English Shame: How Fear of Mistakes Is Secretly Blocking Your Fluency Learn why speaking English feels scary, why your mind freezes at the worst moments, and how to finally overcome the fear of making mistakes. In this 28-minute Daily English Boost podcast, Lisa and Mark break down the hidden problem that stops millions of English learners from becoming fluent: “English shame” – the fear of sounding wrong, silly, or imperfect. This fear is powerful. It can make you avoid conversations, skip opportunities, stay silent in meetings, or even avoid coffee shops (like Mark did). But the good news? You can overcome it – and today’s episode gives you the tools. Small talk, grammar, vocabulary – none of it matters if shame blocks your voice. Today, you’ll learn how to break the mental wall stopping your fluency. What you’ll learn (quick list): Understanding “English shame” Why fear of mistakes is stronger than grammar problems The psychology behind freezing in conversations How we build “imaginary walls” that stop fluency Real learner stories and emotional moments Mark’s cappuccino panic story Lisa’s meeting meltdown Why these moments felt huge even though nobody cared The 4 powerful solutions Redefine mistakes as teachers Find safe spaces to practice without judgment Focus on communication, not perfection Use self-compassion instead of self-criticism Science of language learning Why making mistakes helps your brain learn faster “Desirable difficulty” explained simply Why perfection thinking slows fluency Confidence cycle vs shame cycle How silence → shame → silence becomes a trap How speaking → improving → confidence becomes a breakthrough Practical homework Make one intentional mistake Speak English for 5 minutes, even to yourself Prepare a self-compassion phrase Emotional mindset shift Fluency means comfort, not perfection Why native speakers admire learners How to stop comparing yourself to movies or social media “perfect English” Chapters (28:10 video length) 00:00 – Intro and why today’s topic makes Lisa nervous 01:25 – What is “English shame” and why learners freeze 03:10 – Mark’s cappuccino embarrassment story 06:05 – How one mistake changed Mark’s routine 07:40 – Lisa’s emotional meeting story 10:55 – Why we obsess over tiny mistakes 12:30 – The myth of “perfect English” 14:10 – How movies and social media create unrealistic expectations 16:00 – What shame does to your learning (the silent trap) 18:20 – Missed opportunities caused by fear 19:30 – Solution 1: Change your definition of mistakes 21:00 – Science: Why mistakes make you learn faster 22:10 – Solution 2: Find safe spaces to practice 24:05 – Solution 3: Communication, not perfection 25:30 – Solution 4: Practice self-compassion 26:35 – Fluency means comfort, not perfection 27:20 – Homework and your confidence challenge 28:00 – Final motivation and outro Practice Tip (your weekly homework) Try one intentional English mistake this week. See what happens. Notice how people react. Then: Speak English for at least 5 minutes, even if it is just you talking to yourself Prepare a kind phrase for yourself, for example: “Every mistake brings me closer to fluency.” Small actions create big confidence. Who is this for? A1 to B1 learners People afraid of speaking Learners who freeze during conversations Anyone struggling with perfectionism Shy speakers who want real confidence Busy people who learn best through podcasts Subscribe for daily lessons Short podcast episodes with vocabulary, listening practice, confidence training, pronunciation help, and real English conversations to make your language journey feel natural and brave. Comment below Tell us: What English mistake did you make that you can now laugh about? Or: What scares you the most when speaking English? We read every comment and love hearing your stories. A1 English, beginner English, learn English, English shame, fear of mistakes, English confidence, English speaking practice, Daily English Boost, English psychology, how to speak English without fear, overcome speaking anxiety, natural English speaking, English fluency tips, simple English podcast, English for shy learners Hashtags #learnenglish #englishforbeginners #englishspeakingpractice #easyenglish #englishconversation #englishpodcast #speakenglish #DailyEnglishBoost #learnenglishconversation #dailyenglish #basicenglishskills