How is it that i'm shy, but when i speak a foreign language, i'm almost not shy?

Question

in english and spanish, my languages, i suck...and i feel embarrased.. and Americans think of me as stupid, mexicans think of me as stupid. But when i speak japanese, which is a language i've been learning, many of the japanese people give me a welcoming energy , and i feel much more at home because they are happy to talk to me, and sure they might criticize me too, but . For some reason in japanese i feel more relaxed and vibrant. And i'm not one of those people that wishes to become japanese, not at all. I like my mexican and american culture, but japanese is something i like learning. However, i don't understand why in spanish and english i don't feel people appreciate what i say, but i feel appreciated by japanese when i talk in japanese.

Answer 1

Wow. I'm completely the opposite! I get terribly nervous when speaking Spanish (which I've been studying for 7 years now). My Hispanic friends did criticize me somewhat in high school, but adults are usually very appreciative that someone is just trying to communicate in their language. I think that it just depends on your past experiences... If you have mostly good experiences, you're likely to be more confident. If they have been mostly bad, you might feel less confident.

Answer 2

Japanese culture is a tad two-faced when dealing with social interactions. The japanese are excessively polite and frown on being blunt or being negative to others. It's refereshing compared to American attitudes which isn't as formal, but it's confusing since you can never tell what the Japanese are really thinking. They are able to refuse you without saying no by saying yes, and even sometimes lines like "You speak japanese well" can be genuine to patronizing and insulting. (The ex-pat Gaijin in Japan especially).

But if it makes you happier and more content with yourself, then I guess only good can come of it, but I wonder if your assumption that Americans and Mexicans think you are stupid is not something that is implied to you, but something your insecurities are putting in your own head. And the Japanese is giving you greater esteem because of your accomplished communication ability.

Maybe you should go to Japan someday, might be a great experience for you.

Answer 3

Two likely reasons.

First, native speakers are often sympathetic to non-native speakers who are trying to learn their language. They will often act pleasent and encouraging to help a non-native speaker along.

Second, the act of trying to formulate ideas in a foreign language may take up time and energy for thought such that you don't get a chance to really think about being stressed out or shy. If you don't think you're shy, then you won't act shy.

Of course, actively trying to think that way (without being distracted by such a task as speaking in a foreign language) is much more difficult; it's not easy to convince yourself of something (that you're not shy) when you strongly believe that the opposite (that you're shy) is true .

Answer 4

i feel the same.

despite not being fluent in english i feel a lot more confident speaking in english with people i don't know or when i have to speak in public. i think in english the words and the sentences sound better than in portuguese. but it is also curious that i use many words that are similar in both languages. in a way i am using my mother language but i am better in a foreign one.

Answer 5

SeanA is right on the money. Only thing I might add is that speaking a different language gives you a sense of being a different person. Sort of like acting on stage. It is still you, but with an extra dimension.

Answer 6

My local language is English however I have spent over eight years learning French, even spent over a yr dwelling in France. Since then, persons have requested me, even as I was once speakme English, in which I was once from considering the fact that they spotted a moderate accessory. I was once born and raised within the US, loved ones has been right here for plenty of generations, however they would inform I talk one other language considering the fact that of the moderate accessory I had received from studying French. Weirdest factor, however I bet it is sensible, even as overseas I did my quality to under no circumstances talk English and it have got to have caught even after I acquired again.

Answer 7

It's two-fold I think. You feel proud in your accomplishment of learning Japanese and that will add to your self-confidence. Secondly, the Japanese tend to be a very welcoming people.

Answer 8

i have the same prob . but with italian. i'm learning italian but for some reason i feel more secure to speak in italian than English.
i'm a spanish speaker too.