The Speak Confident English Podcast

How do you express relief in English when you want to say more than "I'm so relieved"? Learn eight idioms and expressions to describe moments when a worry is gone, you've avoided a problem, or you've made it through something difficult.
Maybe you finally had a conversation you'd been putting off. Or you caught a mistake just in time. Perhaps you've been dealing with a stressful situation for weeks, and things are finally getting better.
In this Confident English episode, you'll learn:
A weight off your shoulders, get something over with, and get something off your chest — for moments when a worry or responsibility is behind you.

Off the hook and dodge a bullet — for situations when you escape something unpleasant or avoid a problem.

Get through something and out of the woods — for talking about difficult experiences.

Breathe a sigh of relief — for that moment when you can finally relax.

You'll learn what each expression means, when to use it, and how to choose the one that best describes your experience.
YOUR ENGLISH SPEAKING PRACTICE
Think about a recent moment when you felt relieved. Choose one of today's expressions and tell a short story about what happened.
Then, tomorrow, try telling that same story again without looking at your notes.
FREE ENGLISH CONFIDENCE TRAINING
Want to feel more comfortable speaking English aloud? Get my free training, How to Get the Confidence to Say What You Want in English.
https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/say-what-you-want-in-english/
READ THE FULL LESSON
Find all eight expressions, their meanings, and examples on my website:
https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/how-to-express-relief-in-english/

Want to tell better stories in English? When you're telling a story, you're already thinking about the words you need, your grammar, and what happened. Having a few familiar linking words and phrases makes it easier to move from one part of your story to the next.
In this episode, I'm sharing a story about the day I thought I'd lost my wallet. I'll show you how expressions like eventually, that's when, and as it turned out help me tell that story.
You'll learn how to:
Start a story and introduce what happened.

Connect events and show when something changed.

Explain what you discovered later or what was happening at the same time.

Finish your story and share what you think about the experience now.

You'll also have opportunities to practice telling a story from your own life. And remember, you don't need to learn every linking phrase at once. Start with two or three and practice using them when you speak.
READ THE FULL LESSON
Find the linking words, explanations, and examples in the written lesson:
https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/linking-words-for-storytelling/
FREE ENGLISH CONFIDENCE TRAINING
Want to feel more comfortable speaking English aloud? Get my free training, How to Get the Confidence to Say What You Want in English.
https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/say-what-you-want-in-english/

How do you finish speaking in English so people know you're done and the conversation can keep moving? Sometimes you finish a story, share an opinion, or give an update… and then everyone waits.
In this episode, you'll learn how to make the end of your turn clear before that awkward silence begins.
You'll learn how to:
Finish with a clear final thought
Use falling intonation to show you're finished
Slow down slightly on your final words
Use clear closing phrases when you need them
Invite someone else to respond or take the next turn
You'll also practice creating a clear ending for a story, opinion, or update.
Free training: How to Get the Confidence to Say What You Want in English → https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/say-what-you-want-in-english/
Read the full lesson:
https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/how-to-finish-speaking-in-english/

After years of feeling nervous about speaking English in the United States, Mirtha can now say: "I'm not afraid anymore." 
In this month's Confident English Conversation, Mirtha and I talk about her experience moving to the US, overcoming shyness, and learning to enjoy speaking English.
We also talk about running (including the marathon she ran by herself!!!), her love of poetry and books, and one of her favorite study guides from the Confident Women Community: moving from languishing to flourishing after the pandemic.
One part of our conversation I especially loved was Mirtha's description of confidence coming in waves. She shares what helped her keep practicing when a difficult conversation made her question her progress. And she tells me what English confidence means to her today.
Mirtha joined my Confident Women Community in 2023. Since then, she's joined our book club and even started hosting conversations with other women.
If you'd like to build your English confidence through regular practice with women around the world, explore the Confident Women Community → https://bit.ly/4xX5Hl7
Read the episode summary and transcript: https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/english-conversation-with-mirtha
Want a free first step? Get my training: How to Get the Confidence to Say What You Want in English → https://bit.ly/4xRhVvC

Want to speak English with confident authority without sounding more aggressive than you intended? In this episode, you'll hear how your words, tone, and the situation can change what your listener hears.
We compare assertive and aggressive English in common work situations: setting a firm deadline, disagreeing, asking about a problem, giving feedback, and handling an interruption. You'll hear why direct English is sometimes exactly right, and how blame, criticism, or unnecessary pressure can change the message.
As you listen, use the questions from the lesson to think about what the situation requires and whether your language stays focused on the issue.
Learn more about Fluency School: https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/fluencyschool/
Full written lesson: https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/assertive-vs-aggressive-english