Hello and welcome to the ENGLISH IMPROVERS CLUB! My name is Sylvia, and I'm here to assist you on your journey to improve your English.

Moving to Nottingham in the UK...

Like many of you, my journey to English fluency was filled with ups and downs. When I first arrived in the UK over 20 years ago, my English was very basic. Those early years were really tough – I struggled with simple conversations, often feeling out of place and ‘lost in translation’.

I studied English through textbooks at a college in Nottingham. Although the traditional academic approach of memorising vast lists of vocabulary and complex grammar rules provided a solid foundation, it felt lacking. I needed a more engaging, practical way to absorb and retain this wonderful yet confusing language.

And so, I started getting creative with my learning...

I read novels and biographies of interesting people while listening to the audio versions to build comprehension. I watched popular shows and movies with subtitles, picking up vocabulary through context. My passion for music led me to dissect lyrics, pushing my understanding further. Anything that immersed me in English through stories and cultural experiences became my classroom. Before long, I found myself naturally incorporating the nuances of idioms and slang into my daily conversations.

It was like a lightbulb going off!

Engaging with content I found interesting was the key to solidifying my grasp on English - from pronunciation to complex sentence structures and the confusing world of slang. This revelation highlighted the transformative power of active engagement over simple memorisation. Experiencing the English language through captivating stories ensures it resonates in a way textbooks never could.