support

If you or someone you know feels very anxious or has a fear that is controlling your way of life please seek professional medical advice from a doctor. It may be that you need some therapy before even thinking about studying a foreign language.

2. Try Some Self-Help Materials

There are plenty of self-help books out there. I would recommend a book on Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)or Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). NLP looks at how the very words we use can impact us. CBT is about changing our thoughts and behaviors in regard to certain situations. Both share principles from Stoic philosophy. This leads nicely on to our next point…

3. Gradual Exposure Therapy

When helping someone to overcome their fear of spiders (arachnophobia), for example, the psychiatrist or therapist will initially present the patient with a picture of a spider. At first, the patient will not want to look at the picture, but once they get used to it and can view it confidently with little to no anxiety, the patient will then watch a video of a spider. The next step is to look at a real spider behind a glass, and the final step is to hold a spider. Eventually, the fear is overcome or at least managed to an extent that it is no longer controlling. The same principle can also be applied to overcoming a fear of learning foreign languages.

4. Read it Aloud to Yourself

Foreign language tutors recommend reading an article or book in your target language aloud — especially if you also have gelotophobia (the fear of people making fun of you). You have to read the words so that you can feel them with your mouth and hear them with your ears. It doesn’t matter if you do it perfectly, either. Just read straight through, and over time this practice will help you to develop the confidence you need to start speaking up.

5. Listen to Your Favourite Music in Your Target Language

Listen to your favorite music over and over, but in the target language. It’s even better if you can get the lyrics, and learn to sing along. Not only will this improve your vocabulary, but singing with the language will make it more familiar to you. This is similar to reading aloud, but the repetition of the song’s words will help to imprint them into your brain. Songs are often written with colloquial terms, meaning what you learn will be particularly useful for conversational speech.

6. Watch a movie in Your Target Language

Watch your favourite movie (or TV show) dubbed in the target language! You will be familiar with it all other than their voices. When you watch a movie that you already understand, the language part is simplified, at least a bit. This strategy can help you overcome the intimidation of knowing nothing at all (xenophobia = the fear of the unknown).

7. Take it Slow and Steady

Often, when you’re learning a language, you’ll be presented with a concept that will be very difficult to understand. For example, Chinese is a tonal language. Take your time to absorb the different patterns and difficult concepts, and don’t be hard on yourself if it takes you a little longer to really “get it.” This is natural.

8. Associate it with something you like or are familiar with!

I LOVE coffee so when I learn the language I learn vocabulary for eating out first of all! Look for the converter words! By starting with something you understand the language will seem more friendly and less frightening.

9. Focus on The Positive Benefits

Focus on all the positive benefits of language learning. Check out the 10 Benefits of Bilingualism for some inspiration.

10. Invest in a Good Tutor with Experience

Find a supportive language tutor that has experience with very anxious students.

Have you overcome xenoglossophobia and now speak another language fluently? If so I would love to hear your story!

Originally published in Language Learners Journal, 2017.