My English Learning Journey

  Leveling Up Vocabulary (Literally) I never expected a video game to help me learn English. But here I am, playing The Legend of Zelda and growing my vocabulary faster than ever. I started with basic words like “sword” and “shield,” but now I know “elixir,” “shrine,” “ancient ruins,” and more. Every time I find a new word, I pause the game, look it up, and add it to my “Gamer Glossary.” It’s like learning without feeling like I’m studying. My favorite trick is turning on the English subtitles and paying close attention to the characters. I even started reading walkthroughs and watching YouTubers in English to understand tips and tricks. Now my vocabulary list looks like something from a fantasy novel! Words like “quest,” “legendary,” “stealth,” and “forge” are part of my daily English practice. I’ve even improved my reading and listening skills without using a textbook. If you like gaming, this is a great way to learn naturally. Just switch your game language to English, kee...

  I wanted to practice with a native English speaker, so I downloaded a language exchange app. That’s how I met Jake, a friendly guy from Chicago with a great sense of humor. We agreed to talk on Saturday, but I totally forgot about time zones! He called at 6 a.m. my time, and I looked like a sleepy raccoon with messy hair and one eye half open. I almost didn’t answer, but I’m so glad I did. The awkward beginning turned into one of the most fun English conversations I’ve ever had. We both laughed a lot, and Jake made me feel super comfortable. He taught me casual expressions like “What’s up?”, “No biggie,” and “Chill out,” while I introduced him to Ecuadorian slang like “¡Qué bestia!”, “chuta,” and “bacán.” We even ended up having a spontaneous mini-rap battle (mine was terrible, but he clapped anyway). We talked about our favorite foods—he loves deep-dish pizza, and I told him about encebollado and llapingachos. Then we shared music from our countries, and he was amazed by reggaet...

  The TongueTwister  The other day, I discovered the power of tongue twisters. What started as a joke turned into the funniest challenge ever. I began with “She sells seashells by the seashore” , but I sounded like I had a mouth full of peanut butter. So, I made it a game. I wrote different tongue-twisters on sticky notes and put them everywhere, on my mirror, laptop, fridge, and even my dog’s bowl. Every time I walked by, I had to say one correctly. I failed so many times, but eventually, I could say “Irish wristwatch” like a pro. My pronunciation improved without me even noticing! Best part? My sister joined in and now we have competitions every morning. We laugh, we trip over words, and we learn. Moral of the story: you don’t need boring drills. Just twist your tongue and have some fun. Try it, your English (and your cheeks) will thank you!

The Karaoke Speech Hack Giving a speech in English used to terrify me. My hands would sweat, my voice would shake, and I’d forget everything. Then I had a silly idea: what if I practiced like I was singing karaoke? I printed my speech, added little beats and pauses, and used a hairbrush as a microphone. I even stood in front of the mirror like I was performing in a concert. And guess what? It worked! When presentation day came, I felt more confident and relaxed. I remembered the rhythm and delivered the speech with flow. My classmates were surprised, and I even got a compliment from the teacher! Practicing like a song helped me remember the words and made speaking less scary. Now, every time I have a speech or presentation, I warm up with karaoke-style practice. Try it! It’s silly, fun, and surprisingly effective. Bonus: your mirror might become your biggest fan.