I love English, and I love myself. For as long as I can remember, public speaking was a real struggle for me. The moment I had to talk in front of people, I felt extremely uncomfortable. My vocabulary suddenly shrank, I couldn’t build proper sentences, and the logic of my story would fall apart. And this happened no matter which language I was speaking.
In the U.S., especially as an exchange student, you have to talk a lot. Often share stories, often to more than just one person. At first, I felt tense with every phrase I said. I was scared people wouldn’t understand me, or that my English would sound too simple—or, even worse, too academic and lifeless. But within just a week, I got so many compliments about my language skills that I stopped worrying. I wasn’t embarrassed anymore, even when telling long stories. And I stopped being afraid of making mistakes! (That’s truly the most important step to speaking freely.)
After a couple more weeks, I became unstoppable 😂 I actually started enjoying my English! I wanted to talk more, building long and complex sentences, just because I loved how it sounded.
I began experimenting with vocabulary, pronunciation, picking up phrases I overheard, and even copying intonation and speech rhythm. I don’t have the goal of sounding exactly like an American, but I do want to make my English flexible and adaptable—so I can understand anyone, and be understood from the East Coast to the West.
The biggest step toward this was learning to let go: to stop controlling every single word, to stop obsessing over grammar rules, and to JUST TALK. It really helps if, in the beginning, you talk a lot about something you truly enjoy. For me, it was medicine, sports, and nutrition. That way, you immediately spot gaps in your vocabulary and quickly learn the words you need in your favorite topics.
The main thing is not to be afraid, not to feel shy, and to reach out to people—even if it feels tough at first.
Try it yourself! Write about how you found the courage to start speaking freely in another language and imagine yourself as an exchange student.