In this episode, I talk about how perfectionism can stop us from improving in a new language. I’ll share my personal journey of accepting my accent and occasional mistakes in Spanish, and how this mindset shift can help you embrace your unique voice in English.

When you accept your English as it is today, you’ll feel more confident, speak up more, and improve faster. Even us native speakers don’t speak perfect (by the book) English!

🌐 Learn more about me and my coaching: procoachenglish.com

🌟 Let’s connect on LinkedIn!

💬 Have a question? Message me on LinkedIn or email me at richard@procoachenglish.com.

Tú puedes. Let’s break free from perfection and start speaking with confidence!

🎧 Key Insights

• Why perfectionism can paralyze your progress in English.
• The liberating power of accepting your accent and mistakes.
• How focusing on communication, rather than perfection, leads to deeper connections.
• Practical advice for letting go of the fear of sounding “less than perfect.”

Download your FREE Podcast Recommendation Guide! Want to supercharge your English listening practice? Grab my interactive Podcast Recommendation Guide, packed with the BEST podcasts for every level (A2-C2): Download it here.

Find out more about me and my language coaching: Pro Coach English

📚 Read My Articles

• The Toxic Pursuit of Perfection
• The Comparison Trap

📲 Follow Me on Social Media

• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok

Let’s break free from perfectionism and start communicating with confidence! 🌟

Aqui tienes un extracto del capítulo 3. Here I explore how our fear of making mistakes and worrying about others’ reactions can create false beliefs about our abilities.

It’s so common for us to assume that others won’t understand us (before we even try), or that our language skills aren’t "good enough" - but this is just F.E.A.R.: False Evidence Appearing Real.

There are many factors involved in communication, many of which are out of your control.

If you found this helpful, subscribe to the podcast for more insights and personal stories about building confidence in English and overcoming your fears of making mistakes.

Visit www.procoachenglish.com to learn more about me and ways you can work with me.

Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, & on YouTube with automatic subtitles.

🌟 Let’s connect on: LinkedIn

💬 Have a question or a topic you’d like me to cover? Drop me a message via LinkedIn or email me at richard@procoachenglish.com, I’d love to hear from you!

Ojo....Losing the FEAR will help you speak up and from there you will improve. Tú Puedes!

Download your FREE interactive PODCAST GUIDE here subscribepage.io/podcasts

Read my latest ARTICLE HERE

Here’s a couple of FREE speaking clubs to get you started

Speaking Club - Practice Speaking English online for FREE

Intercambio de idiomas en España | Encuentra compañeros de intercambio de idiomas con Tandem

¡Ya estamos en diciembre! Un mes de celebraciones, reuniones, y por supuesto aprendizaje.

Entre reuniones sociales, comidas y luces de Navidad, es importante recordar que disfrutar de las festividades y aprender inglés sí es posible.

Escuchar podcast es una de las muchas formas de aprender inglés de forma natural y sin esfuerzo. Recuerda que exponerte al idioma no es solo para el “ahora”, es una inversión a futuro, mejora tu comprensión a largo plazo y ganarás confianza al hablar.

Este mes, entre celebraciones y propósitos, cada vez que escuches un podcast cuenta, y cada decisión importa.

Descarga tu guía interactiva de podcasts, con varios niveles y temática diversa, haciendo clic AQUÍ.

ABOUT THIS EXTRACTO:

In this short and useful extract from episode 2, I share some easy ways to include English in your daily routine.

Listening, watching, and speaking English regularly will help you progress faster.

Key Insights:

• Listening, watching, and speaking English regularly will help you progress faster.
• Small practice is better than big sessions.
• Combine your English learning habits with what you do already.

This episode is a reminder that IMMERSION IN KEY. By inputting English into your daily life - in small, easy and enjoyable ways, you’ll soon start to see, hear and FEEL the difference.

Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, & on YouTube with automatic subtitles.

🌟 Let’s connect on: LinkedIn

💬 Have a question or a topic you’d like me to cover? Drop me a message via LinkedIn or email me at richard@procoachenglish.com, I’d love to hear from you!

Ojo....Communication is what matters most! Tú Puedes!

Download your FREE interactive PODCAST GUIDE here subscribepage.io/podcasts

Read my latest ARTICLE HERE

Here’s a couple of FREE speaking clubs to get you started

Speaking Club - Practice Speaking English online for FREE

Intercambio de idiomas en España | Encuentra compañeros de intercambio de idiomas con Tandem

En este extracto del primer capítulo, abordo la lucha de sentir que "no eres lo suficientemente bueno" ("not good enough") al hablar inglés y por qué es hora de cambiar esa mentalidad. A continuación, algunos puntos claves que aprenderás:

• Tu nivel de inglés es mejor de lo que piensas.
• La comunicación es más importante que la perfección.
• El impacto de establecer metas poco realistas como "hablar como un nativo".
• Lecciones de mi propia experiencia aprendiendo español.

¡TÚ PUEDES LOGRARLO! Con pequeños pasos y un cambio de mentalidad, alcanzarás resultados sorprendentes. Poco a poco.

__________________________________________________________________________

In this short and motivational extract from the opening episode, I talk about the common struggle of feeling "not good enough" when speaking English and why it’s time to let that go. Here’s what you’ll take away:

• Why your English level is already better than you think.
• How focusing on communication over perfection leads to real progress.
• The psychological impact of aiming for unrealistic goals like "speaking like a native."
• My own personal journey of struggling with Spanish and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

This episode is a reminder that YOU CAN DO THIS. By shifting your mindset and immersing yourself in English, even in small ways, you’ll see incredible results...poco a poco.

🌟 Conéctate conmigo en LinkedIn / Let’s connect on: LinkedIn

💬 ¿Tienes preguntas o temas? Have a question or a topic you’d like me to cover? Drop me a message via LinkedIn or email me at richard@procoachenglish.com, I’d love to hear from you!

Ojo....Communication is what matters most! Tú Puedes!

Download your FREE interactive PODCAST GUIDE here subscribepage.io/podcasts

Read my latest ARTICLE HERE

Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, & on YouTube with automatic subtitles.

Check out 'The Amazon Story' here on YouTube!

And of course the famous 'Chicken Story' is now available on YouTube, enjoy!

Un abrazo fuerte,

Richard!

In today's episode, we're talking about COMMUNICATION itself. Firstly how other people’s reactions can impact our confidence when we're speaking our target language. And then we'll expolore how communication depends on many factors that are often beyond our control.

Read as you listen with YouTube's subtitles HERE

key insights

The Impact of Reactions in Communication: The way others react in a conversation can affect how we FEEL about our own language abilities.

External Factors Matter: Communication isn't just about your language skills—distractions like noise or a bad connection can interfere with understanding.

Mutual Effort in Communication: Both parties need to make an effort to understand each other.

Facing the Fear of Mistakes: It's natural to worry about how others perceive our mistakes, but often, these fears are based on false assumptions.

The Importance of Perspective: When faced with misunderstandings, take a breath, reset your perspective, and remember that your language skills may not be the problem.

I also chat with language expert and copywriter Lauren Martin about the importance of mutual effort in the communication process. Lauren shares her insights on how native speakers can help make communication smoother and more accessible by showing respect and consideration for non-native speakers.

I close the episode with my F.E.A.R. acronym: “False Evidence Appearing Real” which helps us reframe and control our communication anxiety.

Enjoy the episode!

Download your FREE interactive PODCAST GUIDE here subscribepage.io/podcasts

Learn more about me and how I can help you find your true voice in English at procoachenglish.com

Read exclusive chapters from my AUDIOBOOK HERE

In this episode of 'From Lost to the River', I explore why perfection is overrated and how accepting the way we're able to connect and communicate with others, instead of being blocked by perfection, can be transformative.

Read as you listen with YouTube's subtitles HERE.

You will hear my 'basura' confession. You (and my loved ones) will discover why my 'trastero' is a full of hidden "found by the bins" treasures...and more importantly why PERFECTION can hold us back from speaking our target lanaguge with confidence.

Check out my IKEA rescued BASURA background here on YouTube!

You'll hear from a Spanish speaker on how embracing imperfection helped him, and discover practical tips on embracing your English journey, mistakes and all.

Key Insights:

Acepta la Imperfección: El perfeccionismo nos frena; recordemos que hay MUCHAS formas de decir lo mismo, y la mayoría de los nativos rara vez hablan perfectamente.

Acepta tu Acento: Abrazar tu forma de hablar inglés te dará libertad y confianza para expresarte con naturalidad.

Supera la Autocrítica: Deja los juicios severos; los errores pequeños se amplifican más en tu mente que para quien escucha.

Practica, Escucha e Involúcrate: Aprovecha tu base gramatical para sumergirte en el idioma y mejorar tu inglés.

Enfócate en la Conexión: Hablar otro idioma es un ¡SUPER PODER! Conectarse con los demás es más importante que una gramática perfecta.

'¿Me recomiendas algún podcast en inglés?'

This is the most common question I get asked. It´s a great question because regular exposure to different accents and real-life situations is crucial for enriching your English vocabulary and boosting confidence. There are lots of podcasts out there and it’s easy to get overwhelmed with choice. So I have made an interactive 'Podcast Recommendation Guide' with a list of the BEST podcasts in 2024.They are categorised by level (A2-C2) to help you make a start.

Download your FREE interactive PODCAST GUIDE here subscribepage.io/podcasts

Find out more about me and my langauge coaching here: Pro Coach English

READ MY ARTICLE: 'The Toxic Persuit of Perfection'

READ MY ARTICLE: 'The Comparison Trap'

Click these links to follow me on social media:

LinkedIn

You Tube

Instagram

Tik Tok

Message me here: Linkedin Private Message

Here’s a couple of FREE speaking clubs to get you started

Speaking Club - Practice Speaking English online for FREE

Intercambio de idiomas en España | Encuentra compañeros de intercambio de idiomas con Tandem

Welcome to the first episode of 'From Lost To The River'. Soy Richard. I’ve been learning Spanish for 14 years so I know how difficult and challenging it is to communicate in a language that isn't your own.

I’ve been exactly where you are—feeling frustrated and worried about making mistakes and staying quiet as a result. However, once I let go of perfectionism and stopped being ashamed of my accent, I was able to finally be myself in Spanish.

In this episode, we’ll talk about how you can shift your mindset, embrace imperfection, and stop letting fear hold you back in your English communication.

READ THE TRANSCRIPT AS YOU LISTEN

• How to shift your focus from perfection to communication when speaking English.
• Common fears and insecurities Spanish speakers face while learning English—and how to overcome them.
• Why comparing yourself to native speakers isn´t helpful.
• The importance of letting go of the shame associated with making mistakes.
• The value of patience and consistency in improving your English skills.

Download your FREE interactive PODCAST GUIDE here subscribepage.io/podcasts

Find out more about me and my langauge coaching here: Pro Coach English

READ MY ARTICLE: 'The Toxic Persuit of Perfection'

READ MY ARTICLE: 'The Comparison Trap'

Click these links to follow me on social media:

LinkedIn

You Tube

Instagram

Tik Tok

Message me here: Linkedin Private Message