The Day I Dreamed in English

 

My Notebook of Shame (and Glory)

One of my most “interesting” habits while learning English is keeping a notebook, yes, an old-school, paper notebook where I write down every weird or funny word I come across. At first, it was just vocabulary from my English class, but now it’s full of words I’ve heard in songs, shows, memes, and even on TikTok.

Some of the first entries were simple: “apple,” “dog,” “thank you.” But now? It’s packed with things like sassy, awkward, and binge-watch. One page just says “What the heck does ‘YOLO’ mean??” (I get it now, by the way).

I also write the lyrics of songs I like and try to translate them. Trust me, translating Beyoncé is harder than it looks. But it’s so satisfying when I finally understand what a whole song means. It's like unlocking a secret message.

My notebook also includes drawings, little jokes, and even mistakes I’ve made—like the time I said “I’m boring” instead of “I’m bored.” (Spoiler: my classmates laughed for a week).

This little notebook may be messy, but it tells the story of how far I’ve come. And every time I look at it, I feel proud. So if you’re learning a language, I highly recommend your own “notebook of shame and glory.” It's your personal time capsule of progress!