MMoving to Japan

Has anyone actually overcome the fear of speaking with native speakers?

  • November 9, 2025

Hey everyone,

I feel like I'm at a point where my reading and comprehension are pretty solid, but when it comes to actually speaking with a native English speaker, my brain just shuts down. It's not that I don't know the words, it's this overwhelming fear of messing up, them not understanding my accent, or just taking too long to form a sentence.

I've read all the usual advice about how mistakes are part of learning, but the anxiety in the moment is a huge wall to get over. It's starting to feel a bit hopeless, and I know the only way forward is through speaking more.

So, I'd love to hear some success stories. For those of you who used to have this same fear, how did you get past it? Was there a specific moment or mindset shift that helped? What did you do to build your confidence?

Honestly, just hearing that other people have been here and made it to the other side would be a massive motivation boost. Thanks for any stories or encouragement you can share.

by FreedomRegular4311

5 comments

  1. Assuming you live there, get a part time job where you have mostly Japanese coworkers since you have to talk to them. I got a job at a flower shop and learned real quick lol.

  2. My Japanese is rudimentary at best but I use it for day to day interactions with shopkeepers, clerks and similar. Many times I get the Jouzu nihongo desu regardless of how many times I mess up. I find Japanese people appreciate the effort. And I am even 1/2 ethnic Japanese and I have never been embarassed for trying.

    Now if you obviously are not ethnically Japanese, you will most likely receive even more encouragement.

    Just try in your everyday interactions. You will not have any in depth deep discussions (probably) so just do your best and you’ll be fine.

  3. The more you do something, the easier it becomes. 

    The first time I had to give talk in Japanese my heart was racing. Now I regularly teach classes in Japanese. 

    The first time I had to introduce myself at a meeting I got so tongue tied. Now I lead those meetings. 

    Is it easy? No. Do I make mistakes? Yes. Does it matter? Not really. 

  4. Put yourself in an environment where you have to speak English. I worked in Tokyo over a decade ago, and I was the only person who spoke English at work. None of my Japanese coworkers helped me. Meanwhile, none of them complained me even if I failed.

    Now I live in the US. I daily speak only English. I do not have people who speak Japanese around. No more fear speaking English.

  5. Just do it. Worst that happens is you apologize or thank them and leave.

    Theyre just people man

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