Self image - help or hinderance?

So many times us language learners feel the pressure of self-image. In daily life we are always trying to impress and make people think we are good, fun and interesting but does this help us when learning a second language. I am often approached by young students who are happy just to say 'Hello.' and 'How are you?' which makes them really happy and there parents over the moon :-), but the problems lie not with the easy straightforward phrases but with the more complicated sentence structures. When more complicated conversations are afoot we will feel pressure. It can be our own internal pressure (Why can't I remember what my teachers have told me a hundred times?) or an external pressure (Hurry up Gerard. I don't have all day to wait for you to remember how to talk correctly.). Obviously, it is this pressure which stops people conversing. Don't get stuck in the mud! Forget what the service staff think of you. Who cares how many people talk about you behind your back and point at you. Let's face facts here, it is very rare that these people help you so, why are you worried about what they think. You are losing track of who and what matters. Who matters is YOU and what matters is LEARNING. YOU LEARNING! It's a simple catchphrase but maybe effective. Remember the important things and stop worrying about the rest!