This short solo episode is based on the introduction to my last newsletter. If you want to receive the newsletter, you can sign up for it on any page of my site – https://www.englishwithkirsty.com

It’s always good to remember that we have choices. If we don’t, we can give our power away with the feeling that things are happening to us and we don’t have the agency to change them.

Today I’m talking about that feeling in an additional language when a conversation strays into unfamiliar or more difficult teritory. Do you focus on the feelings of inadequacy, the missing words, the fact that you could do better in your first language? Or do you focus on the recipient and the message, doing the best that you can with the skills and knowledge that you do have.

To be honest – I do both! But choosing the second way is a much better experience.

Sure, sometimes we have to be honest when we don’t have the answers. Sure, it’s also good to ask for help when we need it. But focusing on the other person and the message that we want to share often makes it easier to get past that initial flight response when we don’t think that we can do something.