I can't SPEAK! Any tips on learning to Speak?
I know multiple languages and I have a high level in all of them regarding Reading, Writing and Listening and yet I still can't figure out how to learn how to Speak.
I've tried it all (TL)
—Shadowing ( works great for accent but nothing more )
—Multiple Italki / Language Exchange Partners ( at best I can survive a lesson rather fine, and then at worst, it's as if I'm a beginner taking my first lesson with a tutor I've had MANY lessons with and whom I know very well; it's so embarrassing and I can tell they also don't understand what's wrong with me )
—I've joined in person language exchange events in my city ( they can be fun but I find it hard to speak in general since everyone is trying to speak and practice all at once, and then when it's my turn I just end up stuttering over my words among people who have been learning for less time than me )
—I've consistently recorded video diaries ( some improvement but I don't trust myself to actually catch all my mistakes therefore I fear that I'm just cementing mistakes )
—I've mapped out whole conversation maps of common phrases and run through them ( I end up forgetting everything in two weeks as if these aren't phrases that I've been learning since day one )
—I've had oral chats with AI ( I don't like this and I've stopped doing this )
—I've even had jobs where I'm forced to use specific languages daily ( little improvement despite constant pressure and a necessity to interact with customers and coworkers, still make basic mistakes as if I'm a beginner )
Again, my written production is advanced ( from everyday texts to friends to academic papers ) therefore you would think that would just transfer over. Every time I feel like I'm making minimal progress it's as if my brain just keeps resetting at the end of each month.
Also, I only focus on one language at a time—this is just a constant theme in my long life of language learning. I've never been able to speak for longer than five minutes at best!
At this point it's actually very demoralizing. Anything I'm simply just missing?