511. From afraid to speak to expressing herself fully in English | Real Student Story

511. From afraid to speak to expressing herself fully in English | Real Student Story

Author: Hadar Shemesh April 24, 2026 Duration: 52:27

In today's episode, I'm introducing you to a dear, long-time student of mine, Elisa! Elisa is Italian, and works in hospitality, but her relationship with English started long before any of that. 

One day, Elisa found herself stuck in a cycle: consuming English every day through music, YouTube and movies, but terrified to speak a single sentence out loud.

In this interview, Elisa will share with us the exact shifts that changed everything for her: how she moved from overthinking every word to focusing on the message and what it felt like to finally become not just a more confident English speaker, but a more confident person.

If you have ever told yourself, "I'm not ready yet," this one is for you!

⬇️ Resources mentioned:

Free Shadowing Practice Playlist: https://bit.ly/4fx9j4t 

Read Out Loud With Me Series: https://bit.ly/4cFoiJV 

New Sound Course: https://bit.ly/4cGxbmC 

Beyond membership: https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N


Hadar Shemesh hosts The InFluency Podcast, drawing from her own journey from an intermediate English speaker to a recognized pronunciation expert and fluency coach. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a practical, empathetic guide for anyone who feels stuck in their language learning. Hadar's conversations and solo episodes delve into the tangible strategies that actually work for acquiring an American accent, building unshakeable confidence, and moving beyond textbook English to authentic, fluid speech. You'll hear a blend of mindset shifts, technical pronunciation breakdowns, and stories from a global community of learners. The focus is always on the human side of fluency-how it connects to identity, courage, and communication. Each episode of this podcast feels like a direct coaching session, offering actionable steps that address the real frustrations and aspirations of students and teachers alike. Hadar's approach demystifies the process, making the path to speaking English with assurance feel not only possible but deeply personal. Tune in for a resource that understands the journey because the host has lived it, creating a space where progress is celebrated over perfection.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

The InFluency Podcast
Podcast Episodes
522. Daily 10-minute pronunciation exercise (Sprint) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:45
These Sprints are designed to set yourself up for success using daily articulation and speech exercises to make your pronunciation effortless and to be more clear in English! Do this 10-minute pronunciation practice ever…
520. The 5 R vowels of English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:38
The R is one of the hardest sounds in English…but it doesn't have to be after this episode ;) In American English, there are two R sounds: the strong R (red, around, crazy) and the soft R, or R vowels. That's when the R…
518. 10 things I LOVE about being a non-native speaker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:52
Today's episode is a bit different. That's because today, I am going to talk to you about the 10 reasons why I ABSOLUTELY LOVE being a non-native speaker. From having multiple personalities and voices in different langua…