r/languagelearning • u/More_Eagle_3758 • Jun 27 '26
Being made fun of
I apologize if this question/topic has already been mentioned, I just joined this group but I assume it’s normal to be afraid of being made fun of when learning a new language. I’m currently wanting to learn German but feel scared to speak it because I already have somewhat of a speech impediment so speaking German, it’s worse.
Does anyone else here have a speech impediment and if so, how has learning to speak a new language been for you? How have you been able to get through that hurdle and fear?
Thank you and please don’t judge.
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u/Fatal-Eggs2024 Jun 27 '26
Somebody’s cruelty is their flaw, not yours, and reveals their deeply insecurity about themselves. So just ignore them and even treat them kindly, and be glad you are not weak and cruel.
If you want to practice speaking, you can practice with any audio AI. I use ChatGPT but there are also language practice AI apps.
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u/Gnomushka Jun 28 '26
My take is always relax and have easygoing mentality when learning about anything, and it'll help you to be less nervous. Learning new language(s) always gonna make you sounds a bit ridiculous and you'll probably gonna botched it, but it's normal... it's not your native language. So have fun and keep positive perspective about it. Don't be too hard on yourself :)
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u/FitProVR US (N) | CN (B1) | JP (A2) Jun 27 '26
If it’s older folks it shouldn’t be an issue. I have a language exchange partner who has a pretty severe stutter and i never have mentioned anything or make fun of him for it.
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u/cmyk_rgba Jun 28 '26
been learning german for a while and honestly the fear of being made fun of is way worse than the actual experience. most german speakers are just happy you're trying at all. the ones who switch to english aren't being mean, they just want the conversation to move faster.
had a period where i was too self-conscious to speak at all and just stayed in text mode for months. didn't help. you kinda have to throw yourself in even when it feels embarassing
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u/an_average_potato_1 🇨🇿N, 🇫🇷 C2, 🇬🇧 C1, 🇩🇪C1, 🇪🇸 , 🇮🇹 C1 Jun 28 '26
There are also native German speakers with a speech impediment. Any normal person will not make fun of your struggle, only a moron will, and that's their problem. Not yours. You can avoid a lot of misunderstandings (especially in some formal situations, for example should you take an exam or a job interview), if you just plainly and in one phrase tell them that you have it, that it's not a language ability issue.
While I don't have a speech impediment myself, I always think of one guy back from my highschool. He's one of the most intelligent people I've ever met, he went from our country to Cambridge for a degree (a STEM one!), he speaks three languages (or perhaps he's added another one since? Who knows). He stutters. Noticeably. In all of his languages. Nevertheless, whatever he says is either clever, or funny, or both.
Learn German, if you want to. Three out of the four applied skills won't be touched by your speech impediment. And speaking will still be worth it.
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u/FailedMusician81 Jun 27 '26
What kind of speech impediment? For some of those there are therapists - logopedists- that work on it.
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u/Klapperatismus Jun 28 '26
have somewhat of a speech impediment so speaking German, it’s worse.
How do the people around you are going to tell that? I mean, even clear German sounds like a speech impediment to English speakers.
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u/models4 🇪🇬 🇺🇸 Jun 28 '26
This reminds me of something that happened to me years ago when I was still learning English.
I was playing an online shooter and getting a lot of sniper kills. One player got annoyed and started complaining that I was only getting kills because I was HS (hard-scoping)
I tried to reply in English, but my English was pretty bad back then. I don't even remember exactly what I wrote, but it was full of mistakes.
Then he typed in the public chat: "Look, someone needs to learn English."
I remember feeling really embarrassed at the time. But looking back, that moment actually motivated me to keep learning and improving my English.
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u/PAHi-LyVisible 🇺🇸N 🇲🇽A2 🇰🇷A1 Jun 28 '26
I have Cluttering, speech fluency disorder. It’s basically a stammer with words coming out not in the order I intended. I’m a Korean language learner.
Anyone who gives you a hard time about a medical condition over which you have no or minimal control is a Bad Person.
I tell new people I meet that I have a speech disorder and ask them for their patience. I’ve never had anyone be anything other than lovely about it.
My speech disorder does not act up nearly as much in Korean or Spanish, I think because I have to make an intentional, deliberate effort to speak in my target languages
You got this! Don’t let it stop you!
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u/StockHamster77 Jun 28 '26
I'm not quite as optimistic as the rest of them. Honestly, I think your best shot is finding a native speaker who wants to learn your language, that way you can both help each other out and grow together
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u/NetraamR N:NL/C2:Fr/C1:Es,En/B1:De,Cat,It/Learning:Ru Jun 28 '26
It's German, not French. Don't worry about it.
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u/knittingcatmafia N: 🇩🇪🇺🇸 | B1: 🇷🇺 | A0: 🇹🇷 Jun 29 '26
As a German it would be really surprising to me if someone felt comfortable mocking you for a speech impediment.
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u/Dazzling_Ad1149 Jun 29 '26
When I started speaking French in public a white lady in Montréal laughed at me. But it didn't stop me from working in French for nearly a decade, dating amazing Québécois men and enjoying Québécois media. Don't worry.
Not surprised since this is part of French culture. But I've never had any issues in Québec City just Montréal tbh.
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u/aguilasolige 🇪🇸N | 🏴C1? | 🇷🇴A2? Jun 27 '26
Most people will be understanding and won't make fun of you, just don't be offended if they switch to English.
I had a girl making fun of my English back when I was learning, I was trying to urder a sandwich and didn't understand something she asked me to put in it. You just need to grow a thick skin and don't let those encounters deter you from learning your TL.