TOPIC 6: Write about your experience learning English. Why are you studying English?

How do you
feel about English? What is easy for you to understand in English? What are difficulties you have in
English?

Dear Mr. Phan,

Here is my story about my English journey. I hope you will enjoy it!

I have studied English since I was 6, when I went to Primary School. At that time, I enjoyed English so
much. It’s not because I like this language, but because I was good at English. With me, English is a way
to make me become outstanding in my class. I studied English very hard to maintain my position in
English. I used English as a tool but not a language to communicate. It was my first impression of English.

Day by day till the day I went to Secondary School, my “English pride” has broken. Because all students
in my class were excellent in English. I took the 1 st place in English in my class, from the bottom. I felt like
I had fallen down from heaven: stressed, upset, disappointed and scared. I started to get scared
whenever I studied English. I did want to study this language anymore. Because I knew I couldn’t be the
best in this field as before. And I started to ignore this subject at school. Therefore, my English level
went down and down and down. The lower my English result was, the less I cared about English. This
was an infinite loop!!!

Fortunately, after about 3 years stuck in that infinite loop, I found that English is useful and needed. So I
started to learn English again. This time, I didn’t aim to be the best student in English anymore. I aimed
to use English fluently as a foreigner. I began with watching my favorite reality show: The MasterChef US
and listening to English songs to learn how foreigners use English and apply it. I started to practice
English with my friends also. As you know, they were very good at English. I asked them to talk and chat
with me in English. I absolutely created an “English environment” for me.

One day, I was happy to find that I love English because I love its culture, not because I was good at
English. After a long time watching forgeiners show and movies, I started to have a great interest in their
culture. I found that “Language is all about culture”. So far, one of my hobbies is "language comparison"
between English and Vietnamese. I've been practicing translating these two languages recently. 

I’m on my way to learning English. Now, with me, English isn’t just a tool as before, it’s a way to
communicate with the world, and it’s a way for me to learn about culture. After all, I have for myself the
great lesson: Learn with your love and then you will be good at it. 

In this journey, I’m glad to meet you and learn from you,

Ha Uyen.