Las palabras de ánimo de mi profesora me ayudan cuando tengo miedo de hablar en público.

Palabras de ánimo is a very common expression meaning words of encouragement.

Literally:

• palabras = words
• ánimo = spirit, encouragement, morale

So palabras de ánimo means something like words that give encouragement.

Spanish often uses de + noun where English might use an adjective or a different noun phrase. So instead of something like encouraging words, Spanish very naturally says palabras de ánimo.

Other similar patterns are:

• mensaje de apoyo = message of support
• grito de alegría = shout of joy
• cara de sorpresa = face/look of surprise

Because the speaker is referring to the encouraging things the teacher says, not just one single word.

In Spanish, palabras often means words / remarks / things someone says, not only individual dictionary words.

So:

• las palabras de ánimo de mi profesora = my teacher’s encouraging words / the encouraging things my teacher says to me

You could say:

• una palabra de ánimo = a word of encouragement
• unas palabras de ánimo = a few words of encouragement

But in this sentence, las palabras sounds natural because it refers to that general support the teacher gives.

Because profesora is the feminine form, so it means female teacher.

• profesor = male teacher / teacher (masculine)
• profesora = female teacher

Since the sentence says mi profesora, we know the teacher is a woman.

Also, mi does not change for masculine/feminine in the singular:

• mi profesor
• mi profesora

Because each de is doing a different job:

1. de ánimo describes what kind of words they are

   • palabras de ánimo = words of encouragement

2. de mi profesora shows who they come from

   • las palabras ... de mi profesora = the words ... of/from my teacher

So the structure is:

• las palabras
• de ánimo
• de mi profesora

In English, we would usually rearrange this:

• my teacher’s words of encouragement

Spanish is perfectly happy stacking these de phrases like this.

Me means to me or me, depending on how you think about it.

The verb ayudar means to help, and in Spanish it is very common to say:

• me ayuda = it helps me
• te ayuda = it helps you
• nos ayuda = it helps us

So:

• Las palabras de ánimo de mi profesora me ayudan
  = My teacher’s words of encouragement help me

The me shows who receives the help.

Other examples:

• Mi amigo me ayuda = My friend helps me
• Esto me ayuda mucho = This helps me a lot

Because the subject is las palabras, which is plural.

• la palabra → singular → ayuda
• las palabras → plural → ayudan

So:

• La palabra de ánimo de mi profesora me ayuda
  = My teacher’s word of encouragement helps me

• Las palabras de ánimo de mi profesora me ayudan
  = My teacher’s words of encouragement help me

The verb has to agree with the subject.

Because in Spanish, the expression is tener miedo de + infinitive when you are afraid to do something.

So:

• tengo miedo de hablar = I’m afraid to speak / I’m afraid of speaking
• tiene miedo de volar = he/she is afraid to fly
• tenemos miedo de equivocarnos = we are afraid of making mistakes

This is just the normal pattern in Spanish.

Compare:

• tener miedo de algo = to be afraid of something

  • Tengo miedo de los perros = I’m afraid of dogs

• tener miedo de + infinitive = to be afraid to do something

  • Tengo miedo de hablar = I’m afraid to speak

En público is the normal expression for in public or in front of people.

So:

• hablar en público = to speak in public
• cantar en público = to sing in public
• salir en público = to appear in public

You should learn en público as a fixed phrase.

Why not en el público? Because en público is an idiomatic expression meaning publicly / before an audience, while en el público would sound like in the audience/public and usually means something different.

Not in the same way. The natural expression here is tener miedo.

• tengo miedo = I am afraid / I feel afraid

Me da miedo also exists, but it usually means it scares me or it frightens me.

Compare:

• Tengo miedo de hablar en público = I’m afraid to speak in public
• Hablar en público me da miedo = Speaking in public scares me

So me da miedo is possible, but the structure changes:

• Las palabras de ánimo de mi profesora me ayudan cuando hablar en público me da miedo.

That is understandable, but the original sentence with cuando tengo miedo de hablar en público is more straightforward and natural for this meaning.

Both can work, but they are not exactly the same.

• cuando = when
• si = if

In this sentence:

• cuando tengo miedo de hablar en público means when I’m afraid to speak in public
  This suggests a situation that really happens.

If you say:

• si tengo miedo de hablar en público
  it means if I’m afraid to speak in public, which sounds more conditional or hypothetical.

So cuando fits better if the speaker means this is a real, repeated experience.

The sentence uses the present tense:

• ayudan
• tengo

This is because it describes a general truth or a habitual situation:

• My teacher’s encouraging words help me
• when I’m afraid to speak in public

Spanish often uses the present tense for things that happen regularly or are generally true, just like English does.

It does not necessarily mean it is happening right this second.

Yes. They are part of the correct spelling.

• ánimo
• público

The accent marks show where the stress goes:

• Á-ni-mo
• PÚ-bli-co

They are not optional in correct Spanish writing.

Also, accents can sometimes change meaning in Spanish, so it is a good idea to pay attention to them from the start.

Yes, a little, though the original is very natural.

For example:

• Cuando tengo miedo de hablar en público, las palabras de ánimo de mi profesora me ayudan.

This version means the same thing. It just puts the when part first.

Spanish word order is often more flexible than English, but the original sentence is clear and natural:

• Las palabras de ánimo de mi profesora me ayudan cuando tengo miedo de hablar en público.

Yes, that is the idea here.

The phrase:

• tener miedo de hablar en público

usually means:

• to be afraid of speaking in front of others
• to be nervous about public speaking

It does not necessarily mean giving a formal speech only. It can also refer more generally to speaking before a group or audience.

So this sentence sounds very natural if someone means that their teacher’s encouragement helps them with fear of public speaking.