welcome to the English pod Community I'm Blake and today we're diving into a

topic that so many English Learners struggle with fear of speaking English
does this sound familiar do you ever feel nervous when you have to speak in English do you worry
about making mistakes or not finding the right words if you've ever felt this way you're not
alone and today's episode is going to help you overcome that fear in this
episode I'll share my own story of how I overcame my fear of speaking English yes
I've been there too I'll also share some real life experiences and practical
strategies that you can use to feel more confident as you listen pay attention to
how I describe emotions situations and solutions this will not only improve
your listening skills but also help you pick up useful phrases and storytelling
techniques that you can apply in your own conversations and writing so let's start with a question why
do we
feel so scared to speak a new language for me the fear came from perfectionism
I wanted every sentence to be perfect and I was terrified of making mistakes I
remember the first time I had to speak English in front of a group my heart was pounding my hands
were shaking and my
mind went completely blank sound familiar but here's the thing I I
realized that the only way to get better was to keep going even when I felt uncomfortable one of the
turning points
for me was when I met Daniel a friend who spoke English fluently he told me
the people who learn fastest are the ones who aren't afraid of looking silly
that really stuck with me I started putting myself in situations where I had
no choice but to speak English I joined a language exchange group where everyone spoke only in
English
the first few times I stumbled over my words and yes I made a lot of mistakes
but every time I got a little better and people were kind and patient I realized
that most people aren't judging you they're just happy you're making the effort one strategy that
helped me was
storytelling instead of just answering questions with short responses I tried
to share little stories from my life for for example when someone asked how my
weekend was instead of saying it was good I'd say oh it was amazing I went
hiking with some friends and we got a little lost but we found this beautiful
Lake and the view was incredible by adding details and emotions I felt more
connected to the conversation and more confident in my speaking
skills let's take a quick moment to reflect what's one situation where you
felt nervous speaking English how did you handle it and what would you do
differently next time think about it and as we continue I'll share more
strategies and stories to help you overcome that fear stay with me there's
so much more to explore one of the biggest fears I had when speaking English was the fear of making
mistakes
it might sound strange but sometimes we are so focused on being perfect that it
stops us from even trying I remember when I tried to give a presentation in
English for the first time I had practiced a lot but as soon as I stood
in front of the group my mind went blank I started saying the wrong words and I
could feel my face turning red but then something happened my friend Anna smiled at me and
said it's okay keep going we understand you
that encouragement made a huge difference it reminded me that the goal
isn't to be perfect it's to communicate after that experience I began to look at
mistakes in a different way instead of feeling embarrassed I started to see them as opportunities to
learn I made it
a point to speak more even if I knew I might make a mistake each time I made a
mistake I learned something new a new word a new way to express myself or how
to fix a sentence and guess what the more mistakes I made the more confident
I became I started to realize that the fear of speaking wasn't about the
language it was about how I viewed myself once I accepted that it was okay
to make mistakes I felt much Freer so here's a tip for you don't
worry about being perfect just focus on communicating even if it's not perfect
over time you'll get
better another thing that helped me was finding people who were also learning I
joined a conversation group where everyone was working on their English we practiced talking about
different topics
like how our days went what we ate for lunch or even how we felt about the weather it was simple at
first but
gradually we started talking about more interesting subjects like our plans for
the future or what we wanted to achieve in life the more I practiced the easier
it became and you know what else the more I spoke the less I thought about
grammar don't get me wrong grammar is important but when you're just starting
out it's more important to focus on speaking than on being grammatically perfect so so when you
speak try to
relax and let the words flow don't stop to check if every sentence is %
correct here's something I found useful when you feel nervous take a deep breath
and remind yourself that everyone makes mistakes in fact making mistakes shows
that you're trying people will appreciate your effort to speak and they
won't focus on every little mistake in my experience most people are supportive
and understanding when you're speaking a second language I remember once when I
was in a store and trying to ask for directions I accidentally said the wrong
word the person I was speaking with just smiled and helped me anyway that moment
made me realize something if you don't try you'll never improve but if you try
you'll keep learning and growing let me ask you have you ever had a moment where you
were worried about making a mistake in English but you kept going anyway how
did it feel maybe it was during a conversation with a friend or perhaps at
work or school think back to that moment what was the outcome chances are you did
just fine let's take a step back and think about why we get so nervous when speaking English for a lot
of us it's
the fear of making a mistake we want to sound perfect we want people to
understand us clearly and we don't want to look foolish but I've learned something really important
along the way
no one expects you to speak perfectly actually most people are impressed when
they hear someone trying to speak in a second language even if it's not perfect
and if they can't understand you right away they will usually be happy to ask you to repeat or clarify
when I started
learning English I didn't realize how much pressure I was putting on myself I
thought I had to speak with a perfect accent and use perfect grammar all the time I was so focused on
avoiding
mistakes that I often couldn't say anything at all I'd get stuck in my head trying to figure out the perfect
words
or sentence structure but I quickly realized that this approach wasn't helping me improve it was
actually
making me worse at speaking the Breakthrough for me came when I
stopped worrying about mistakes and just focused on communicating one day I found myself at a cafe
with some friends and
we were talking about something simple what we had for breakfast that morning normally I'd have felt
nervous about my
English skills but that day I decided to just let go and speak freely without
worrying if every word was perfect as I spoke I noticed something amazing the
more I let go of of the fear the easier it became to express myself I wasn't
thinking about my grammar or vocabulary I was just telling the story of my morning and you know
what I didn't make
as many mistakes as I thought I would and my friends understood everything I
said in that moment I realized something speaking English isn't about being
perfect it's about being confident enough to try I started to embrace this new mindset I joined a weekly
conversation group with a few friends who were also learning English we had casual discussions
about everyday things
like how our week went our favorite foods and what we wanted to do over the
weekend sometimes we made mistakes but it didn't matter we laughed we corrected
each other and we kept going every time I spoke I got a little more confident I
felt more comfortable experimenting with new words and phrases even if I wasn't completely sure I
was using them
correctly the group was a safe space and I realized that practice was more
important than Perfection now I want you to think about
this how many times have you avoided speaking because you were afraid of
making a mistake maybe you've had a conversation where you started to speak
but then you hesitated because you were worried about the grammar or the pronunciation I know
I've done this many
times especially when I felt like I should sound fluent right away but I've
learned that fluency comes with time and the only way to get there is by
practicing making mistakes and continuing to push yourself out of your
comfort zone here's something that really helped me in overcoming that fear
storytelling one of the best ways to practice speaking is by telling stories you don't have to
tell a long complicated story even small moments from your day can be great
practice think about something that happened to you recently maybe you went for a walk in the park
or met a friend
for coffee now try to explain that experience in
English instead of just saying I went to the park you could say I went for a walk
in the Park yesterday it was a beautiful day the Sun
was shining and there were lots of people walking their dogs I decided to sit on a bench and read a
book for a
while after that I met a friend for coffee by telling a simple story like
that you can practice using different tenses adding details and expressing
your thoughts in a clear way you might not get every word perfect but the goal
is to get your message across plus when you focus on storytelling
you'll also improve your writing skills because the same techniques you use to tell a story aloud can
be used to write
down your thoughts later another important thing I learned is the power of repetition when I was first
learning
English I would say the same sentences over and over until they felt natural
for example I'd practice saying things like I'm going to the store or I have a
meeting at
I didn't need to make the sentences
complex I just needed to get comfortable saying them over time I began to use
these simple phrases automatically without thinking about it the more I practiced speaking these
sentences the
easier it became to speak naturally in real conversations so don't be afraid to
repeat phrases and practice them out loud until they become second nature I
also realized that part of overcoming fear is accepting that you can't control
 everything sometimes conversations don't go as planned I remember one time I was
having a discussion with a colleague and I misunderstood a question I thought
they were asking about a project deadline but they were actually asking about a different task at first
I was
embarrassed but then I realized that mistakes happen to everyone I just apologized explained the
misunderstanding and the conversation continued smoothly this taught me a valuable
lesson if you make a mistake don't be afraid to admit it and correct it people
will appreciate your honesty and it won't hurt the conversation over time I started to feel
less afraid of speaking because I was focusing more on the process of learning
than on the outcome I realized that speaking English is just like learning to ride a bike at first you
might wobble
and fall a few times but with practice you start to gain balance and the more
you practice the easier it becomes to move forward so don't let the fear of
making mistakes stop you from trying every time you speak you are one step
closer to fluency let's think about it this way how would you feel if you never spoke
English because you were too afraid of making mistakes you would never improve right
so even if you make a mistake at least you're moving forward and that's what's
most important it's all about progress not Perfection the more you speak the
more you learn and the more confident you'll become have you ever been in a situation
where you were afraid to speak English but decided to go ahead and do it anyway
how did it feel were you surprised by how much you were able to communicate
even with a few mistakes think about those times when you've pushed yourself to speak and
remember every conversation is an opportunity to improve now let's keep
moving forward I want to share a few more tips that really helped me along my journey these are
simple strategies that
anyone can use to overcome the fear of speaking English Eng but before I do that take a moment to
reflect what's one
fear you have about speaking English what's holding you back think about that
as we continue the fear of speaking English is
something many of us experience but the good news is it's completely normal for
so long I thought that being good at English meant being able to speak
perfectly I wanted to sound like a native speaker with no mistakes and to
always know the right word or expression for every situation but the reality is
language learning is messy it's full of mistakes misunderstandings and awkward
moments and honestly that's okay in fact
those moments are the best part of the learning process because they show that you're pushing
yourself out of of your
 comfort zone let me take you back to when I first started trying to speak English I can remember
feeling really
nervous when I met someone new and they wanted to have a conversation with me I
would start off by saying something simple like Hi how are you but then I
would freeze my mind would go blank it felt like I had forgotten all
of the words I had learned the more I tried to remember the worse it got my
heart would race and I would end up saying something completely wrong like
I'm good I am fine which didn't sound natural at all it was so frustrating and
I felt embarrassed but you know what those embarrassing moments were the turning
points for me I began to realize that mistakes weren't the end of the world in
fact they were a sign that I was actually using the language I learned that making mistakes wasn't
something to
be ashamed of it was something to be proud of because it meant I was trying
and that's the only way to get better when you start speaking you're
going to make mistakes that's a given but each mistake teaches you something new it's like a mini
lesson that helps
you grow I started to see each conversation as an opportunity to learn
and that's when my confidence began to grow the first step to overcoming the
fear of speaking is to shift your mindset instead of thinking I must be
perfect try thinking I want to learn and improve this change in perspective
helped me tremendously I started to embrace the idea that making mistakes was a part of
the journey every time I made a mistake I would remind myself that's okay I'll
do better next time and sure enough with each conversation I got a little better
it wasn't always easy but it was worth it the next big challenge for me was
Finding opportunities to speak at first I only spoke English in class or with my
teacher but I soon realized that this wasn't enough I needed to practice in
real life situations where I could make mistakes and learn from them so I
started looking for ways to get involved in English-speaking communities I joined a group of people
who were also learning
English and we would meet once a week to practice speaking at first I was nervous
I didn't know if I would be able to keep up with the conversations or if people would
understand me but I was determined to try the group was small just five of us
and we would talk about anything and everything sometimes we talked about our Hobbies other
times about our jobs or
our families the top iics didn't matter much What mattered was that we were
practicing speaking and honestly it was so much fun we would laugh at the mistakes we made and
sometimes we would
help each other with new words or phrases it didn't matter if we weren't perfect What mattered was
that we were
 speaking and that we were improving together through these conversations I
began to feel more comfortable with speaking English I stopped focusing on every little mistake and
started
focusing on communicating the more I spoke the more natural it felt I also realize that most
people when they hear you speaking a second language aren't looking for Perfection they just want
to understand
you if they don't understand something they'll ask you to repeat it or explain
it in a different way it's all part of the process and guess what it's totally
okay people are more focused on the effort you're putting in rather than the mistakes you make
another thing that
really helped me was setting small achievable goals for myself I didn't
expect to become fluent in English overnight instead I focused on improving
little by little one goal might have been to introduce myself to someone new in English another goal
was to have a f
minute conversation with someone these small wins helped me gain confidence
each time I accomplished one of these goals I felt proud of
myself something I also learned is the power of preparation before I spoke in English I
would often prepare myself by practicing what I wanted to say for example if I
knew I was going to meet someone new I would think about how I would introduce
myself I'd rehearse my introduction several times before the actual meeting
this way I didn't feel like I was completely unprepared the more I practice these simple phrases the
more
confident I became I also want to stress how important it is to listen as much as
you speak listening is an essential part of overcoming your fear of speaking the
more you listen to others the more you get used to the way English sounds and flows this helps you
become more
comfortable when it's your turn to speak it also helps you understand different accents and ways of
speaking you'll
begin to notice patterns in the way people talk and you'll start to recognize words and phrases that
you can
use in your own conversations for me one of the best ways to improve my listening was by
watching simple conversations in English I would listen to podcasts watch videos
or even read articles I would listen for new words or expressions and try to
understand how they were used used in different contexts this wasn't just about learning
vocabulary it was also about understanding how to communicate more effectively the more I listened
the more
I understood the language and the easier it became to speak now let's talk about
something really important the fear of being judged when we're learning a new
language it's easy to feel like people are judging us especially when we make
 mistakes but here's the truth people are more focused on their own lives than on
judging you for your English most people will admire the fact that you're learning a new
language I remember a time when I was in a store and I needed help with something
I was a little nervous about speaking but I asked the store clerk for help anyway to my surprise the
clerk was very
kind and patient she didn't care about the mistakes I made she just wanted to help me that
experience taught me
something important people are generally supportive and understanding when you
try your best there's also something I've learned that has made a huge difference in my speaking
confidence visualization before I go into any situation where I need to speak English
I take a moment to close my eyes and visualize myself speaking confidently I imagine myself having
a
conversation making mistakes and still being understood I visualize myself smiling
staying calm and not worrying about the mistakes this mental preparation has
really helped me feel more confident and less nervous when it's time to speak let
me ask you this have you ever felt scared to speak English in front of
others maybe you've been in a meeting at a party or with friends and you were
worried about making a mistake now think back to those moments what was the worst
thing that could have happened if you made a mistake most likely nothing serious people might have
asked you to
repeat yourself but that's okay mistakes don't Define us what defines us is our
willingness to try to speak and to learn the more you speak the easier it will
become and remember no one is expecting you to speak perfectly the goal is to
communicate to express yourself and to connect with others each time you speak
You're Building your confidence and improving your English and before you know it speaking English
will feel just
as natural as speaking your own language so now I want you to ask yourself what's
one thing you can do today to overcome your fear of speaking English maybe you can start by
speaking with a friend
practicing a short conversation in English or even just saying a few sentences out loud take that first
step
and remember it's okay to make mistakes every step you take brings you closer to
speaking with confidence overcoming the fear of speaking English is truly a process for
a long time I didn't understand why I was so afraid to speak I had learned
English for years knew a lot of grammar vocabulary and rules but every time I
had to speak I felt paralyzed it's a feeling I know many of you can relate to maybe it happens when
you're asked a question at work or you need to introduce yourself in a group there's this wave of fear
that comes
over you and suddenly you feel like your mind is completely blank and you don't
 even know how to say hello when I first started learning English I felt like I
had to know everything every time I opened my mouth I wanted it to be
perfect I would practice in my head before speaking but the second I spoke
to someone I felt like everything fell apart the grammar wasn't right the
pronunciation wasn't perfect and I couldn't find the words I
needed but over time I started to realize something important no one
expects you to be perfect people want to communicate with you not judge you and
the more I spoke the more I realize that everyone makes mistakes you don't need
to speak flawlessly you just need to speak language is about communication and if
you can communicate that's the most important thing let me tell you a story
about how I finally made peace with my fear of speaking it was during a trip to
an English-speaking country I had been practicing my speaking for months but
when it came time to actually speak with native speakers I was terrified I had
been practicing my English in classes with my friends and even online but when
it came to a real conversation I felt lost my mind would freeze and I couldn't
remember the words I wanted to say one day I was at a local coffee shop
and I decided that I would speak to the Barista it wasn't anything complicated
just a simple Hi how are you but as soon as I started I felt that fear come back
what if I said something wrong what if they didn't understand me I stood there
for a moment Gathering my courage and finally said hi can I get a coffee
please the Barista smiled and said of course what kind of coffee would you
like my heart raced and I almost forgot how to answer but then I remembered
something I had learned I don't have to be perfect I just need to
communicate so I took a deep breath and answered I'll have a cappuccino please
and guess what the conversation continued and it went well after that I
felt a little bit of that fear lift I started to realize that making mistakes wasn't the end of the world in
fact the
more I spoke the less afraid I became the more I practiced the more natural it
felt every conversation no matter how small helped me gain confidence
overcoming my fear didn't happen over night and it took a lot of practice but
every time I spoke I got a little more comfortable and one of the most important lessons I
learned was that mistakes are a natural part of learning it's normal to say the
wrong word or use the wrong grammar everyone does it and when people
understand you even when you make a mistake that's when you know you're on the right path one
thing that really
helped me was making speaking a regular part of my routine at first I would only
speak English when I had to too but that made it harder it wasn't enough to just
 practice in the classroom or with friends I needed to find Opportunities to speak in real life situations
so I
started looking for places where I could practice I found a local English Language Group where
people from
different backgrounds would meet to practice their English the first time I went I was nervous of
course everyone
seemed so confident and I was worried that my English wouldn't be good enough
but something amazing happened we started talking about different topics and I realized that
everyone was in the
same boat some people spoke more fluently than others but everyone was making mistakes and
that was okay we
were all learning and we were all trying I remember one particular moment during
that meeting when I felt like I had truly overcome a big part of my fear we
were discussing our favorite hobbies and I was nervous about how to explain my hobby in English I
wasn't sure if I
would use the right words or explain it well but I started anyway and yes I made
a mistake I said I like to do basketball instead of I like playing basketball but
instead of feeling embarrassed I laughed and said oops that wasn't right but you
understood me right and everyone laughed with me they didn't care about the
mistake they cared about what I was trying to say that moment taught me
something important it's okay to make mistakes people aren't focused on your
mistakes they're focused on the message you're trying to communicate another important thing that
helped me was taking small steps I didn't expect to suddenly be able to
speak perfectly and I didn't try to push myself too hard instead said I set small
achievable goals one day I would aim to speak to someone in English for just
minutes another day I would challenge myself to introduce myself to someone
new these small winds helped me build my confidence and showed me that I was
improving it was a steady process but it was progress I also found that the more
I listened to English the more comfortable I became with speaking
listening to podcasts watching videos and listening to native speakers gave me
a better sense of how English sounds in real life situations it helped me become
more familiar with common phrases and expressions listening became just as
important as speaking because it gave me the tools I needed to have a
conversation for example when I listen to English podcasts I would pay close attention to how the
speakers interacted
they didn't always speak perfectly and sometimes they used filler words like um or you know this
made me feel more
relaxed because I realized that it wasn't about speaking perfectly it was
about being able to communicate ideas clearly and naturally the more I
 listened the more I began to pick up on the flow of conversations and that made me feel more
confident when it was my turned to speak over time I also started to speak more
confidently in different settings whether it was a casual conversation with a friend or a more formal
situation
at work I learned to trust myself I would prepare for important conversations but I wouldn't stress
over
making mistakes I learned that if I didn't know a word I could explain what I meant in a different way
if I couldn't
remember a phrase I could use simpler language people appreciated my effort
and that made me feel good now I want to share one last lesson that really helped
me it's something I call the just do it method the idea is simple when you feel
that fear Rising don't let it stop you instead of overthinking it just speak
you might feel nervous but the more you push yourself the easier it gets
sometimes it's the only way to break through that that barrier I found that
once I started talking I would relax and the words would come more easily all
right let's take a deeper dive into the Journey of overcoming the fear of speaking English it's a
journey that
many of us find difficult but it's also one of the most rewarding experiences you can have as a
language learner the
reason it's so challenging is that speaking requires a combination of skills vocabulary grammar
pronunciation and most importantly confidence often we feel like we have to
master everything at once but trust me that's not the case let me tell you
about a time when I was in a situation that really tested my confidence I had
just moved to a new city where English was spoken all around me and I was
excited about the opportunity to practice my English in real life situations how however when the
time
came to speak I found myself struggling it wasn't just about making mistakes
which I had learned to accept it was about how nervous I felt when someone spoke to me in English
the
simplest questions like where are you from or what do you do would send my
heart racing in these moments my mind would go blank even though I knew the answers I felt
trapped there was a voice
inside my my head telling me what if I don't sound good enough or what if I
don't understand them those fears although irrational were very real to me
I'm sure many of you can relate to that feeling whether it's at work at school or when you meet new
people it's that
feeling that stops you from speaking even when you know the words so how did
I push through that fear how did I go from feeling nervous to confidently
speaking English every day the first step I took was to change my mindset I
 stopped seeing every conversation as a test instead of thinking that I had to
pass each conversation I started to see it is a learning opportunity I had to tell
myself if I make a mistake it's okay it's just part of the process one
technique that really helped me was to start with small low pressure interactions
I didn't immediately go for the big conversations instead I would speak to
people in everyday situations for example I would talk to the cashier at the supermarket order a
coffee or ask
for directions at first I kept the conversations short and simple I didn't
worry about being perfect I just focused on communicating
and listening carefully each time I did this I felt a little more comfortable
these small winds built my confidence and reminded me that I could speak English just like anyone
else I remember
one day when I was at a coffee shop and I had to order my usual drink I had been practicing English
every day but I still
felt a bit nervous I walked up to the counter and the Barista smiled at me I
tried to speak but the words wouldn't come out clearly my first thought was oh
no I'm messing up already but then I realized something important the Barista
was patient she didn't look at me like I was making a mistake she was focused on
understanding what I wanted that gave me the courage to continue I took a deep
breath and said I'll have a cappuccino with almond milk please she smiled again
and said got it one cappuccino with almond milk that's it the world didn't
end she understood me perfectly
this moment was a turning point for me because I realize that people don't judge you the way you
think they do in
fact most people are supportive and just want to understand you if you make a
mistake they won't care they'll appreciate your effort to
communicate and if you don't know a word it's okay to explain it in another way
people are aren't expecting you to be perfect they're expecting you to be human another thing that
helped me was
remembering that speaking isn't just about the words you say it's about your attitude and your
willingness to
engage the more I focused on my attitude the easier it became to speak I started
to smile more make eye contact and be less self-critical I learned that
confidence isn't something you're born with it's something you can build and the more I spoke the
more confident I
became I also found that Listening to English in real life situations helped
me become more comfortable with speaking I didn't just practice in class or with
a tutor I started listening to conversations around me at the
supermarket on the bus at work hearing how people used English in everyday
 situations helped me understand the rhythm of the language and how people actually speak I could
hear the phrases
they used the way they pronounced words and the Expressions they relied on this
helped me a lot when it came to my own speaking I began to sound more natural and fluent simply
because I had absorbed
so much English from my surroundings one day I had to attend a meeting at work
where I had to speak in English in front of my colleagues I was nervous but instead of focusing on
my fear I
reminded myself of everything I had learned learned up to that point I had been practicing small
conversations
every day I had been listening to English daily I had made mistakes but I
had survived them and most importantly I had learned that the only way to get
better at speaking was to keep speaking I remember how my heart was pounding as
I stood up to speak but I took a deep breath smiled and started talking at
first my voice was shaky and I felt unsure of myself but the more I spoke
the more I gained confidence I realized that my colleagues weren't judging me
they were listening to what I had to say not how I said it and by the end of the
meeting I had shared my ideas answered questions and felt proud of myself for
pushing through the fear that experience taught me something valuable when you're
speaking a second language the key is to keep going don't stop because of fear
don't let the mistakes discourage you every time you speak you get closer to
where you want to be it's not about getting everything right it's about making progress and progress
happens
when you take action I also discovered that setting achievable goals helped me
stay motivated at first I set small goals like speaking for minutes a day
as as I got more comfortable I increased the amount of time I challenged myself
to have longer conversations with people and talk about more complex topics with
each new goal I felt a sense of accomplishment and that kept me motivated to keep
improving another important part of my journey was realizing that speaking English doesn't just
happen in a
classroom or with a tutor it happens in the real world when you in a
conversation it's easy to get caught up in your mistakes and forget about the conversation itself but
what I learned
Is that real life practice is the best way to improve when you speak to people
in stores at work or with friends that's when you truly improve it's in those
moments that you learn to think quickly react naturally and express yourself
clearly I also want to share how important it is to be kind to yourself during this process
language learning is difficult and there will be times when you make mistakes you
 might even feel like you're not improving but I can assure you every step you take no matter how
small is
progress you will get better every conversation every word you say and
every mistake you make is a chance to learn so be patient with yourself
celebrate your progress no matter matter how small it may seem because in the end
overcoming the fear of speaking English is a journey a journey that will open
doors to many new experiences let's continue to dive
deeper into the personal experience of overcoming the fear of speaking English
as I mentioned before it's a long journey and there are many challenges
along the way but each of these challeng Alles is an opportunity to grow and
become more confident in your language skills so I want to continue by talking
more about how I faced this fear and how it slowly became easier for me to speak
English in different situations as I continued to speak English in real life scenarios I noticed
something really important most of the time the people I was speaking to
weren't paying as much attention to my mistakes as I thought thought they were in fact they were
more focused on what I
was trying to say I realized that I had been making a huge mistake by focusing
so much on being perfect it was a shift in perspective that changed everything
for me for example I remember a time when I was at the doctor's office I
needed to explain some symptoms I was feeling but I was nervous because I wasn't sure if I could
describe them
accurately in English I knew that if I didn't explain clearly I might not get
the right treatment but instead of letting the fear take over I took a deep breath and told the doctor
exactly what
I was feeling in simple terms yes I stumbled a bit and I wasn't sure if my
pronunciation was perfect but the doctor immediately understood me she even
helped me by asking follow-up questions in a way that made it easier for me to communicate after
the appointment I felt
so proud of myself not because I had spoken perfectly but because I had
communicated effectively and that was the key I had realized that language is
not about perfection it's about getting your message across I had let go of my
fear of making mistakes and embraced the idea that mistakes are just part of the
learning process that experience made me more comfortable with speaking in other situations as
well I started speaking to
strangers more often not just in situations where I had to but also in
casual settings I would make small talk with people on the bus in the grocery store or at the park I
still made
mistakes of course but I began to see each conversation as a chance to
practice the more I spoke the less I cared about making
 mistakes I started to trust myself more and believe that I could express my
thoughts in English even if I didn't know every word or phrase another important thing I learned
along the way was that listening to other people speak English helped me become more comfortable
with speaking I
used to be afraid of speaking because I wasn't sure if I could understand everything others were
saying but over
time I started to realize that listening is just as important as speaking the
more I listen to English in different context texts whether it was at work in
social situations or just by listening to podcasts the more I became familiar
with the language when I listen to other people speak I noticed things like their tone the rhythm of
their speech and the
Expressions they used I also paid attention to how they handled moments when they didn't know a
word or made a
mistake often they would simply laugh it off or correct themselves and it was no
big deal this made me realize that I could do the same I could speak confidently even if I didn't know
every
word because I was part of a conversation not a test the more I exposed myself to English in various
situations the more comfortable I became with different accents and speaking Styles I also started to
notice the
importance of cultural context when speaking English for example in some
countries people speak very quickly while in other others they take their time to make sure they're
understood by
practicing listening to different accents and speech patterns I was able to adapt my own speaking
style to be
more flexible and natural let's talk a bit about how setting goals helped me push through my fear
when I started
speaking English more regularly I didn't Focus too much on grammar or vocabulary
at first I just wanted to be able to have simple conversations my goal was to speak to at
least one person every day even if it was just for a few minutes this small
goal kept me motivated and over time I built up the confidence to speak with
more people once I became more comfortable with daily
conversations I set bigger goals for myself I started to have longer
conversations sometimes lasting or minutes and instead of avoiding topics I
wasn't familiar with I started to challenge myself to talk about more
complex subjects for example one day I had a conversation with a colleague
about work projects I didn't know all the technical vocabulary but I tried my
best to explain my ideas using simpler words when necessary it was challenging
but I felt accomplished afterward because I had done something that pushed me outside of my
comfort zone another
 another helpful strategy I used was to record myself speaking I know it can feel strange at first but
listening to
yourself speak can be incredibly useful it allows you to hear where you might be
making mistakes or where you could improve I remember the first time I listened to a recording of
myself
speaking English I was nervous because I didn't like the sound of my voice but
when I listened carefully I realized that I had made a lot of progress my my
pronunciation had improved and I could understand myself more clearly this gave
me the confidence to continue practicing and to speak even more one of the most
significant shifts in my mindset was when I started treating speaking English like any other skill when
you learn a
new skill whether it's playing an instrument cooking or swimming you don't
expect to be perfect right away it takes time practice and patience the same goes for speaking
a language at first I tried to avoid speaking because I was afraid of making
mistakes but eventually I realized that mistakes are part of the process they
don't mean that I'm not good enough they mean I'm learning every time I spoke I
was improving even if I stumbled or didn't know a word I was moving
forward slowly but surely I began to trust myself more I began to feel that
it was okay to make mistakes because each mistake was an opportunity to learn
and grow and the more I made those mistakes the easier it became to speak
without fear I also found that practicing with a language partner or tutor helped me build confidence I
made
a lot of progress on my own but having someone else to practice with gave me the chance to make
mistakes in a
supportive environment I could ask questions without feeling embarrassed and my language partner
would correct Me
Gently offering helpful tips and encouragement this support made a huge
difference in my confidence level one of the most powerful moments in my journey was when I had
to give a presentation in
English it was a big challenge but by then I had learned that the fear of
speaking was just something I had to face headon
I practiced my speech over and over and each time I felt a little more confident
on the day of the presentation I was still nervous but I
was able to speak clearly explain my ideas and answer questions from the
audience I was proud of myself not because I had spoken perfectly but
because I had faced my fear and come out the other side stronger the key take away from all of
this is that overcoming the fear of speaking English doesn't happen
overnight it's a process it's about consistently stepping out of your
comfort zone taking small risks and being patient with yourself but I can
 tell you from my own experience that it's worth it the more you practice the
more you speak and the more you push through the fear the easier it becomes
so take those small steps every day speak with others make mistakes and celebrate
every bit of progress the more you do it the more confident you'll become and
eventually speaking English will just feel like second nature all right let's
dive even deeper the road to overcoming fear isn't just about speaking more it's
about changing the way you think about speaking at first when you're learning a
new langu language it feels like there's this huge gap between what you know and
what you want to say it can be intimidating to try to bridge that Gap especially when you're worried
that
people might judge you or laugh at your mistakes but over time I realized
something important no one is actually judging me as harshly as I thought they
were and even if they did notice a mistake it didn't really matter what
matters is that I was trying and that trying the effort was more important
than any mistake I could make over the next few months I
continued to challenge myself with more spontaneous conversations I remember the first time
I called a customer service number in English I had a simple issue but the
anxiety before the call was huge I worried that I wouldn't understand the
person on the other end or that I would mispronounce something important but
once I dialed the number and started talking everything became clear the
person on the other end was patient and even though I made a few mistakes they
didn't mind in fact they were very helpful I realized that people on the other side of the conversation
are
usually willing to help you especially when they see that you're trying your best this was another
important lesson
for me people are often more understanding and supportive than we give them credit for
when you're speaking in your second language you sometimes imagine that everyone around you is
expecting
Perfection but the truth is that most people appreciate the effort more than
the accuracy they know you're learning and they understand that mistakes are
part of the process one thing I started doing more often was asking for feedback after
speaking with someone I would ask them did I say that correctly or is there a
better way to say this it was a little scary at first but over time I realized
how valuable this feedback was it helped me identify patterns in my mistakes and
I could focus on improving them but it also showed me that people were willing to help me improve
rather than criticize
me for making errors this shift in perspective was really important it
helped me see mistakes not as failures but as opportunities for growth speaking
 to strangers was one of the best ways to push myself out of my comfort zone in the beginning I stuck
to familiar topics
and easy conversations but over time I started to talk about things that made
me a little uncomfortable I remember once discussing a political issue with someone I didn't know
very well politics
especially in a foreign language can be tricky you have to be careful about how
you word things and you need to be clear to avoid misunderstandings but that conversation
helped me realize that I could talk about serious topics too even if I didn't know all the
vocabulary the key was to stay calm stay focused on the message and not get too
hung up on the words one of the things I struggled with the most in the beginning was my accent I
was always concerned
that my accent would make it harder for people to understand me and while it's true that accents can
sometimes make
things a bit challenging I learned that they also add a unique and personal touch to your language I
started to
embrace my accent instead of trying to hide it I stopped worrying about sounding perfect and
focused more on
being clear and confident and the more I practice speaking the easier it became
for others to understand me no matter what my accent was like a really
powerful moment for me was when I realized that speaking English wasn't just about communicating
with others it
was also about connecting with people the fear of making mistakes often made me Focus too much
on myself on how I
sounded on whether I was saying things right but once I let go of that fear I
started to focus more on the other person in the conversation I began to think less about
my mistakes and more about the message I was trying to send and the person I was
trying to connect with for example I had a long conversation with a colleague
from another country at work we were discussing a complex project and I was
really nervous because I didn't know all the specific terms but as the
conversation went on I started to realize that it wasn't about using the perfect vocabulary it was
about
understanding each other and working together to solve the problem the more I
focused on the topic and the person I was speaking to the less I worried about making mistakes I felt
like I was truly
communicating and that was more important than anything else
welcome to the English pod Community this is Blake and today's episode is all
about improving your listening and writing skills through real life stories by listening to this episode
you'll not
only practice understanding Advanced English but also get the chance to learn
how to express your thoughts in a more natural way so are you ready to take
your English to the next level before we dive into the stories let me ask ask you
a few questions have you ever been in a situation where you had to make a quick
decision maybe it was in a meeting at work or even at home with your family or
have you ever experienced something unexpected that changed your whole day think about it how did
you respond what
words did you use these are the kinds of situations we'll talk about today in
today's episode I'm going to share a few stories from my own life where I had to
think fast and use English to express myself clearly these real life moments
will help you practice listening for important details and understanding how English can be used in
everyday
situations let's start with a story from when I was at a job interview a few
years ago I remember walking into the room and the first thing the interviewer asked me was what's
the biggest
challenge you faced at work at that moment I needed to think quickly
I didn't want to give a typical answer I wanted to show my experience and my
problem solving skills so I told him about a time when I had to manage a
project with a tight deadline the team was small and there was a lot of
pressure I explained how I organized the tasks communicated clearly with my colleagues and made
sure everyone knew
their responsibilities it was a real challenge but it taught me a lot about time management and
teamwork this is a
great example of how you can use English to describe a challenging situation and show how you
overcame it when you
practice this kind of Storytelling you improve both your listening and writing skills you're not just
learning words
you're learning how to communicate effectively in real situations now let's move on to a story
about an unexpected event that happened to me a few years ago I was traveling with my wife and we
had planned a trip to a beautiful city in Europe everything was going smoothly until we missed our
flight we had no
choice but to wait for the next one which was several hours later at that
moment we had to find a way to pass the time we decided to explore the airport
and ended up finding a small Cafe while we were sitting there we started talking to the Barista who
who was from a
different country even though we didn't speak the same language perfectly we managed to
communicate in English it was
amazing how a simple conversation helped us pass the time and made the whole situation feel less
stressful what can you learn from this story well it's not always about
speaking perfectly it's about communicating clearly and confidently no
matter the situation whether it's talking to a barista and an airport or
discussing a work project English can help you connect with people in any part
of the world a few years ago I attended an international business conference it
was a huge event with people from all over the world I was nervous because I had never spoken to
such a large group
of Professionals in English before my first session was about effective team
management and during the discussion I had to ask a question to the speaker
I remember thinking what if I make a mistake but then I realized that the most important thing was to
get my point
across clearly I raised my hand and when I got the chance I asked how do you
handle team conflicts especially when people have different opinions on how to approach a project
the speaker smiled
and said that this is one of the most common challenges in leadership and he shared some helpful
strategies by asking
the question I not only got Val valuable insights but also felt more confident about using English in a
professional
setting this is a perfect example of how speaking English in work-related
situations can open doors for New Opportunities and learning even though I
wasn't sure of my question at first I focused on being clear and confident and
it worked out well let's move on to another story this one's about a conversation I had with a neighbor
who
had just moved into the area at first I didn't know much about her but we
quickly struck up a conversation about the neighborhood and how she was adjusting to the new place
she mentioned
that she was from a different country and it was interesting to hear about her
experiences we talked about the differences between our cultures and how we both enjoyed
gardening I told her
about my small garden at home and she shared some great tips on growing herbs
we used English to connect and share our thoughts and it was a simple yet
meaningful conversation that helped us build a new friendship what's the takeaway from this
story well it shows that English can be used to connect with people even in
informal situations you don't always have to have a big topic to talk about
sometimes just sharing little things about your day or your hobbies can lead to great
conversations now let's talk about about another example that involves making a difficult decision a
few months ago my
wife and I had to decide whether to buy a new car or repair our old one we spent
a lot of time talking about the pros and cons in English trying to weigh all the options in the end we
decided that it
was more coste effective to repair the car instead of buying a new one it wasn't an easy choice but we
communicated well and made a decision together this is a perfect example of
how English can be used to express opinions weigh options and make important decisions in life by
practicing these types of conversations you're improving your ability to think critically in English and
communicate
clearly whether you're talking about a simple hobby or making a lifechanging decision English helps
you express your
thoughts and feelings accurately now let me share One More Story this one is about an unex
expected
encounter that happened while I was traveling abroad I had lost my wallet in a busy street and I was
really worried
about how to find it luckily a stranger who spoke English helped me out he asked
if I needed help and I explained the situation he pointed me in the right direction and even called a
nearby store
to see if they had found my wallet in the end I was able to get it back that
experience really taught me how important it is to stay calm and ask for help when you need it in this
story
English helped me connect with someone I didn't know and solve a problem in an unfamiliar country
it's a great reminder
that speaking English can help you in all kinds of situations no matter where you are in the world
these stories show
how English is used in real life situations from casual conversations
with neighbors to more serious decisions in your personal and professional life
by listening to to these stories and reflecting on the situations you're not only practicing listening but
also
learning how to use English in different contexts now I encourage you to think
about your own experiences have you ever had to make a quick decision or maybe
you've had a conversation with someone that helped you solve a problem whatever it is try to think
about how you would
explain those situations in English it's a great way to improve your speaking and writing
skills stay tuned for more stories and practical examples that will help you
improve your English even further all right let's dive even deeper into how
English can be used in a variety of real life situations and how it can help you navigate through
challenges build
relationships and express yourself more clearly in this next part I'll share
more personal stories with you but this time let's go beyond on just the
language and look at how communication itself plays such an important role in
our everyday lives a while ago I was in a situation that many of you might have
experienced before dealing with a difficult customer it was one of those
days when everything seemed to go wrong I had just finished a long meeting and I
was sitting at my desk when I got a call from a client this particular client had been unhappy with the
progress of a
project we were working on and I knew that this conversation wasn't going to
be easy when I answered the phone I immediately noticed the frustration in
their voice I didn't even have time to say much before they started explaining how dissatisfied they
were with the
project the challenge was that the client was speaking really quickly and I
had to focus carefully to understand everything they were saying at first I
was a little nervous but I reminded myself that the most important thing was to stay calm and listen
carefully I had
to let them explain their concerns before I could respond I also had to use English in a way that was
professional
but still empathetic instead of interrupting I said I understand your
frustration and I'm really sorry this has happened let's go over everything
together and see what we can do to fix it that sentence though simple was
important it helped the the client feel heard and assured them that I was willing to work with them to
solve the
problem English in this case helped me manage a difficult situation and keep
the communication going smoothly I think we've all been in situations where we need to address a
problem but the way we
communicate can make all the difference in how the other person reacts after the call I followed up
with an email
explaining the steps we would take to improve the project I made sure the email was clear and
concise this was
another opportunity to use English in a professional context by using clear
language and being transparent about the next steps I was able to calm the
situation and maintain a good relationship with the client it wasn't
easy but it taught me an important lesson in business or in life how you
speak and how well you listen can shape the outcome of a situation and this is a
perfect example of how listening and speaking in English isn't just about understanding The Words
it's about
understanding the feelings behind those words that kind of communication skill
is vital for building trust and respect especially when things aren't going
perfectly speaking of building trust let me share another story that focuses on
how important communication is in relationships particularly with people you care about last year my
wife and I
had to move to a new apartment in a different neighborhood it was a stressful time for both of us
because we
had to organize everything packing hiring movers and dealing with all the
details that come with moving we were trying to balance work home life and the
move and there was a point where we started to argue I wanted to finish everything quickly while she
was more
focused on making sure everything was organized it was clear that we had different priorities in how
to approach
the move and it was causing some tension in that moment we both realized that the
key to resolving our differences wasn't just about getting the tasks done it was
 about understanding each other's feelings and finding common ground we took a step back and I
used English to
express my thoughts clearly and calmly I said I understand you want to make sure
everything is organized but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the tasks can we find a way to
balance both she
responded with something similar I hear you but I think we need to make sure
everything is in order especially with all the boxes and Furniture after a few
minutes of talking we agreed on a plan that allowed us both to feel comfortable we didn't solve
everything in one
conversation but by taking the time to listen and express our feelings clearly
we were are able to reduce the stress and move forward this is another great example of how
communication whether in
English or another language helps build understanding between people it's not
always about being perfect in the words you use but about making sure you convey your feelings
and thoughts in a way that
is respectful and open when you listen carefully and respond thoughtfully it's
easier to find solutions to problems together now let me share another story
about a moment when English helped me solve a problem in a completely different setting a few
months ago I was
in a busy City for a work trip and I had just arrived at my hotel I was tired
from the flight but I needed to get some important documents from the hotel's Business Center I
walked up to the
reception and the staff member greeted me with a smile however when I asked about the business
center she told me
that it was closed for maintenance at first I was frustrated because I had no other option but to get
those documents
printed for an important meeting the next day but I didn't want to take out my frustration on her so I
took a deep
breath and calmly explained my situation in English I said I understand that the
business center is closed but I really need to print some documents for a meeting tomorrow is there
any other
place nearby where I could do that the staff member thought for a moment then smiled and said
actually there's a small
printing shop just around the corner I could thanks to the clear communication I was able to solve my
problem without
making the situation worse this story shows how English helps you navigate everyday challenges no
matter where you
are whether you're in a new city or at a hotel being able to ask for help in
English can make your life a lot easier and just like that a small problem
turned into a simple solution all because of good communication in every situation the key
is to stay calm and use English in a way that helps you get your point across
 clearly and effectively sometimes it's not about what you say but how you say it whether
you're dealing with a work issue a disagreement with a loved one or just trying to solve a problem
while
traveling English can be a powerful tool to help you get the results you need
let's think about how you can apply these lessons to your own life can you think of a time when you
had to use
English to solve a problem or explain something difficult maybe it was in a
professional setting or with a friend or family member the more you practice
using English in different situations the more confident you'll
become and remember the goal isn't perfection it's about being clear
confident and willing to listen and learn whether you're at work at home or
traveling English is there to help you connect communicate and make things
happen stay with me and I'll share more stories on how English can help you in
your daily life let's take this a step further and dive even deeper into how
English plays a key role in our lives especially when it comes to problem solving decision making
and connecting
with others this time I'll share more stories from my own life with even more details about how using
English helped me overcome different challenges communicate better and build
relationships these experiences can help you see the Practical side of learning English and how it's
not just about
speaking but truly understanding the language in various real life
contexts a few months ago I was part of a team working on a new product launch
for our company the project had been going on for a few months and as the launch date approached
things started to
get really hectic we were getting closer to the deadline and everyone was feeling
the pressure there was a lot of back and forth between departments marketing
design and customer support the main issue was that we all had different priorities and sometimes it
felt like we
weren't communicating well enough to make fast decisions one afternoon we had
a meeting that wased supposed to clear up all the remaining issues but as soon
as the meeting started we realized that we weren't getting anywhere everyone had their own ideas
and opinions and we kept
going around in circles repeating the same points I could sense the frustration building up some
people were
raising their voices others were just staying quiet unsure of how to add to the conversation I knew
that something
had to change if we were going to move forward that's when I decided to step in and try something
different I remembered
a tip I had read in a leadership book about using questions to guide a conversation and keep it on
track so I
 asked the group what's the one thing that needs to be done today to keep the project on track it was
a simple
question but it helped everyone stop and focus on the most important issue at
hand once we started talking about the one thing that really mattered the tension began to fade we
all agreed on
the next steps and divided up the tasks accordingly the meeting ended much more
smoothly than it started what I learned from this experience was how important
it is to have clear communication especially in high press situations the way I phrased my question
in English helped the team refocus and find a solution it wasn't just about the
words I used but the way I guided the conversation with purpose English
allowed me to be calm clear and direct which ultimately helped resolve a
potentially chaotic situation it's a great reminder that English isn't just a
tool for expressing thoughts it can also be a tool for managing situations and
influencing outcomes now let's shift gears a bit here's another situation
where English helped me in a completely different way a couple of years ago my
wife and I were traveling through Europe and we decided to visit a small town in Italy it was our first
time there and we
didn't speak Italian so we knew we'd need to rely on English to get by the town was beautiful but the
streets were
narrow and everything was written in Italian we had to be creative in how we communicated
especially when we needed
to ask for directions or help one day we were walking around the town and I
noticed we were getting lost we were looking for a pafic Cafe but the map
wasn't very clear and none of the locals spoke English I wasn't sure what to do
but I knew I had to ask someone for help I saw a friendly looking older man sitting outside a
restaurant so I
approached him and said excuse me we're looking for this Cafe but we're not sure
where it is can you help us to my surprise he smiled and said ah yes I
know the place it's just a little further down the road he then gave us Clear Directions in simple
English and
we were able to find the cafe without any trouble the whole conversation lasted less than minutes
but it made
all the difference in our day what's more that little moment reminded me that
even when you don't speak the local language speaking English can help you get by it allowed us to
interact with a
local in a friendly way and we felt more comfortable navigating an unfamiliar
place that experience showed me how powerful English is when it comes to travel whether you're in
a small town or
a big city English is often a common language that can help you connect with people from different
backgrounds it
 also reminded me that when you're traveling it's not just about understanding The Words it's about
building a connection with others this connection even through a simple conversation can make your
experience
much more enjoyable speaking of travel there's another interesting story I want
to share with you about a time when I had to use English in a more serious situation it happened
when I was flying
back from a work trip I was at the airport ready to board my flight when I realized that my passport
was missing I
panicked for a second but then I remembered to stay calm I quickly went to the information desk and
explain the
situation to the staff I seem to have lost my passport I said
I'm not sure where it went can you help me the staff member behind the desk was
very professional and immediately asked me a series of questions to help me locate the missing
passport as she asked
for details in English I could feel my nerves start to calm we were able to go through the procedure
smoothly and after
a few tense minutes she found my passport in the lost and found area I
was so relieved and it was all thanks to clear Communication in English what made
this situation interesting was how important the language was in ensuring that the process went
smoothly without
being able to explain the situation clearly in English I might not have been able to find my passport
quickly the
situation could have gotten much more complicated if I had been frustrated or anxious but by
focusing on clear
communication I was able to stay calm and work with the staff to solve the problem it's moments like
these that
remind me of the Practical side of learning English whether you're dealing with something as simple
as asking for
directions or as serious as losing important documents English can make a
big difference in how you handle the situation it's not just about speaking the language it's about
being able to
think and act quickly when you need it the most let's take a moment to think about
some of the everyday situations you face have you ever had to use English in a
stressful situation or maybe you found yourself in a new place where you didn't
know anyone and you had to rely on English to get by these situations are a
perfect way to practice real life English and improve both your listening and speaking yaban skills
when You Face
challenges like these English isn't just a tool for communication it's a bridge
that connects you to the world around you whether you're making decisions at work navigating a
new city solving problems
with a partner or even finding a solution to a personal issue English
 helps you navigate through these moments with confidence these stories are a great way to show
you how English can be
used in all kinds of settings by listening to these experiences you're
not just practicing your language skills you're also learning how to think and act in English in ways
that are both
practical it's important to remember that English isn't just about memorizing vocabulary or grammar
rules it's about
being able to connect with others share your thoughts and make things happen as
you continue to improve your listening and speaking skills try to think of your
own stories times when English helped you get through a challenge solve a problem or just have a
great
conversation with someone a while ago I was helping a friend move into a a new
apartment it was a Saturday morning and we had planned the whole day to carry boxes arrange
furniture and clean up the
place the apartment was located in a busy area and parking was limited which
made things a little stressful from the start we arrived at the building but there were no available
spots in the
parking lot and the only option was to park on the street which was already full of cars we tried to
find a spot but
it seemed impossible my friend was getting frustrated and I could tell we were wasting time just
driving around I
remembered that there was a parking attendant nearby who was directing cars in and out of the area
instead of
waiting any longer I decided to ask him if there were any hidden spots or suggestions for parking I
walked over
and said excuse me we're trying to park near the building but there are no spots
available is there a good place to park around here the park working attendant
smiled and pointed to a space that was a bit further down the street it wasn't perfect but it was free
and it was only
a short walk back to the building that small interaction though simple made a
huge difference in our day it saved us a lot of time and frustration the key
takeaway from this story is that speaking English helped me approach the situation calmly and find a
solution
quickly this type of clear respectful communication can resolve challenges
like finding parking asking for directions or solving any small problem
that pops up in daily life it wasn't just about asking for help it was about
asking the right question in a way that made the other person feel respected and willing to assist the
story also
highlights how language can play a role in reducing stress have you ever been in a situation where
you're feeling
stressed and the right words or a helpful conversation help calm things
 down English allows us to express our thoughts clearly even when we're feeling
under pressure when you're learning English you're not just improving your
speaking skills you're also learning how to manage your emotions and navigate the
ups and downs of life in a way that feels natural and controlled another
example of how English can be a tool for solving problems happened when I was at a workshop on
professional development
this Workshop had attendees from different countries and English was the common language used
for communication I
remember sitting next to someone from Japan and we started talking about our work experiences as
we spoke I noticed that
we were both struggling to explain certain ideas in our second languages
and this led to a bit of confusion but then I realized that we could use English in a more descriptive
way to
help make things clearer I started explaining my ideas ideas by using examples and visuals and I
could see my
conversation partner's face light up as things started to make sense we both began to open up and
share more ideas
and the conversation became much more productive what I realized in that moment was that English
isn't just a
means of communication it's a way of making complex ideas simpler when we use
language creatively and thoughtfully we can Bridge gaps in understanding and
come up with Solutions that we might have missed if we weren't able to express ourselves clearly in
situations
like these English doesn't just help you communicate it helps you understand
others better when you're learning English you're learning not just to speak your own thoughts but to
listen to
others more carefully and engage with different perspectives that's one of the most powerful aspects
of language it's
about connection and building understanding with people from all walks of life
English allows you to do this whether you're at work in a classroom or in
social situations I've also had many
opportunities to practice my English and business settings for instance a few months ago I had to
give a presentation
to a group of international colleagues I was nervous as it was my first time
presenting to such a large and diverse audience and I wasn't sure how well I
could convey my ideas in English but I had prepared for the presentation by writing out the key
points and
practicing my speech multiple times when the time came to present I tried to stay
calm and focused on delivering my message clearly during the presentation
I noticed that some of the attendees were taking notes others were nodding
and a few were asking follow-up questions one of the questions I got was about the data I was
 presenting can you explain how these numbers relate to the overall Trends one
colleague asked I took a deep breath and answered sure let me break that down for
you these numbers represent the key growth areas we've seen over the last few months if we look
closely at this
chart I went on to explain the data in a simple stepbystep way what stood out to
me was how effective the conversation was by using clear and concise English I
was able to answer the question and make sure everyone understood the point I was trying to make
this experience reminded
me that English in business isn't just about being able to speak fluently it's
about being able to present ideas clearly and respond to questions
confidently in business it's important to be able to communicate your thoughts
and Solutions in a way that others can understand and act upon this leads me to
another point about how English can help in situations where time is of the essence have you ever
been in a
situation where you had to make a quick decision maybe you were deciding whether or not to take a
new job offer or
perhaps you had to make an important purchase English can be incredibly helpful in these moments
especially if
you're trying to gather information or ask the right questions let me share a story about a
time when I had to make a quick decision a few years ago I was on a business trip
in a foreign country and I had some free time in the afternoon I decided to go shopping and while I
was browsing I came
across a highquality watch that I'd been eyeing for a while the price seemed a
little too good to be true so I needed to ask the salesperson a few questions I
walked up to the counter and said excuse me I'm interested in this watch but I
just want to make sure it's genuine can you tell me about its features and warranty the salesperson
was happy
to answer and we had a detailed conversation about the watch's authenticity materials and the
warranty
offered after hearing the information I felt much more confident in my decision
to purchase the watch the uh Clarity of the conversation in English made the decision-making
process much easier in situations like these being able to speak English well
gives you the tools to make inform Med decisions quickly it allows you to ask
questions get the information you need and take action with confidence whether
you're making big Life Choices or simply trying to get more information in a timely manner English is
a tool that
empowers you to act with Clarity and purpose these are just a few examples of
how English can be used in real life situations from business meetings and travel to Quick decisions
and problem
solving English plays a crucial role in helping us navigate Daily Life by
 practicing listening and speaking you're not just learning a language you're learning how to use it to
improve the
quality of your life and interactions with others I remember a time when I had
to attend an International Conference and the entire event was conducted in English I was excited
but I also felt
nervous because I knew there would be many experts there all discussing complex ideas I wasn't
sure if I would
be able to follow along or if I could communicate effectively especially since
English wasn't my first language when I arrived at the conference venue I saw people from different
countries and it
hit me just how much English is the common ground we all share to exchange ideas as I sat down in
the large
conference Hall I noticed a panel discussion taking place on the latest developments in technology
the panelists
were speaking speaking in a very technical Manner and I could feel my anxiety building up but I
reminded
myself that I had prepared for this moment and I could follow along by focusing on the key terms and
context as
the panelist discussed artificial intelligence and data analysis I started
writing down the important points one of the panelists a woman named Sarah
explained the future of data science by saying in the next decade we will see
machine Lear learning applications growing exponentially this will change
how businesses approach customer experience and data
collection I was amazed by how much I could understand and follow the discussion despite how
complex the topic
was what helped me was focusing on the structure of the conversation and
listening for key words I recognized it reminded me how listening carefully can
help us absorb new information even if we don't understand every single
word after the panel ended there was a Q&A session and I was able to ask a
question that was related to one of the concepts discussed earlier I stood up and asked how can
small businesses start
using machine learning effectively without having a big budget the response I got was incredibly
helpful and made me
realize how powerful English is when it comes to learning new things I not only understood the
answer but I also felt
confident enough to ask my own question this experience taught me that listening in English can
open up opportunities
even in fields where you may not be an expert it also reinforced how important it is to practice
listening and speaking
to gain the confidence you need to engage in conversations by being in an environment
where everyone communicates in English I learn to pay attention to the structure
 of conversations which helped me improve my listening skills in situations like
these the more you practice the better you'll be at picking up on the details
even in complex discussions another important example of how English plays a role in real life
situations occurred when I had to deal with a problem at the airport I had been
traveling for work and when I arrived at my destination I found out that my luggage had been lost the
airline staff
at the airport seemed busy and I knew that I would have to speak clearly to get help I approached
the counter and
the airline agent asked how can I assist you today I calmly replied my luggage
didn't arrive with me can you help me locate it the agent looked at the system and explained it
seems your luggage was
delayed but it's on the way it should be arriving on the next flight even though
I was frustrated I understood that it was a situation that required patience
the agent continued you'll be notified as soon as it arrives and will arrange
for delivery to your hotel I thanked her and waited but within a few hours I
received a notification that my bag had been delivered to my hotel this
situation could have been stressful but because I was able to communicate effectively in English I
was able to
handle the problem calmly and get the help I needed what's amazing about these
types of experiences is how English allows us to manage challenging situations whether it's dealing
with
lost luggage handling a customer service issue or solving any problem in a
foreign country English is the tool that helps us express our needs and find
Solutions in situations where you're not sure what to do or you're feeling a little lost the ability to ask
for help
in English is invaluable if I hadn't been able to speak clear cely to the airline agent I would have
wasted more
time trying to figure things out on my own instead the moment I explained the problem the agent was
able to respond
quickly and give me the information I needed this is a great example of how English can save time
and reduce stress
making it easier to navigate through difficult or unfamiliar situations now let's think about how
English can help when you're trying to negotiate something or make a deal a few
years ago I needed to buy a new laptop and I went to a store in a city I was visiting for business the
salespeople at
the store were friendly but they didn't speak my native language so English was the only option I was
looking at a few
different models and I had already done some research on the prices but I wanted to make sure I
was getting the best deal
I asked the salesperson is this the best price you can offer or is there a discount
available the salesperson smiled and said let me check for you we have a
 promotion that can lower the price by % if you buy it today that was a great offer and I was
happy to take it the point of this story is that knowing how to negotiate in
English can make a big difference especially when you're trying to get a
better deal it's about knowing how to ask the right questions and being confident in what you're
asking for the
more you practice the better you'll get at using English in these types of real world
situations negotiation is not just about saving money it's about communicating
your needs and understanding the options available to you whether you're buying
something negotiating a salary or even dealing with a contract English can be
your bridge to making better decisions and by practicing these conversations you'll become more
comfortable with
expressing your wants and needs in English which will help you in any
situation all right let's take a deeper dive into the everyday uses of English
and explore more real life scenarios that show just how important it is in helping us communicate
solve problems
and understand the world around us I want to make sure that by the end of
this episode you'll be able to see how English fits into many different aspects ects of life making
everything easier to
navigate whether it's at work at home or when traveling the beauty of mastering
English is that it opens up opportunities and allows us to build connections that wouldn't otherwise
be
possible let's start with a simple yet incredibly useful situation asking for
directions we've all been lost at some point in a new place especially if we're
traveling one time I was in a city I had never visited before and I needed to get
to a meeting I had the address but I didn't know exactly where the building was I decided to ask
someone on the
street for help I approached a man and politely said excuse me could you help
me I'm trying to find this building he looked at the address I showed him and
with a smile he said oh yes you're not too far away just go straight right down
this Street turn left at the traffic lights and the building will be on your right I thanked him and
followed his
directions which led me directly to the place I needed to be this simple interaction wasn't just about
asking for
directions it was about knowing how to communicate in a way that made the other person
understand what I needed while
also making sure I understood their response without English I would have struggled to understand
or explain
myself in that situ situation by listening carefully and asking the right questions I was able to solve
my problem
quickly and easily English gives us the power to ask for help in situations like this which can reduce
stress and save us
 time next let's think about how English plays a role when you're dealing with
emergencies I know it sounds a little intense but understanding how to
communicate clearly in critical situations can be a real Lifesaver imagine you're on vacation
abroad and something unexpected happens you fall and you need medical
assistance a few years ago I was in a country where I didn't speak the local
language and I tripped and hurt my ankle badly I knew I needed help but I also
knew that the medical staff probably wouldn't speak my native language so I had to rely on English I
limped to the
nearest hospital and approached the reception desk saying hello I've hurt my ankle can I see a
doctor please the
nurse at the desk immediately understood and she guided me to a doctor in the
examination room the doctor asked me can you tell me where it hurts the most I
explained the pain in my ankle and how I had fallen the doctor responded with we
will take an x-ray to check for fractures and you may need some ice and red best to heal thanks to
English I
could clearly explain my injury and follow the doctor's instructions without any issues this experience
showed me how
crucial it is to be able to communicate effectively especially in emergencies so
you can get the help you need without confusion this scenario highlights the importance of having
basic medical
vocabulary in English even if you're not a doctor or medical professional
learning key phrases like I'm Hur I need help where does it hurt and what
should I do next can make a huge difference in urgent situations English helps us navigate these
types of
challenges no matter where we are in the world let's shift gears now and talk about how English
helps us in the
workplace imagine you're at a job interview trying to land your dream position in this situation being
able to
express yourself clearly and confidently is extremely important I remember a time
when I Was preparing for a job interview with an international company I had the
skills and experience but I knew that the interview would be conducted in
English and I wasn't sure if my speaking skills were strong enough during the interview I was asked
can you tell us about a time when you worked on a challenging project I took a deep breath focused
and replied sure one
project that stands out was when I had to manage a team for a product launch there were many
challenges including
tight deadlines and changing client requirements but I worked closely with my team to stay organized
and deliver on
time we managed to exceed the client's expectations and the project was a huge
success the a interviewer seemed impressed and we continued discussing
 the role after the interview I realized that even though the convers ation was entirely in English I had
felt confident
and comfortable expressing my experiences and qualifications if I hadn't practiced my
English and prepared for the interview I may have struggled to communicate effectively English was
the bridge that
allowed me to Showcase my skills and get the job I wanted this example demonstrates the
importance of mastering
English for professional purposes whether you're applying for a job having a meeting or negotiating
ating a deal
English is the tool that enables you to present yourself clearly and make a positive impression it's
essential to
practice not only the technical vocabulary related to your field but
also the conversational skills that will help you connect with people in a professional setting now let's
consider
how English helps us in social situations a few weeks ago I was invited to a dinner party at a friend's
house
the guests were from different countries and they all spoke English so we communicated in that
language throughout
the evening one guest named Anna shared a story about her recent trip to South
Africa where she had gone on a safari she explained it was an unforgettable
experience we saw Lions elephants and giraffes up close but the most amazing
moment was when we watched a lioness hunt her prey her story captivated the room and everyone
around the table asked
questions about her trip excited to hear more I asked what was
the most exciting part of the Safari for you Anna smiled and said definitely the
moment we saw a lioness hunting it was both incredible and a little frightening
but it showed the raw power of nature this dinner conversation was a perfect
example of how English can connect people from different backgrounds everyone at the table
shared their
personal stories and it felt like we we were all part of one big conversation by
using English we were able to break down cultural barriers and connect on a deeper level stories like
these remind
me of how important it is to practice speaking and listening to English
because it opens up opportunities to bond with others and learn from their experiences whether it's
at a party a
networking event or a simple get together being able to share your
thoughts ask questions and engage in discussions is a vital part of building
relationships English makes all of this possible the more you practice the more
natural it becomes to communicate in Social settings and the more you'll realize just how important
language is
in forming connections lastly let's talk about how English plays a role when we're
 traveling traveling to new places is one of the best ways to put your language skills to the test I
remember remember a
trip I took to a foreign city where I had never been before when I arrived I needed to get a taxi to my
hotel and
there was a language barrier between me and the local drivers I knew I could get around the city
more easily if I spoke
English I walked up to a taxi driver and said hello I need to go to this address
please the driver nodded and said no problem I know that place during the
ride I asked how long does it usually take to get there he responded about
minutes depending on the traffic I felt relieved because even though we didn't
share the same first language English was enough for us to communicate and get to where I needed
to go traveling is one
of those experiences that can either be stressful or enjoyable depending on how
well you can communicate with the people you meet English makes it easier to
navigate through airports order food at restaurants book accommodations and
explore new places it's a universal language that helps Travelers around the
world interact even when they don't speak the same native language so if you
plan on traveling knowing English will make your journey much smoother and more enjoy imagine
you're at a cafe grabbing
a cup of coffee and trying to relax after a long day you sit down at a table
and start scrolling through your phone when suddenly you notice someone sitting across from you
also alone you exchange
polite nods and after a moment that person says excuse me mind if I join you
you smile and reply sure I don't mind at all as the person sits down they
introduce themselves my name is Michael by the way you respond nice to meet you
Michael I'm Blake now you've started a simp simple conversation with a stranger
without English this interaction would have been much more difficult as you might not have been
able to understand
the other person or make yourself understood but with English the
conversation flows easily Michael tells you a bit about his day I've been
working all day but now I'm trying to relax a little you ask what kind of work
do you do he responds I'm a software developer I work from home most of the
time but today I had to go to the office for a few meetings you continue to chat and the conversation
becomes more
engaging as you both share details about your lives what started as a brief
interaction turned into a nice conversation by the end of it you've learned a little about Michael's
career
and perhaps even exchanged contact information to stay in touch this kind of spontaneous
interaction would be
 difficult if you weren't comfortable speaking English but English provides the tools you need to
connect with
others in casual situations whether you're at a cafe on public
transportation or simply waiting in line it breaks down the barriers and helps you start conversations
with people you
otherwise might not have had the chance to talk to this is a great example of how English helps us
engage with others
in informal settings think about how many conversations like this happen every day around the world
whether it's
talking to to a fellow traveler chatting with someone at the gym or even meeting
someone new at a social event English is the common thread that makes it possible
for people from different backgrounds to connect these small everyday interactions may seem
insignificant but
they play a huge role in expanding our social networks and learning from others
now let's shift focus a little bit and talk about the workplace again but this
time in a more specific cont context dealing with customer service customer
service is an essential part of many businesses and it's crucial to know how to communicate
effectively with service
Representatives let's say you bought a product online and when it arrived you noticed it was
damaged you immediately
pick up the phone to contact customer support you dial the number and after a few rings someone
answers the call hello
this is Sarah how can I assist you today you explain hi Sarah I recently ordered
a laptop from your website and when it arrived the screen was cracked Sarah
replies I'm so sorry to hear that let me take a look at your order number and arrange for a
replacement right away the
conversation goes smoothly because both of you are speaking English which allows
you to explain the issue clearly and Sarah can offer a solution right away
this kind of situation highlights the importance of being able to communicate
effectively especially in a professional setting when dealing with customer service whether it's on the
phone in an
email or in person the ability to express yourself clearly in English is
vital to getting the help you need customer service interactions happen all around us whether it's
returning a
faulty item asking about product features or resolving a billing issue in
each case English helps us get our message across and ensures that the conversation remains
professional and
productive without a good understanding of English these interactions might become frustrating
leading to
misunderstandings and delays but with solid English skills you can handle
these situations with ease and
 confidence now let's look at another essential skill that English can help with giving presentations
giving
presentations in English can be intimidating for many people but it's an essential part of many
professional and
academic settings let's say you're at work and have been asked to give a presentation
on a recent project you completed you've prepared your slides and are ready to explain your work
but now you need to
speak in front of your colleagues the day arrives and as you stand in front of the room you begin
good morning everyone
thank you for being here today I'm excited to present the results of the project we've been working
on you
continue as you can see from this slide we achieved a significant increase in
sales after implementing the new strategy let me explain how we got there
throughout the presentation you use clear and concise language to describe the data answer
questions from your
colleagues and provide insight into how your team accomplished the project goals
English plays a major role in this scenario because it's the language used for business presentations
worldwide if
you couldn't communicate in English it would be difficult to express your ideas present data or
answer questions English
not only enables you to explain your work but it also allows you to engage with your audience and
make a strong
impression it's a valuable skill that helps you stand out in the workplace and
demonstrate your expertise the ability to give presentations in English is not
just for business professionals it's also an important skill in academic
environments if you're a student you might be asked to give a presentation on a topic you've
researched being able to
present your ideas clearly in English will help you succeed in those situations whether it's for a class
assignment a conference or even a job interview mastering this skill opens up
opportunities to showcase your knowledge and build your reputation in both professional and
academic circles now
let's think about how English plays a role in everyday activities like shopping I'm sure many of you
have had
experiences where you visited a store and needed help from a salesperson let
me share a story about a time I was shopping for a new jacket I walked into the store and
approached the
salesperson excuse me I'm look for a jacket do you have anything in a
medium size the salesperson a friendly woman named Karen smiled and said of
course we have several options in medium let me show you our new collection she
led me to the section with jackets and started pointing out different styles this one is popular right
now
 it's lightweight and perfect for the spring season I asked do you have this
in Black Karen nodded yes we do let me check in the back for
you a few minutes later she returned with the jacket I was looking for here
you go black medium siize she said shopping is an everyday activity that
English often makes easier especially if you're in a store in a country where English is the primary
language being
able to ask questions understand prices and make purchasing decisions
confidently is vital English enables us to navigate the shopping process
smoothly whether we're looking for something specific or just browsing around without English we
might struggle
to get the help we need or even miss out on great deals because of miscommunication this also
applies when
you're online shopping most e-commerce websites are in English and knowing the language helps
you understand product
descriptions read reviews and communicate with customer service if something goes wrong English
is the
language that connects buyers and sellers around the world and being able
to use it confidently helps you make the most of your shopping
experiences let's keep diving into the many ways English is present in our daily lives and how
improving your
language skills can create even more opportunities for Success English is a
tool that Bridges the gap between people from different countries backgrounds and
experiences when you improve your English you're not just learning a language you're also opening
doors to
new possibilities that you might have never imagined before let's say you're traveling to a new city
and you need to
ask for directions without English navigating a foreign place can be
incredibly frustrating but with a solid understanding of English you'll find it
much easier to ask for help understand directions and feel more conf confident
getting around imagine you're in a bustling City like New York trying to find your way to a museum
you see
someone walking down the street and decide to ask excuse me could you please
tell me how to get to the museum the person smiles and replies sure it's just
a couple of blocks away walk straight down this street take a left at the second light and you'll see
the museum
on your right you thank them thank you so much and start walking knowing
exactly what to do this small interaction demonstrates how English
helps in navigating new environments whether you're in a city for business tourism or any other
reason the ability
to ask for directions or basic help in English allows you to avoid getting lost
 or feeling frustrated and Beyond just asking for directions knowing English
also gives you the confidence to interact with people around you whether you're ordering food at a
restaurant
asking for recommendations or even booking a taxi this confidence extends to other
situations as well let's talk about emergency situations where having a good
understanding of English can really make a difference picture yourself in an emergency like
needing medical attention
while you're traveling being able to communicate with healthc Care Professionals in English is
crucial
whether you're explaining your symptoms asking for help or understanding the
doctor's advice the ability to communicate in English could be the difference between a smooth
experience
and a stressful one for example you might go to a clinic and explain I've
been having some chest pain and I'm feeling very dizzy The doctor replies I
see let's check your vitals and see if there is any anything concerning the ability to express
yourself in English
ensures that you get the care you need without misunderstandings it also helps the
medical professionals diagnose you more accurately which is key in ensuring your
health and safety but let's not just focus on emergencies English is also
invaluable when it comes to planning trips or navigating airports imagine
you're at an airport and your flight is delayed you approach the customer service desk and ask hi I
see my flight
has been delayed could you tell me when we will be boarding the representative
responds your flight has been delayed by an hour and we will board at
p.m.
instead of
p.m. without English you might have missed this important
information or misinterpreted the details English makes sure you're always
in the loop whether it's a change in flight time gate location or other travel
details another way English can make a big difference in your life is in accessing education with
English
proficiency you can attend courses watch educational videos and read books that
would otherwise be inacessible let's take the example of online learning
there are countless online courses in English covering everything from technology to Arts to
business if you
want to learn a new skill say coding you can easily find free or paid resources
in English to get started for example let's say you're learning how to use Excel you sign up for a
course and in
the first lesson the instructor explains to start creating a formula you simply
 type or followed by the equation you want to calculate you can follow the instructions clearly
because the content
is in English and you're able to pick up new skills that will help you in both your personal and
professional life
English helps you unlock a world of information and learning that is otherwise restricted to those
who do not
understand the language Beyond education English also
plays a huge role in your career development imagine you're applying for a job at a multinational
company in your
interview the interviewer asks what can you bring to the table that would make you an asset to our
team you confidently
respond I have strong communication skills a proven track record in project
management and I'm always looking for ways to improve both myself and the team around me the
ability to answer
confidently in English during a job interview is crucial especially if you're applying for positions
where the
primary language of communication is English your chances of Landing that job increase
dramatically if you can
articulate your skills and qualifications clearly English is not just a language it's a tool for
professional growth whether you're applying for a job communicating with
colleagues or giving a presentation English helps you to express yourself effectively and ensures
you make a
strong impression this importance of English extends beyond the workplace to networking as well
many professional
networking events whether online or in person use English as the main language
for communication imagine you're at a conference and you meet someone who works at a
company you're interested in
you start a conversation hi I'm Blake I work in marketing and I've been following your
company for a while I'm really impressed by the work you've been doing the person
smiles and says thanks Blake I'm glad to hear that we're always looking for
talented individuals to join our team let's keep in touch if you weren't confident ENT in your
English that
conversation might not have happened but because you know how to communicate in English
you've made a valuable
connection networking is all about building relationships and knowing English is one of the best
ways to
connect with professionals around the world networking opens doors to new job opportunities
collaborations and even
friendships English acts as the gateway to these possibilities another area where English
plays a huge role is in understanding and using technology whether you're
sending an email setting up a new device or troubleshooting a technical issue
 English is often the default language used let's say you're trying to set up a new phone the
instructions are in
English and they guide you step by step through the setup process without
English you might struggle to understand the directions or make mistakes that delay the process
but with English you
can follow the instructions with ease for example to set up Wi-Fi tap on the
settings icon then select Wi-Fi and choose your network from the list you
can now enjoy the full functionality of your device and troubleshoot any issues with confidence
because you understand
how to read and interpret the technical terms and instructions beyond the basic use of
Technology English also enables you to stay updated on the latest trends and
Innovations many tech companies forums and online communities operate in
English and being able to participate means you can be part of the conversation about the latest
software
gadgets and digital tools whether you're reading a tech blog watching a tutorial
or joining an online Forum English gives you access to a world of information
that keeps you on The Cutting Edge of Technology English doesn't just help in Practical
situations it also helps in developing critical thinking and problemsolving
skills as you continue to learn and practice English you'll begin to see how it helps you process
information think
logically and express ideas clearly for example when reading an article or news
report you can evaluate the information identify key points and form your own
opinion about the topic you're a able to understand different perspectives analyze situations
critically and
communicate your ideas in a way that others can understand this kind of cognitive growth isn't just
useful in
academic or professional settings it helps you in everyday life too when
you're faced with a problem whether it's fixing a broken appliance or deciding how to manage your
time English helps
you express your thoughts research Solutions and make informed decisions
you're not just using English to communicate you're using it to think more clearly and solve
problems more
effectively let's take a deeper dive into how English is everywhere in our daily lives and how
improving your
language skills can open up new experiences and opportunities that might have felt Out Of Reach
before the beauty
of learning English is not just in the language itself but in the doors it
opens whether in personal situations professional environments or in moments
when you're exploring new parts of the world when we talk about English as a tool for connection
it's important to
 understand just how Central it is in the modern world the internet for instance is primarily built on
English most
websites social media platforms and online services use English as their
default language if you've ever tried to search for information solve a problem
or join an online community you've probably encountered English now imagine
not understanding the language well enough to participate you might miss out on helpful
information discussions or
even entire communities of people who share your interests but with good English skills you're
able to read
understand and engage with online content in a meaningful way for example
let's say you're looking for advice on how to improve your home cooking skills
you do a quick Google search and most of the top results are English language blogs forums or
YouTube channels you
click on one of them and in the article it explains how to make a simple pasta dish step byep the
recipe includes tips
for perfecting the sauce timing your cooking just right and even adjusting
the recipe to suit your taste now imagine not being able to read the instructions you might have
missed a
crucial step or ingredient and the dish might not have turned out as well as
you'd hoped this is just one example of how English helps you access valuable resources and
learning materials from
cooking to self-improvement the ability to understand English gives you a wealth of knowledge at
your
fingertips another way that English is key to improving your life is in the professional World in
many Industries
today English is considered a global language which means that professionals
from all over the world need to communicate in English whether it's in meetings emails or reports
let's imagine
you're working in a company with colleagues from different countries and you need to collaborate
on a project
without English communicating with your team could be incredibly difficult even
impossible but with strong English skills you can easily express your ideas
understand feedback and contribute to the discussion all in the same language
whether you're working in finance Health Care technology or education being able
to speak and write well in English makes you more competitive and better equipped to collaborate
on a global scale take
the example of a team meeting let's say you're working with a colleague from Germany another
from Brazil and a few
others from different countries during the meeting your manager asks how do we
approach the next phase of the project you raise your hand and confidently say
 I believe we should prioritize the research phase first this will allow us to gather the most important
Data before
we begin implementing the solution thanks to your solid understanding of English you've just
made a significant
contribution to the project and your team can move forward with a clear plan the role of English in
the workplace
isn't just about participating in meetings or writing reports it's also
about accessing key information many companies post job opportunities
training materials and updates in English for instance if your company
offers an online training course there's a good chance that it will be in English
imagine wanting to improve your skills and advance in your career but not being able to access
these resources because
of a language barrier this is why having a good grasp in addition to professional life English
plays a significant role in education many of the world's top universities and
colleges offer their courses in English so if you're hoping to pursue higher
education English proficiency can be essential even if you're not aiming for
a degree there are many online courses webinars and seminars in English that
can help you develop new skills or gain deeper knowledge in a subject area of your choice for
example let's say you're
interested in learning about digital marketing there are countless free and paid courses in English
that provide
in-depth training on the topic by improving your English you open up a wide range of educational
opportunities
that can help you enhance your career prospects and personal development even
outside of work and education English opens doors for travel and exploration
whether you're exploring a new city or traveling to a foreign country for the first time knowing
English can make your
experience much easier and more enjoyable imagine you're visiting a popular tourist destination
and you need
to find out how to get to a specific location instead of feeling confused or
lost you can approach a local and ask could you please tell me how to get to the museum the
person responds in
English and you're able to follow their dire CS without any confusion this not
only saves you time and stress but also allows you to fully enjoy your trip
knowing that you can communicate effectively and understand what's going on around you
traveling with English
proficiency also means you're able to interact with people in meaningful ways
whether you're chatting with fellow Travelers making new friends or talking to locals English helps
you form
connections that might otherwise be difficult to make for instance if you're traveling in a
country where English is widely spoken you can have deeper conversations with
 people learn about their culture and share your own experiences these connections enrich your
travels and
create memories that last a lifetime let's also talk about English in the context of entertainment
while I
understand that you don't want to focus on movies or TV shows it's important to note that English
still plays a big role
in the world of entertainment and media many of the world's most popular books
podcasts and online articles are published in English this means that by
improving your English you gain access to a wealth of media content that can
both entertain and educate you whether you're reading an exciting novel or
listening to a podcast on a topic that interests you English allows you to immerse yourself in
stories and
information that that can expand your knowledge and perspective in fact many
podcast hosts use English to discuss Global issues share inspiring stories
and offer advice on how to improve personal and professional skills by listening to podcasts in
English you're
not only improving your listening skills but also learning about different topics
cultures and ideas let's say you listen to a podcast episode about time management the host
shares tips about
setting priorities avoiding distractions and maintaining Focus you start using
some of the strategies and soon you notice you're becoming more productive
in your daily life this is an example of how English can be a tool for personal growth in learning
English also enhances
your ability to participate in global conversations the world is increasingly
interconnected and English serves as a common language for people to discuss issues that affect
us all whether it's
discussing climate change human rights or technology English allows you to be
part of these important Global conversations for example let's say
there's an online debate happening about the importance of Environmental Conservation by
participating in the
conversation in English you're able to share your ideas and learn from others
around the world who have different perspectives and experiences
another important benefit of learning English is that it helps you stay informed many news outlets
scientific
journals and academic papers are published in English if you want to stay
up to date with the latest developments in your field or if you're interested in global issues like
politics climate
change or Health Care knowing English ensures that you're able to access reliable information
from trusted
sources whether you're reading the news on online following updates on social media or listening
to a podcast English
 is often the language used to deliver the latest news English is also key when
it comes to writing many of the most common forms of written communication
such as emails reports presentations and social media posts are done in English
if you're not confident in your writing skills it can be challenging to express your ideas clearly and
effectively but
with good English writing skills you can communicate with people more easily whether it's for
professional purposes
or simply sharing your thoughts on social media for instance if you're applying for a job being able
to write a
strong well organized resume and cover letter in English is essential to making
a good impression on potential employers similarly if you're submitting an
academic paper or contributing to a project strong writing skills can help you present your ideas in
a clear
professional manner by continuously improving your English you're setting yourself up for success
in many areas of
your life from personal interactions to professional development education and
even entertainment English is a skill that empowers you to connect with the world and access
opportunities that can
enrich your life in countless ways when you think about English it's
not just a tool for communication it's a bridge that connects you to people from all over the world in
our everyday lives
we're constantly interacting with others whether it's through casual conversations professional
discussions
or even when we're purchasing something from a store imagine being in a situation where you
want to ask for
something but the language barrier holds you back this can be especially challenging when you're
traveling
working or even trying to enjoy your favorite hobbies take for example
traveling abroad you might find yourself in a completely new environment surrounded by people
who speak a
language you don't know however if you're able to communicate in English
you already have a significant Advantage English has become the common language
in many parts of the world so knowing it can help you navigate these new situations much more
easily
let's say you're traveling to a country where English isn't the primary language you walk into a cafe
and want to order
food but the menu is in a language you don't understand if the cafe staff
speaks English you can easily ask could I have the soup of the day please you
might even want to ask them about local recommendations and being able to do that smoothly
makes your trip much more
enjoyable the beauty of English is that it's not limited to only certain regions
 of the world people from diverse countries backgrounds and cultures use
it as a tool for communication by learning English you open up a wide
range of possibilities to interact with people globally both for personal and
professional reasons you could meet someone from another country while on a vacation and
strike up a conversation in
English perhaps you're both discussing your experiences traveling and might even make plans to
meet up in another
country these are the types of connections that English enables connections that
transcend geographical boundaries English is particularly important when
it comes to work no matter what industry you're in English can often be the key
to success for example if you're in marketing Finance or technology you will
often encounter materials in English such as emails reports and
presentations let's say you're working in a multinational company and need to
give a presentation to your colleagues from different countries if you're fluent in English you can
present your
ideas clearly and confidently your colleagues will appreciate that they can
follow your thoughts and your chances of making a good impression are much higher
English also provides access to a wider range of resources in many professions
the majority of cuttingedge research industry news and studies are published in English imagine
being in the field of
healthcare where medical research is crucial being able to read and understand these studies
which are often
published in English will give you the edge in staying informed about the latest developments and
best practices
this knowledge can help you provide better care or make informed decisions
in your field similarly in fields like law engineering or education English and
Ables you to access a wealth of knowledge that might otherwise be unavailable to you think about
how you
stay informed about the world news outlets an English report on global
events so by understanding the language you can get a broader perspective of
what's happening around the world whether you're reading news about climate change Global
health or politics
being able to access English language content ensures that you're up to date with major Global
issues this can help
you better understand how these issues might affect your life your community or
even your career furthermore being able to discuss these topics with others in
English makes you an active participant in the global conversation you'll also find that
English plays a major role in your personal development the internet is filled with online courses
and tutorials
on just about every topic under the sun whether it's learning to code improving
 your public speaking skills or exploring new creative Hobbies like photography or painting there's
a wealth of information
available in English many of the best educational platforms such as corsera
udemy and Con Academy offer their courses primarily in English by learning
the language you open up a world of self-improvement and continuous learning
you can gain certifications explore new career paths or simply learn for the sake of personal
growth let's say you're interested in personal finance and want to learn how to manage your
money better you could
start by reading books on the subject and many of the best known personal finance experts like
Robert kosaki or
Dave Ramsey publish their work in English by reading their books and following their advice you
can make
smarter financial decisions these resources are available in English and
can offer you valuable lessons on managing debt investing and saving money
so not only does learning English help you in your career but it also improves
your ability to make informed decisions in your personal life another benefit of learning English
is the ability to engage with a vast number of books and written materials
English literature spans centuries and includes an enormous variety of genres
from classic novels like Pride and Prejudice to Modern bestsellers like The
Hunger Games whether you enjoy fiction non-fiction history or science English
literature offers something for Everyone by learning English you can read these books in their
original form without
having to rely on translations not only do you enjoy the stories as they were intended to be
understood but you also
improve your language skills by immersing s in the text reading in English enhances your
vocabulary helps
you understand sentence structures and allows you to experience different writing styles the same
goes for
podcasts as you know podcasts have become one of the most popular ways to learn and grow in
any subject area the
number of English language podcasts covering a wide range of topics is incredible whether you're
interested in
entrepreneurship self Improvement technology or social issues you can find
a podcast that suits your interests let's say you want to learn about leadership by listening to
English
podcasts hosted by successful leaders you'll gain insights into their thought
processes decision-making skills and strategies for managing teams this kind
of knowledge can be invaluable especially if you're working in a leadership role or aspire to be a
leader Yourself by tuning into to podcasts regularly you're learning from
experts and improving your listening skills at the same time on a similar
 note improving your English listening skills through podcasts and audiobooks
is a powerful way to enhance your communication abilities let's imagine you're preparing for a job
interview or
an important meeting at work being able to listen carefully to the interviewer's
questions and respond thoughtfully is crucial regularly Listening to English
content helps you develop your comprehension skills so you can pick up on subtle hints and
nuances and
conversations over time this practice allows you to become more comfortable with different
accents speeds of speech
and vocabulary choices which is essential when dealing with diverse speakers English can also
make a huge
difference in your social life imagine you're at a party or a social Gathering
and you meet someone from another country who speaks English if you can hold a conversation
in English you can
connect with this person exchange ideas and even form new friendships whether
you're talking about your favorite hobbies sharing travel experiences or just having a casual chat
knowing
English allows you to build rapport and enjoy social interactions with people from all walks of life
language also
plays an important role in expressing emotions and Thoughts with English you have a wider range
of words and
expressions to convey how you feel you can tell someone about your excitement when you're
starting a new project your
concern about a situation or even your frustration when things don't go as
planned by mastering English you gain a deeper understanding of how to express
yourself in a variety of situations from casual chats to serious conversations
you're able to communicate more effectively and confidently which can make a big difference in
how you're
perceived by others and that brings us to the end of
today's episode I hope you enjoyed this exploration of how mastering English can
truly change your life and open up countless opportunities whether it's improving your career
connecting with
people globally or just enjoying personal growth English is the key that unlocks many doors
remember learning
English is a journey and every step you take no matter how small brings you
closer to achieving your goals keep practicing keep engaging with the
language and most importantly keep believing in your ability to improve if
you want to continue improving your listening and speaking skills don't forget to tune in to our
Channel we
upload new content regularly to help you on your English learning Journey thank
 thank you for listening to the English pod Community stay curious keep learning and we'll see you
next time