Beating Speaking Anxiety: 6. I’m scared I won’t get the joke

This episode of "Beating Speaking Anxiety" addresses the fear of not understanding or being able to make jokes in English. Co-hosts Georgie and Hanan discuss personal experiences of feeling excluded when humor is culturally specific or relies on wordplay. The podcast features Pepa Duarte, an actor from Peru, who shares her journey of learning English and overcoming her fear of speaking by embracing mistakes and practicing humor. Pepa emphasizes that humor can be a tool for bonding and communication, even with imperfect language skills, and encourages learners to approach language with playfulness and courage. The hosts break down how jokes often rely on puns and similar-sounding words, which can be challenging for non-native speakers.