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.

😉The Day I Dreamed in English I always heard people say, “You know you're getting better at a language when you dream in it.” Well, guess what? It finally happened, and it was so weird. In the dream, I was lost in New York (classic) and had to ask for directions. I remember walking up to a stranger and saying, “Excuse me, where’s the subway?” The stranger looked at me and replied in perfect English. The dream-me understood everything. I didn’t panic, I didn’t freeze. I even said “thank you” and walked away like a boss. When I woke up, I was honestly shocked. My brain had created English while I was sleeping. And the best part? I didn’t even make grammar mistakes! (I think). That dream gave me a strange confidence boost. It made me realize that English is no longer something “outside” of me—it’s becoming part of me. It sneaks into my thoughts, my playlists, my jokes, and now… my dreams. So, if you’re learning English too, hang in there. One day, you might find yourself order...

  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). ...

  If someone had told me years ago that watching Netflix could help me improve my English, I would’ve laughed and said, “Yeah, right… while I eat popcorn!” But here I am, writing this blog post in English thanks to countless hours of watching series and movies. And yes, I still eat popcorn. One unforgettable moment was when I started watching Friends . At first, I had subtitles in Spanish, but after a few episodes, I bravely switched to English subtitles. Suddenly, “How you doin’?” became part of my daily vocabulary (and yes, I’ve embarrassed myself using it in real life). Joey would be proud. Eventually, I took it to the next level—no subtitles at all. It was hard at first, but my ears slowly adjusted. I realized I was picking up not only vocabulary, but also pronunciation, slang, and even cultural references. I once surprised my English teacher by using the phrase “spill the tea” correctly in a sentence. Her face was priceless! What I love most is how interactive the experience b...