Learning English Conversations Beating Speaking Anxiety: 6. I’m scared I won’t get the joke
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Feb 23, 2026 Peppa Duarte, a Peruvian actor and filmmaker who moved to the UK, shares her story of learning English and doing comedy. She talks about feeling excluded by jokes, struggling with accents, and pretending to laugh to fit in. Peppa explains how playfulness and practice helped her try stand-up in another language and gain confidence through migrant-focused comedy spaces.
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Pretending To Laugh At Christmas Crackers
- Hanan describes pretending to laugh at Christmas crackers when she doesn't get the joke to avoid awkward explanations.
- She prefers masking confusion with laughter especially with British friends so the vibe isn't ruined by an explanation.
Shyness Gets Worse In A Second Language
- Miguel, a shy Spanish speaker, gets more anxious in English and freezes trying to find words instead of joking.
- His anxiety prevents him from participating even with friends because he focuses on vocabulary rather than the humour.
Humour Needs Cultural And Linguistic Layers
- The podcast notes many ways to play with language and that humour helps bond people, so missing jokes can make learners feel excluded.
- Understanding humour requires cultural and linguistic knowledge beyond basic vocabulary and grammar.