Confidence

Hello, everyone. This is Noelia and welcome to English with Noelia.

Hola a todos. Soy Noelia y bienvenidos a English with Noelia.

Hello, guys! Today we celebrate International Women's Day. And I believe it is the perfect moment to talk about this word that has been running around my mind for days. That word is 'confidence' It's a word I use a lot with my students but what does it mean? What does it mean to be confident?

In short, it means that you trust in the decisions you make and the things that you do and that you know you can handle the emotional outcome of whatever you face.

I saw a Ted Talk a while back that talked about how we undermine, underestimate the importance of confidence. In her talk, Brittany Packnet stresses how confidence is necessary. How confidence is that igniting spark, that first thing that turns into everything else you do, everything that follows. It's what makes you get started.

Her talk struck a chord with me because I've always believed I was very confident and I preach confidence to my students. That's my favorite thing to tell them: ¨You have to believe you can do this. You have to believe you can learn English. If not, this is a lost cause.¨

But I realized I, myself, was missing this confidence. This confidence in the abilities I have. This confidence that I can do bigger and better things. This confidence that I can help more people if I just believed in myself.

I always wanted to be an English teacher, in fact, I always wanted to be a teacher, period. But I found my calling in English and I was always too scared to move ahead until this year. A series of events sparked that confidence in myself. Made me believe I could do it. And now, I have decided to put myself out there. To put my money where my mouth is. To practice what I have been preaching and I have never felt more confident.

So, I'm just here to say it is possible. You can build your confidence and you can find that spark. You are capable. So, whatever it is that you've been meaning to do, just go out there and do it today.

Ted Talk by Brittany Packnett Cunningham: https://www.ted.com/talks/brittany_packnett_cunningham_how_to_build_your_confidence_and_spark_it_in_others

Vocabulary:

confidence: a feeling or consciousness of one's powers or of reliance on one's circumstances

to handle: to manage; to deal with

outcome: something that follows as a result or consequence

undermine: to subvert or weaken

to strike a chord: to strongly impress (someone)

to put (someone/something) out there: to make an effort to do something even if it is not convenient or requires additional effort

to put one's money where one's mouth is: take action to support one's statements or opinions.