Alexandra

I currently live in Germany, so my everyday language is German. I felt very uncomfortable with the difference in my levels of German and English. Additionally, at work, there were situations where I needed to quickly switch to English, and this transition was a mental struggle for me. 

But even without these factors, I had a strong desire to improve my English because it is a universal means of communication, and, simply put, I really, really wanted to!
 

I have a rather long history of learning English with its ups and downs. In school, I had a fantastic teacher who provided a solid foundation. In the early grades, I even took additional English classes. However, then German came into my life, and English took a back seat and was eventually pushed aside. It was just a matter of priorities during that period. 

After moving to Germany, I felt increasingly uncomfortable with my English skills. I realized that I needed to revive my English urgently. So, I started looking for an online tutor. 

I’d encountered many frustrating experiences, and I was on the verge of giving up. One tutor didn't assign homework because, "Why bother?" and instead gave me assignments from a Russian website. She was also constantly texting on her phone and ignored my questions. Then there was a native speaker from Scotland. She was a fantastic person, and we had some very enjoyable conversations. However, in terms of language improvement, it wasn't what I needed. She even told me, "You're at C1, I don't understand why you're here." There was another tutor who, after a couple of lessons, seemed to forget about professional etiquette and started canceling lessons because she wanted to spend time with her boyfriend. 

Honestly, my patience was running out. I just dreamed of finding a competent teacher. I was really persistent in my search and tried many options, but everything seemed quite disappointing. And then Julia, a Duck English teacher, came into my life! Hooray :)

It was a bit of a mixed bag. I had good comprehension of speech and texts, but speaking was a nightmare for me. I would say I was probably at a B1 level, but I wasn't completely sure.

What really motivates me is seeing the results of my lessons; it makes me want to learn even more! It seems like I won't be satisfied until my English is as good as my German.

I listen to English podcasts, and a significant portion of the documentation and literature at school/work is in English. I encounter new words in context, which helps expand my vocabulary. Podcasts also provide a lot of conversational vocabulary on current topics.

Learning a language is always a slow process, and it's not a piece of cake. It requires discipline and consistency. Always keep your goals in mind and know that success is achievable, especially with teachers like Julia and Lera :)

Even when you are drained and worn out, do at least a little, the minimum, but something.