Hello, I’m Noora.

I’m Noora Vidgren, the founder of Dare to Speak. I have taught foreign languages in Finnish schools for over ten years and have worked with adult language learners since 2023. I studied languages at university and researched multilingualism in my doctoral thesis. Yet some of my most valuable insights have come from using foreign languages in everyday life – and from the times I was nervous to speak them or I avoided using them.

In addition to my native language, Finnish, I speak English, German, some Swedish, and Greek. English is the most fluent of my foreign languages, and these days I can speak it without really having to think about it. I studied German for many years, lived in Germany, and even wrote my doctoral dissertation in German. Even so, speaking German still makes me very nervous. Writing my dissertation and defending it in German was, in fact, the ultimate masterclass in stepping outside my comfort zone and pushing myself beyond what I thought I could do. I studied Swedish at school and a little at university, and I understand it better than I speak it. With a bit of practice, I’m sure I could reactivate the language quite quickly. Greek is the only language I have learned the way a child does: without ever taking a course, purely by speaking it. These days, I can have fairly fluent conversations about everyday topics in Greek, but I can’t write a single word.

In my work, I have noticed that I am not the only one who feels nervous about speaking foreign languages. As a language trainer, I specialize in encouraging spoken communication, addressing speaking anxiety, and improving language skills when a learner’s starting level is low.

I founded Dare to Speak because I want to help you overcome the barrier to speaking. I want you to find your own natural way of expressing yourself in a foreign language. I offer a supportive and encouraging learning environment where you can practise speaking with confidence. A very warm welcome to Dare to Speak!