Maria's Journey: From Scared to Confident
"I arrived in London in January 2024 with basic English and zero friends. I was so scared to speak that I ordered food by pointing at pictures for my first two weeks. Everything changed when I found EnglishInLondon."
"Within two weeks of joining the conversation circle, I had my first real English conversation over coffee. Six months later, I'm helping other new Brazilian students find their confidence too."
Maria's tip: "Don't wait to feel ready. Join a conversation group on your first week. The community will catch you when you stumble, and celebrate when you soar."
Ahmed's Journey: Finding His London Family
"I came to London for my Master's degree, but I was struggling with academic English and feeling isolated. The buddy program didn't just improve my English – it gave me a brother."
"My buddy James showed me his London – the hidden pubs, the weekend markets, the football culture. Now it's my London too. We still meet every week, even though my English is fluent now."
Ahmed's London Discovery List:
- • Borough Market Saturday mornings
- • Arsenal matches at the local pub
- • Sunday roasts with James's family
- • Night photography walks along the Thames
Ahmed's advice: "A buddy isn't just for English practice. They're your bridge to understanding British culture and feeling like you belong here."
Yuki's Journey: From Silent to Speaking Up
"In Japan, I was good at English grammar and reading, but speaking terrified me. I thought I just needed to memorize more words. The community taught me that English is about connection, not perfection."
Before
- • Avoided group conversations
- • Studied alone for hours
- • Afraid of making mistakes
After
- • Leads conversation groups
- • Learns through community events
- • Celebrates progress over perfection
"I discovered that my accent isn't something to hide – it's part of my story. Now I help other Japanese students embrace their voices too."
Yuki's wisdom: "Perfect English doesn't exist. Confident English does, and it comes from practice, patience, and people who believe in you."