Improving your English : it’s all about self-confidence
I don’t have any certifications in English (TOEIC, TOEFL, BULATS…). I only followed a “European section” when i was at the High-School and the normal courses throughout the years like everyone.
Yet, i improve considerably my English, since 9 months and a new life in Brussels. I’m the guy who has always thought that the most reliable thing and the best way to improve your English is to live in a foreign country, not to pass some certifications.
Outside work, i watch Netflix series in English, i have a phone application to practice each day : Duolingo. But the most important thing i learn since i live in Brussels, is that improving your English is closely linked to your own self-confidence.
French Context
In France, many people devalued your English, you see regularly in the news that the English level of French people is so bad compared to others countries… The context is not favourable, the courses in English at school are not the best and in complement, we push you to learn English abroad.
This is one of the main reasons i decided to leave France few months ago.
I left France to Belgium and before my departure, i heard some people tell me that you cannot improve your English in Brussels because it’s so close to France, so many French people live there. Few months after…what a bullshit about that way of thinking !
Brussels Context
You can considerably improve your English because Brussels is one of the most cosmopolitan city in the world (the 2nd after Dubai). For many people, Brussels is just a step in a life, just a passage. Since i’m here, i met people who come from the Nederlands, Ireland, Czech Republic, Finland, Spain, Italy, Montenegro, Croatia, UK, Romania, India, USA… so many different cultures and ways of living. When I walk in the city, it’s almost impossible for me to recognize the home country of a person, you have so many accents & languages everywhere.
In that context, you must speak in English to be understandable and there is nobody to tell you that your English level is poor… and other remarks. You try by yourself, you find your own words at the beginning and step by step, your level improves. It’s all about your self-confidence, the more you have confidence in yourself, the more you try to speak in English. In complement, people are not here to point out your weaknesses, but always encouraging you to make efforts, rectify your mistakes…
Find a place of living with different nationalities
A good thing to do is not to stay with French people and find a multicultural place of living. It’s not so easy because you have a lot of French people who live there and you can’t escape it. But with perseverance, patience and good plans, you can find living places with different nationalities. This is my case actually : i live with an Irish Guy, a Finnish Guy, a Romanian Guy and a French Guy, our owner is Turkish so we speak in English most of the time.
Bonus
As part of my job, i have the opportunity to work & speak in French & English.
To be continue !
