Still overthinking your English in meetings, even after years of classes? Finance Manager Nines López explains why grammar-heavy English learning keeps capable Spanish professionals stuck, silent, and second-guessing themselves, and what actually builds real speaking confidence at work.

We explore why textbook English rarely translates into real-world fluency, and how a conversation-first, identity-led approach helps professionals speak naturally under pressure.

We unpack the emotional blocks many Spanish learners carry from school, fear of making mistakes, shame around accent, imposter syndrome, and how these show up in meetings, presentations, calls, and everyday professional conversations.

This episode is for Spanish professionals who:

• Know a lot of English but freeze when it matters

• Overthink grammar instead of expressing ideas

• Worry about being judged by colleagues or native speakers

• Feel less confident in English than they are in Spanish

• Want to sound like themselves in English, not a “perfect” version

From Lost to the River is the podcast for Spanish professionals who want to stop hiding behind perfectionism and start speaking with confidence, clarity, and presence. Hosted by Richard Marshall, English confidence and communication coach, the show blends real stories, expert interviews, and practical strategies to help ambitious professionals focus on connection over correctness.

👉 Want to go deeper? Read my More Than Words collection of essays on my website, where I explore the psychology behind English confidence. These weekly essays go beyond grammar and vocabulary to unpack how identity, fear, shame, and self-perception shape the way you speak, and how to move from awareness to confident, empowered action.

If you’ve tried English classes, apps, or courses and still don’t feel confident speaking, this is the missing piece.

🎧 Watch this episode on YouTube. 📖 Read More Than Words.

Learn more at procoachenglish.com. In this extract from 'Me da vergüenza hablar', language coach Nacho Fernández shares strategies to overcome hesitation and speak English confidently, even when you fear making mistakes.

Nacho and I discuss how real communication beats grammar perfection. You’ll learn practical ways to build English confidence, including listening to podcasts, watching movies, and other immersive media (even passively) so your brain becomes familiar with natural speech patterns.

This episode also explores the emotional barriers that hold back Spanish professionals in high-level roles, such as fear of judgment, comparison with others, and overthinking. Nacho shows how to shift focus from perfection to connection, helping you communicate more naturally in meetings and presentations.

If you’ve ever hesitated to speak in English despite knowing the language, this episode will give you one clear takeaway: practice, exposure, and mindset adjustments unlock real confidence.

🧭 About From Lost to the River

From Lost to the River is the podcast for Spanish learners of English who want to stop overthinking, stop hiding behind perfectionism, and start speaking with confidence. Hosted by (me) Richard Marshall, it blends personal stories, expert interviews, and actionable strategies to help ambitious professionals focus on connection over perfection.

Follow Nacho on LinkedIn where he offers one to one and group based Spanish coaching.

Learn more about me, Richard, at my website procoachenglish.com. where you can access these free resources.

#EnglishConfidence #BusinessEnglish #SpanishExecutives #ingles #aprenderingles

Today, I'm speaking once again with English teacher and Instagram & TikTok sensation Alba Guerrero González about why so many Spanish professionals feel confident on paper but insecure in real conversations.

Alba returns to the podcast after her episode How To Speak English With Confidence became the most streamed so far on From Lost to the River. In this conversation, she explains how titulitis, external pressure, and exam-oriented learning create a system where students collect certificates but rarely develop real speaking skills.

You’ll hear how major exams like selectividad still ignore speaking, and how that affects you years later, especially in high-stakes meetings or presentations in English.

If you’ve ever wondered why you overthink, apologise, or hesitate even with a solid C1 level, Alba’s insights will help you understand the emotional roots of that imposter syndrome. And more importantly, she shares how to rebuild confidence through a “connection over perfection” mindset.

This conversation will give you a practical perspective and one clear benefit: a way to start speaking English more naturally without waiting to feel “perfect.”

Follow Alba on Instagram here and on TikTok here where she shares super cool English learning tips & tricks as well as offering one to one and group based English classes.

Learn more about me, Richard, at my website procoachenglish.com where you can also access these FREE resources.

Here's my new website: procoachenglish.com: Many Spanish speakers speak excellent English yet still feel judged, insecure, or hesitant in meetings. If you’ve ever second‑guessed yourself after someone asked you to repeat what you just said, this short episode will help you see why it’s not your fault, and how to rebuild your confidence.

I explore the hidden variables in communication that have nothing to do with your grammar or accent. From background noise to distractions in the listener’s mind, you’ll see why misunderstandings happen.

You’ll learn how to stop blaming yourself, reframe those moments, and focus on connection instead of perfection. This is essential for people who want English confidence in presentations, video calls, and real‑time meetings.

Discover how to speak naturally, reduce overthinking, and show up with clarity and impact in business English.

If you're ready for personalised support then you can reach out and book a call with me here via this link.

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Command the Room in English

Top 10 English Challenges For Spanish Speakers & How To Fix Them

#EnglishConfidence #BusinessEnglish #SpanishExecutives #ingles #english

Watch this episode with SUBTITLES here on YouTube

🎯 Muchos hispanohablantes tienen un excelente nivel de inglés, pero aún así se sienten juzgados, inseguros o dudan en reuniones. Si alguna vez has dudado de ti mismo después de que alguien te pidiera repetir lo que acabas de decir, este episodio corto te ayudará a ver por qué no es tu culpa y cómo recuperar tu confianza.

Exploro las variables ocultas en la comunicación que no tienen nada que ver con tu gramática ni con tu acento. Desde el ruido de fondo hasta las distracciones en la mente del oyente, verás por qué ocurren los malentendidos.

Aprenderás a dejar de culparte, a replantear esos momentos y a enfocarte en la conexión en lugar de la perfección. Esto es clave para quienes buscan confianza en inglés en presentaciones, videollamadas y reuniones en tiempo real.

Descubre cómo hablar con naturalidad, reducir el exceso de pensamiento y comunicarte con claridad e impacto en inglés profesional.

Visit my website for more info: procoachenglish.com. If you’ve ever felt your English vanish the moment someone hesitates or looks confused, you’re not alone. We’ve all felt that drop in confidence when suddenly everything we know seems to disappear.

In this Spanish-only extract from my conversation with language coach and author Daniele Ponzo.

We explore why so many people freeze when speaking English, and how to move past the fear of “getting it wrong.” Listen to the full conversation here on Spotify and here on Apple Podcasts.

Today we're sharing our stories of learning Spanish from scratch, facing that all-too-familiar “face of confusion,” and realising that true connection matters more than being perfect.

You’ll hear how we learned that confidence grows through use, not just study, and how speaking your target language (in your case, English) by “swimming in the pool of the language” helps you unlearn perfectionism and massively boost your confidence.

Daniele shares practical ways to stay calm in meetings, focus on your message (not your mistakes), and sound more natural when presenting and leading teams.

If you’ve ever felt imposter syndrome or shame about your accent, this episode will help you rethink what “good English” really means, and remind you that your value as a communicator isn’t measured by grammar.

Learn more about Daniele and his coaching services on his website at danieleponzo.com

Connect with us on LinkedIn: Daniele Ponzo & Richard Marshall

Check out Daniele’s book 'Easy English for IT' here on Amazon.

And his podcast 'The Non-Native Leader' here on YouTube.

Watch this episode of 'From Lost To The River' with subtitles here on YouTube.

If you're ready for personalised support then you can reach out and book a call with me here via this link.

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Command the Room in English

Top 10 English Challenges For Spanish Speakers & How To Fix Them

#EnglishConfidence #BusinessEnglish #SpanishExecutives

Visit my website 'procoachenglish.com'. In this short clip from 'The Psychology Behind Real English Confidence', language coach Daniele Ponzo shares the honest truth about perfectionism, fear of mistakes, and the pressure to “sound right.” You’ll hear how one simple mindset shift, from perfection to presence, helped him move past fear and speak naturally in meetings, interviews, and everyday life.

Learn more about Daniele and his coaching services on his website at danieleponzo.com

Connect with us on LinkedIn: Daniele Ponzo & Richard Marshall

Check out Daniele’s book 'Easy English for IT' here on Amazon.

And his podcast 'The Non-Native Leader' here on YouTube.

Watch the full conversation with subtitles here on YouTube.

If you're ready for personalised support then you can reach out and book a call with me here via this link.

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Command the Room in English

Top 10 English Challenges For Spanish Speakers & How To Fix Them

#EnglishConfidence #BusinessEnglish #SpanishExecutives

Visit my website for more info: procoachenglish.com. If you’re a driven Spanish professional who freezes in English or fears being judged, this episode is for you. Daniele Ponzo, former IT manager turned language coach and author, explains how to swap perfectionism for presence so you can speak naturally, be heard in meetings, and lead with confidence.

Daniele and I explore the emotional side of language: why imposter syndrome, school-system conditioning and ego make otherwise capable professionals stay quiet, and how to change that.

You’ll hear Daniele’s story from 13 years in IT to coaching, plus practical mindset shifts and simple techniques you can use today to build English confidence for executives and teams.

Expect clear, benefit-first advice on business English, real workplace phrases, role-play strategies and the “handle-with-care” mindset that stops overthinking and helps you speak naturally in high-stakes situations. These are tools you can apply immediately to presentations, meetings and interviews.

Learn more about Daniele and his coaching services on his website at danieleponzo.com

Connect with us on LinkedIn: Daniele Ponzo & Richard Marshall

Check out Daniele’s book 'Easy English for IT' here on Amazon.

And his podcast 'The Non-Native Leader' here on YouTube.

Watch this episode of 'From Lost To The River' with subtitles here on YouTube.

If you're ready for personalised support then you can reach out and book a call with me here via this link.

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Command the Room in English

Top 10 English Challenges For Spanish Speakers & How To Fix Them

#EnglishConfidence #BusinessEnglish #SpanishExecutives

Visit my website for more info: procoachenglish.com. Ever freeze mid-sentence in English, fearing judgment or looking “not good enough”? You’re not alone. Many ambitious Spanish professionals feel the pressure to be perfect, but perfection isn’t the point. Imagine speaking naturally, confidently, and clearly in meetings, presentations, or real conversations without fear holding you back.

In today's episode, language coach Bianca González and I explore how confidence, mindset, and emotional blocks like frustration and fear shape language learning. We challenge perfectionism, discuss learner-centered coaching versus outdated grammar drills, and explain why mindset and self-perception often matter more than grammar alone.

Discover practical strategies to overcome fear of embarrassment, imposter syndrome, and self-doubt. Gain tools to communicate effectively, stay calm under pressure, and feel confident in professional settings.

If you're ready for personalised support then you can reach out and book a call with me here via this link.

Follow me on Linkedin here

Follow Bianca Gonzalez and Mary Costello on Substack where you can sign up for weekly, free Zoom conversation sessions designed for Spanish learners who value connection over perfection. Move beyond basic exchanges and explore English in a relaxed, pressure-free space. No performance, just conversation, curiosity, and community.

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Start building your English confidence today! Explore mindset strategies, coaching insights, and free guides here:

Command the Room in English

Top 10 English Challenges For Spanish Speakers & How To Fix Them

#EnglishConfidence #BusinessEnglish #SpanishExecutives