Hi guys, I haven’t spoken English for more than 15 years after getting a 7.0 on the IELTS. I only took the test to get a certificate for a job application (which actually didn't need to speak a single English word). I threw all my hard-earned vocabulary and grammar rules into the trash 😅 Now I think my English has dropped to around a B1 level. I probably only have about 1,800-2,000 active words at the moment. Let me be clear about my purpose this time: I just want to speak English fluently so I can make more international friends not for any “fake certificate.” This month, I’m trying to start learning English again, but honestly, I'm lost. There are so many ways to learn English nowadays compared to 20 years ago: so many resources, channels, books, teachers, and classes online. I’m trying to find the best way to make real progress while spending as little money as possible. So far, I’ve figured out that dictation and shadowing work best for me (thanks to Coach Shane and dailydictation.com). I’ve also realized that pure listening and reading (the input method) don’t really work for me. I just find myself procrastinating by jumping around millions of YouTube videos, and that’s exhausting. So, what’s your best method for learning English? I’m curious to hear your thoughts.

I just finished my English Camp speaking class, and I’m so happy! Today’s topic was Christmas—such a fun theme, especially with Christmas right around the corner 🎄. In class, Coach Chris talked about how people celebrate Christmas in their communities: rocking Christmas hats, festive crazy socks, and those hilarious "ugly Christmas sweaters". Then we moved on to Christmas carols! Since we don’t really celebrate Christmas in China, most of us only know Jingle Bells—it’s super popular and easy to sing along to. Chris picked a few songs like All I Want for Christmas Is You, Blue Christmas, Jingle Bells and Jingle Bells Rock, and he taught us the last two. Singing along with him was so much fun (even with the lyrics, we sometimes messed it up, and we even lagged behind the rhythm a little)—I couldn’t stop laughing! 🤣🤣🤣All of us laughed loudly!! I totally felt the Christmas vibe. Just wanted to share this happy moment with you all. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance! A huge thank you to Coach Chris too! I also really hope it snows here soon—snow would be perfect for Christmas! Imagine the vibe: people gathering at home, singing carols, exchanging gifts, sending warm wishes, and enjoying a nice dinner, while a crisp chill lingers outside. It would make the reunion feel so much warmer. Wow, that sounds amazing!!! As I grow up, I’ve come to realize that festivals are more than just a time for celebration—they’re also a reason to hold beautiful expectations for the year ahead. It’s such a touching feeling❤️. And you know what? I'm humming the Jingle Bells Rock as I'm writing this post!!😁

#1 John and Mery