Many beginning language learners go through what language researcher Stephen Krashen has termed the “silent period.” He defined it as that period of time when the learner refuses to speak the target language, whether as a result of a general lack of ability or being overcome by fear.
If you’ve studied even one new language as an adult before, you should be familiar with this. For many of us, getting comfortable with the idea of going out and speaking is an important prerequisite before we actually start using anything we learned.
According to Krashen’s theory, the “silent period” is significant because it’s something that must be respected. If you push someone to speak before they’re mentally ready (i.e. have gone past the silent period), you’re only bound to raise their “affective filter,” making them even more nervous about the activity. Instead of getting them comfortable with speaking, it will only create negative associations that can form into long-lasting inhibitions that could hurt them further.
Of course, it is just a theory — one that could very well be correct, but might just as well be missing the mark. At any rate, the “silent period” is an obstacle that all language learners must be able to overcome, lest have it hold back their progress for longer periods than necessary.
If you’re a new language learner suffering from this state, it’s in your best interest to get over it as soon as you can. We recommend doing plenty of low-risk preparation activities that simulate speaking in public, such as visualization, solo practice and talking with imaginary persons. Fact is, if all you do is wait it out, the stalling can build its own negative associations that could make ending the silent period harder. Be more active about it and you just might get over the hump sooner.