Have you ever wondered why you sometimes struggle to sound fluent in English, even after years of studying grammar? The answer might lie in your mother tongue.
Your native language influences your thinking, speaking, and learning a new language like English. While it's a beautiful part of your identity, it can also subtly interfere with your English fluency — especially when speaking.
In this blog, we’ll explore how your mother tongue affects your Spoken English, and how to overcome these challenges with confidence.
? 1. Language Transfer: The Invisible Barrier
When we speak a second language, we unconsciously apply the rules of our first language — this is called language transfer.
Examples:
Word order: A Punjabi or Hindi speaker might say “He only tea drinks” instead of “He drinks only tea.”
Pronunciation: Tamil or Bengali speakers may find it difficult to pronounce certain consonants like v/w, th/dh, z/j, which aren’t as distinct in their mother tongue.
Tone and rhythm: Every language has its own natural musicality. Transferring the tone of your native language into English can sound unnatural or flat.
? 2. Thinking in Your Native Language
One major reason for hesitation while speaking English is the habit of translating thoughts from your native language instead of thinking in English.
This leads to:
1. Slow responses
2. Grammatical errors
3. Confused sentence structures
? Solution:
Practice thinking in simple English phrases during daily tasks (e.g., “I am brushing my teeth,” “Now I will eat breakfast”).
Use visual vocabulary apps that train your brain to associate words with images rather than your native language.
?️ 3. Accent and Pronunciation Challenges
Your native accent can affect how you pronounce English words. While having an accent isn’t a problem, mispronunciation can lead to misunderstandings.
Common Examples:
1. Saying “wery” instead of “very”
2. Confusing “ship” and “sheep”
3. Dropping or adding syllables
? Solution:
1. Use pronunciation tools like YouGlish or ELSA Speak
2. Practice shadowing: listen to native speakers and mimic them exactly
3. Enroll in courses that focus on accent neutralization
? 4. Cultural Expressions That Don’t Translate
Sometimes, phrases or idioms from your native language don’t translate well into English — but learners use them anyway, making the sentence confusing.
Example:
Saying “My liver is happy” (a literal translation of a Hindi idiom) instead of “I’m very happy.”
? Solution:
1. Study English idioms and expressions commonly used by native speakers.
2. Read simple English blogs, watch English sitcoms, and make a habit of noticing how thoughts are expressed differently
? 5. How Spoken English Classes Can Help
Personal effort is important, but expert guidance can fast-track your fluency. In fact, many learners have found immense progress through Spoken English Classes in Chandigarh, where they get exposure to structured practice, expert feedback, and confidence-building techniques.
The best classes don’t just teach grammar — they help you retrain your speech patterns, think in English, and overcome mother-tongue interference through real conversations and continuous correction.
✅ Final Thoughts
Your mother tongue is a strength — but if it’s holding you back in your English journey, it’s time to take action. Understanding how it impacts your speech is the first step to improvement.
Whether it’s working on pronunciation, thinking in English, or mastering grammar structures that don’t exist in your native language, change is possible — with the right techniques and mindset.
Ready to overcome your language barriers? Join Spoken English Classes in Chandigarh and experience the transformation first-hand. Speak better. Speak confidently. Speak fluently.
