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Tell me if this sounds familiar, ssa. |
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You’re with a group of people. Everyone’s talking, laughing and sharing stories in English. |
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You understand everything well... surprisingly well, actually, and you feel proud. A few years ago, this wouldn’t have been possible. |
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Then, as the conversation continues, you realise you have the perfect anecdote to share. |
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This is your moment! You know what you want to say. In your head, it’s brilliant – sharp, funny and fits the conversation perfectly. |
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You open your mouth to speak and the words aren’t there. They’re on the tip of your tongue but they aren’t coming out. You try to piece together a sentence in your head using the vocabulary you know. And by the time you’ve figured it out, the conversation’s moved on. |
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You missed your moment. And to be honest, it wouldn’t have come out right anyway. |
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Did I just describe what happened to me over and over again while learning Spanish? |
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Actually, one of my students put it perfectly: |
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“I have quite a big passive vocabulary, but when I have to say something, the best words and expressions don’t come to my mind.” |
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“I feel insecure when I try to express my feelings… it’s especially difficult when the topic requires advanced vocabulary that I know in my native language but not in English.” |
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Maybe you, too, have felt this frustration of not having the right words.
Even after all your studying, it still feels like this level of effortless expression is out of reach.
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So… what’re you doing wrong? |
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Here’s what I’ve learnt from working with thousands of students:
You’re not doing anything wrong.
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The problem is that most courses teach you to recognise vocabulary, not use it.
You memorise vocabulary lists to pass tests, but no one shows you how to access those words when it matters most: in conversation, when your heart’s racing and everyone’s looking at you.
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There’s a gap between your passive vocabulary (what you understand) and your active vocabulary (what you can actually say). |
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But closing that gap is easier than you might think… |
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The frustration, the hesitation and the feeling of sounding less smart than you are can all change.
When you learn vocabulary the right way – in context, with repeated, meaningful use – everything shifts.
Your English becomes fluent, precise and natural. And you just... speak.
Thousands of students have already made this shift. Once a year, I open the doors to a special course so more students can join.
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Over the next few days, I’ll show you exactly how it works.
Because your thoughts deserve better words.
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Best wishes,
Lucy Bella Simkins
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