If you’ve ever felt your English vanish the moment someone hesitates or looks confused, you’re not alone. We’ve all felt that drop in confidence when suddenly everything we know seems to disappear.

In this Spanish-only extract from my conversation with language coach and author Daniele Ponzo.

We explore why so many people freeze when speaking English, and how to move past the fear of “getting it wrong.” Listen to the full conversation here on Spotify and here on Apple Podcasts. 

Today we're sharing our stories of learning Spanish from scratch, facing that all-too-familiar “face of confusion,” and realising that true connection matters more than being perfect. 

You’ll hear how we learned that confidence grows through use, not just study, and how speaking your target language (in your case, English) by “swimming in the pool of the language” helps you unlearn perfectionism and massively boost your confidence. 

Daniele shares practical ways to stay calm in meetings, focus on your message (not your mistakes), and sound more natural when presenting and leading teams.

If you’ve ever felt imposter syndrome or shame about your accent, this episode will help you rethink what “good English” really means, and remind you that your value as a communicator isn’t measured by grammar.

Learn more about Daniele and his coaching services on his website at  danieleponzo.com 

Connect with us on LinkedIn: Daniele Ponzo & Richard Marshall

Check out Daniele’s book 'Easy English for IT' here on Amazon. 

And his podcast 'The Non-Native Leader' here on YouTube.

Watch this episode of 'From Lost To The River' with subtitles here on YouTube. 

If you're ready for personalised support then you can reach out and book a call with me here via this link.

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Command the Room in English

Top 10 English Challenges For Spanish Speakers & How To Fix Them

#EnglishConfidence #BusinessEnglish #SpanishExecutives

In this short clip from 'The Psychology Behind Real English Confidence', language coach Daniele Ponzo shares the honest truth about perfectionism, fear of mistakes, and the pressure to “sound right.” You’ll hear how one simple mindset shift, from perfection to presence, helped him move past fear and speak naturally in meetings, interviews, and everyday life.

Learn more about Daniele and his coaching services on his website at  danieleponzo.com 

Connect with us on LinkedIn: Daniele Ponzo & Richard Marshall

Check out Daniele’s book 'Easy English for IT' here on Amazon. 

And his podcast 'The Non-Native Leader' here on YouTube.

Watch the full conversation with subtitles here on YouTube. 

If you're ready for personalised support then you can reach out and book a call with me here via this link.

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Command the Room in English

Top 10 English Challenges For Spanish Speakers & How To Fix Them

#EnglishConfidence #BusinessEnglish #SpanishExecutives

If you’re a driven Spanish professional who freezes in English or fears being judged, this episode is for you. Daniele Ponzo, former IT manager turned language coach and author, explains how to swap perfectionism for presence so you can speak naturally, be heard in meetings, and lead with confidence.

Daniele and I explore the emotional side of language: why imposter syndrome, school-system conditioning and ego make otherwise capable professionals stay quiet, and how to change that.

You’ll hear Daniele’s story from 13 years in IT to coaching, plus practical mindset shifts and simple techniques you can use today to build English confidence for executives and teams.

Expect clear, benefit-first advice on business English, real workplace phrases, role-play strategies and the “handle-with-care” mindset that stops overthinking and helps you speak naturally in high-stakes situations. These are tools you can apply immediately to presentations, meetings and interviews.

Learn more about Daniele and his coaching services on his website at  danieleponzo.com 

Connect with us on LinkedIn: Daniele Ponzo & Richard Marshall

Check out Daniele’s book 'Easy English for IT' here on Amazon. 

And his podcast 'The Non-Native Leader' here on YouTube.

Watch this episode of 'From Lost To The River' with subtitles here on YouTube. 

If you're ready for personalised support then you can reach out and book a call with me here via this link.

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Command the Room in English

Top 10 English Challenges For Spanish Speakers & How To Fix Them

#EnglishConfidence #BusinessEnglish #SpanishExecutives

Ever freeze mid-sentence in English, fearing judgment or looking “not good enough”? You’re not alone. Many ambitious Spanish professionals feel the pressure to be perfect, but perfection isn’t the point. Imagine speaking naturally, confidently, and clearly in meetings, presentations, or real conversations without fear holding you back.

In today's episode, language coach Bianca González and I explore how confidence, mindset, and emotional blocks like frustration and fear shape language learning. We challenge perfectionism, discuss learner-centered coaching versus outdated grammar drills, and explain why mindset and self-perception often matter more than grammar alone.

Discover practical strategies to overcome fear of embarrassment, imposter syndrome, and self-doubt. Gain tools to communicate effectively, stay calm under pressure, and feel confident in professional settings.

If you're ready for personalised support then you can reach out and book a call with me here via this link.

Follow me on Linkedin here

Follow Bianca Gonzalez and Mary Costello on Substack where you can sign up for weekly, free Zoom conversation sessions designed for Spanish learners who value connection over perfection. Move beyond basic exchanges and explore English in a relaxed, pressure-free space. No performance, just conversation, curiosity, and community.

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Command the Room in English

Top 10 English Challenges For Spanish Speakers & How To Fix Them

#EnglishConfidence #BusinessEnglish #SpanishExecutives

I used to stress over every word, afraid my Spanish wasn’t “good enough.” In this episode, I chat with language coach Bianca González about how to reframe that fear. We explore how embracing what you can already do, and using English as a tool to communicate rather than prove yourself, transforms confidence and flow in real conversations.

We dive into why perfectionism can hold you back and why your mindset often matters more than grammar. I share techniques to focus on your objectives in meetings, presentations, or everyday interactions, and how imagining success helps you take action in the moment. Bianca and I highlight the beauty of accents, the power of learner-centered coaching, and why connection beats flawless language every time.

If you're ready for personalised support then you can reach out and book a call with me here via this link.

Follow me on Linkedin here

Follow Bianca Gonzalez and Mary Costello on Substack where you can sign up for weekly, free Zoom conversation sessions designed for Spanish learners who value connection over perfection.

Move beyond basic exchanges and explore English in a relaxed, pressure-free space. No performance, just conversation, curiosity, and community.

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Command the Room in English

Top 10 English Challenges For Spanish Speakers & How To Fix Them

#EnglishConfidence #BusinessEnglish #SpanishExecutives

Hoy, me acompaña Nacho Fernández, coach de español. Hablamos sobre bloqueos mentales como el miedo y el perfeccionismo, y exploramos cómo el coaching, la escucha pasiva y hablar desde el primer día pueden ayudarte a ganar verdadera confianza, rápidamente. I speak Spanish on this one too!

If you're ready for personalised support then you can reach out and book a call with me here via this link.

Follow me on Linkedin here

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Command the Room in English

Top 10 English Challenges For Spanish Speakers & How To Fix Them

#EnglishConfidence #BusinessEnglish #SpanishExecutives

Miguel Ángel Carrasco comparte su visión sobre cómo ha evolucionado con el tiempo la mentalidad española respecto al aprendizaje del inglés. Habla con honestidad sobre sus primeros pasos, marcados por el estrés, la presión y la necesidad de memorizar frases lo más rápido posible. Pero con los años, esa urgencia fue desapareciendo y priorizó lo esencial, comunicarse, frente al perfeccionismo inicial.

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COO of 'Toys R Us' Miguel Ángel Carrasco joins me again to talk about how daring to make mistakes & using English in real-life, high-pressure situations builds fluency & confidence. He shares how the short videos and passive learning materials that I send him have helped keep English present in his day to day routine. He reflects on the value of real, flexible conversations and connecting emotionally with topics to make learning more natural and more accessible. 

I’ll never forget the day the Amazon delivery guy asked, “¿Quieres ver mi carne?” 😮 Fresh in Spain and still learning Spanish, I thought he wanted to see… my meat!

What followed was a hilarious mix-up that taught me a big lesson: mistakes aren’t just inevitable, they’re essential for growth.

In this episode, I share how embracing language mistakes (and even awkward, funny ones) can help you break free from perfectionism. When you focus on real communication instead of flawless grammar, your confidence skyrockets. I explain practical strategies to loosen your inner critic, build English fluency, and shift from self-doubt to action.

Follow me on LinkedIn for daily confidence tips. 

Watch 'From Lost To The River' with subtitles here on YouTube. 

If you're ready for personalised support then you can reach out and book a call with me here via this link.

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Command the Room in English

Top 10 English Challenges For Spanish Speakers & How To Fix Them

#EnglishConfidence #BusinessEnglish #SpanishExecutives

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Here is a funny story from my early days in Spain when my basic Spanish skills led to a hilarious mix-up at the butcher's! It’s a lighthearted reminder that making mistakes is a natural part of learning and often leads to the best memories.

Watch it with subtitles here on YouTube

What You’ll Learn in This Episode: I share how everyday language mishaps (like mispronouncing the word for chicken) can teach you more than any textbook ever could. I explain how embracing mistakes, staying curious, and focusing on real communication helps you build confidence when speaking another language.

Learn practical strategies to overcome perfectionism, handle social embarrassment, and turn funny failures into rapid progress.

Follow me on LinkedIn for daily confidence tips. 

Watch 'From Lost To The River' with subtitles here on YouTube. 

If you're ready for personalised support then you can reach out and book a call with me here via this link.

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Command the Room in English

Top 10 English Challenges For Spanish Speakers & How To Fix Them

#EnglishConfidence #BusinessEnglish #SpanishExecutives