Why you suddenly don't sound like yourself when speaking German
A guest essay by Atia
Hallo Zusammen!
Today, I have something special for you. I would like to introduce you to Atia, the German teacher behind Lern Deutsch and Atia - Your German Teacher.
What stands out in her work is the combination of clear structure, useful tips, and a strong focus on mindset, because learning German isn’t just about grammar; it’s about how you approach it and stay consistent over time.
She shares practical strategies, learning resources, and regular opportunities to actually use the language, including free weekly German chats where you can practice speaking in a relaxed setting.
If you’re looking for a more hands-on and supportive way to improve your German, her work is definitely worth exploring.
Enjoy the read!
LG
Marwan
By the way, I also wrote about this topic and the strange feeling that can come with expressing yourself in another language: check it out here.
Something strange happened when I moved to the Netherlands. It felt like someone had tied a knot in my tongue. My brain worked perfectly fine. I could think complex thoughts and express myself clearly in German, English, and Urdu. But when it came to Dutch, it seemed like my brain was sending me error messages.
I had to simplify my thoughts, to be able to express anything in Dutch. This resulted in me becoming quiet and reserved. In conversations I needed to think well before responding, which led to missing the right moment in the conversation. I watched other people’s conversations flow like a river and I could only stand at the shore as a witness. I felt bad, because I could understand them, I could respond but I was just not quick enough.
Have you ever noticed that in people who speak several languages? In one of their foreign languages they seem to be very measured and careful. While in their mother tongue they speak quickly and confidently. My mother once said to me and my siblings that when we talk German she can’t understand anything “It sounds like a train passing”
I suspect now that it felt that way too. Like missing a train and watching it leave without you.
Very often we stand in our own way in a new language. Over time I realized that most of the pressure came from myself. I wanted to sound intelligent. I wanted to avoid mistakes. I wanted to speak without an accent. But all of that made me hesitant — and hesitation kills conversation.
In all of that I missed the point of language – to communicate! Who cares if I made mistakes? Making mistakes is literally the only way to learn. Who cares if I used an awkward phrasing? As long as the other person got the point. Who cares if I spoke with an accent? That only marks me as someone who has a different native language.
To get out of our own way, we need to face the facts:
No one started speaking a language perfectly from the beginning
Native speakers usually make mistakes as well
Language is for communication, you’re not trying to pass a test
You can only get better by speaking, if you avoid that you will not improve!
It doesn’t matter how well others speak. Comparing yourself to other students is pointless and only discourages you. Everyone is different.
So here are some easy to implement tips to improve.
Just speak. Yes, this is an annoying tip but actually the only thing that will help
Find someone who is willing to patiently practice with you. The “patient” part is essential!
Find certain situations that you will only speak your target language, like having a chat with the cashier. Repeat that same interaction so many times that it becomes automatic. Then add a new element.
Find certain time slots that you will only speak your target language with. Take for example dinner. In the beginning it will feel difficult and awkward. But after a while you will start learning many new things and repeating known phrases. This boosts your confidence and gives you regular practice and repetition
Get a lot of input by reading and listening to content in your target language. But don’t stop there. Pick a word or phrase and try to use it.
Reddit or other forums are a great way to practice. Go to a subreddit of your interest in your target language and write some posts.
Now only one question remains: how can you find your own voice in the target language? For a long time, I only spoke general Dutch (ABN). I was afraid of mixing it up. But once I became confident in my ability to speak and improvise in Dutch, I started to play with it. I listened to how Dutch people would speak their language, which “mistakes” they made, which words they shortened, which sayings meant what. Then I implemented those things casually in my speech. Now I could make decisions on which words to use, because my vocabulary was large enough. This meant that I could make sentences that sounded more like me. Well, me in Dutch then.
At some point, the language stopped feeling like borrowed words. It started feeling like another part of me. Not identical to who I am in German or English — but still me.
Maybe that is what fluency really is: not sounding native, but sounding like yourself.
Atia Janssens
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By the way, I also wrote about this topic and the strange feeling that can come with expressing yourself in another language: check it out here.
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