Hi, there. My name is Ronnie. Today, I'm going
to teach you something very fun and exciting and important. It's how to improve your speaking.
Whether you're speaking English or whether you're doing public speaking in front of people
or whether you're just speaking to a neighbor, someone on the bus, someone in a store, or
a taxi driver, you might be shy. What does "shy" mean? "Shy" means you don't like -- or
you're nervous -- to speak to strangers or to speak to other people. So if you are naturally
a shy person, I'm sure you've heard people over and over again say, "Don't be shy! Come
on. Don't be shy!" Easier said than done, isn't it, shy people? So I want to give you
some tips or some pointers maybe to help you to be less shy. It's impossible to be 100
percent outgoing if you are naturally a shy person. So today's lesson is how you improve
your speaking. Don't be shy! The first thing that you have to do is think
about why. "Why am I shy?" There may be many different reasons. I'm just going to go through a
couple of them. The number one reason, probably, if you're watching these videos, is because
you are trying to speak a new language. Maybe it is English. And you are shy to make a mistake.
You don't want to say something bad, funny, rude, embarrassing. You don't want your face
to go red and they'll go, "Ha ha! You said a funny word!" Okay. That will happen. And
you know what? Who cares? It happens all the time. I say funny
things a lot, too. Another reason why you may be shy is because you
"talk funny". Lots of people have different problems with their mouths. Some people have a
speech impediment. Some people have a lisp, so they don't pronounce words probably like me.
Maybe you have a very strange or different accent than the other people around you. People
often ask me, "Ronnie, where are you from?" And I say, "Canada." And they say, "No, you're
not." "Yes, I am." "But you have an accent." "Yes. I have an accent. I talk funny. Who
cares? I'm from Canada. Nice to meet you." So even if you do talk funny or you do have an
accent, rock with it. Yeah. You speak differently. Good. Don't be like other people.
Other people are boring. This is a problem. Maybe you just don't like
to talk. Okay? Maybe you are quiet. Maybe you don't want to talk to anyone ever, at
all. That's cool. If you don't like people and you don't like to talk, don't force yourself
to talk. Maybe you could write something. Maybe you could text message or email someone.
But that's not going to improve your speaking. If you do not like to talk to people, that's
your choice. But I'm trying to help you overcome your shyness. So let's go through a couple
ways to actually do this. Don't be shy! Just say, "Hi!" So if you're standing at a
bus stop or the subway station or anywhere, and there's another human being beside you --
let's say that you're at a bar, and there's a beautiful girl or a very handsome boy. The
quickest, the easiest, and the best way to speak to someone is just to say, "Hi! My name
is Ronnie." Don't use "Ronnie", though. That's my name. You have to use your name. So just
say "hi" to people. If they want to speak to you, they will start the conversation.
They will say, "Oh, hi. My name is --. Nice to meet you." "Oh, nice to meet you, too."
Uh-oh! And then, your shyness sets in because -- "What do I say? Shoes. I have shoes. Do
you have shoes? Oh, God. I'm such an idiot. I can't even speak." Maybe the other person
will have asked you a person. You can always ask people basic questions, like, "Where are
you from? Why do you talk funny? Why are you shy?" All those fun questions. When you're actually speaking to someone,
it's really important that you choose a topic that you like. So if I were to meet someone
-- "Hi. My name is Ronnie." "Hi." "Cool. So -- oh, I like music. Do you like the Sex Pistols?"
"Yeah." "Me, too. Oh, my God. No way! What other kind of music to you like?" So I like to
talk to people about music. The only problem is not a lot of people like the same music I
do. So you have to choose a topic that you like to talk about. If you're lucky, the
other person will also like the topic. The next one: Get a job. Now, this might be
very strange for you to even comprehend, but I -- right here -- am shy. When I was a child, I
wasn't shy. I would do anything and go anywhere. But as I got older -- high school, university
-- I just didn't want to talk to people. I think people are boring, and I'd rather think
by myself and think about things. So I became shy. I didn't want to talk to people. People
would talk to me, and I'd rather be, like, "I don't know what to say. Hi." One thing
that I did do when I was in high school, I got a job as a waitress. Gulp. So guess what.
Every time somebody came into my restaurant, I had to talk to them. I had to be nice to
them. I had to smile. I don't want to smile, but I had to. Getting a job where you have
to talk to people, like being a waiter or a waitress, even something in the back like
working in a kitchen, working in a store -- if you can get a job where you are forced to
talk to people, I guarantee you, you will overcome your shyness because you are forced
to talk to people. Please also be careful -- people are boring,
as I mentioned before. The next one is: Get a dog. "Get a dog? What?
Are you going to talk to the dog?" No. But guess what? I don't know why, but people who
have dogs always like to talk to other people who have dogs. For example, in the morning,
when I walk my dog, people talk to me about stupid things about my dog. "How old is your
dog?" "Who cares?" "What's your dog's name?" "Why? Are you going to send it a birthday
card?" Okay. People that have dogs are usually friendly, and it forces you to interact with other
people. Sometimes, people ask me questions, and I say, "Yes. Seven. Good. Okay." And I
just stare at my dog. "Come on, dog. Come on, dog. Let's go, dog. Come on. I don't want
to talk to these people." But getting a dog will help you walk around the neighborhood. It
will help you talk to people. It's an interesting idea that if you have a cat, or if you're
a cat person, you're shy. But people that have dogs are usually -- but not always -- more
friendly. Are you a cat person or a dog person? This is one of my favorite things in the world,
ever. Travel. Okay? Leave your house; get on an airplane -- get some money, first; get
a job; get some money; jump on an airplane; and go traveling. Do it alone. How scary! If
you travel by yourself without anyone -- that means alone -- you are forced to talk to people.
You're going to be lonely. You're going to want to talk to people. You're going to go
to restaurants by yourself and sit there and look at the menu all alone. You're going to
see other people talking, and you'll go, "I wish I had a friend." All you have to do is
talk to people. Say the magic word, "Hi!" And start a conversation. When you travel,
you're forced to talk to people. When you check in at a hotel, when you take a bus, when
you're asking for directions. And I guarantee you will make some really good friends. You'll
probably meet a lot of crazy people, too. They're the best. And last, but not least, when you're traveling
alone, when you have a dog, when you're at your job, get drunk. Oh, yeah. There's a reason
why alcohol has a name, Like "Six-Pack Attack" or "Liquid Lunch", because when you drink
actual -- "Social Lubricant" is a good one. When you drink alcohol, you are not as shy
as you were. Now, I am being a little bit sarcastic when I say, "Get drunk." If you
have one or two drinks, you're going to feel less shy. When I write here, "Get drunk", I
don't mean, like -- and throw up. That's not cool. Nobody wants to talk to you. So
have one or two alcoholic drinks -- or just some coke -- and you will become less shy
naturally. It will happen. It's fun. Are you shy? Don't be shy. Follow these tips.
Figure out why you are shy. And please, write in the comments and tell me why you are shy.
Maybe I can help you. Maybe I can't. Maybe you're just shy. If you
are, good luck. Bye.
