A Language That Opens Doors

From Studying English to Living It

Before arriving in the UK, I had a good level of English and had met the admission requirements. However, studying the language in Mexico was one thing; using it to complete a master's degree, navigate everyday situations and build an entire life was something very different.

I worried that I would not understand my classes, find the right words to participate or have a sufficient level to write academic texts. I was also nervous about all those small situations for which no textbook can prepare you: opening a bank account, asking for information, explaining a problem, speaking on the phone or understanding someone who spoke quickly with an unfamiliar accent.

Although I had studied English for years, my own insecurities made me doubt myself. When I arrived, I understood that real learning would begin when the language stopped being a subject and became the tool I needed to navigate every day.
 

Navigating Life in Another Language

During the first few weeks, almost any activity could feel like a small test. I had to ask how to use transport, buy what I needed for my accommodation, arrange services, complete administrative tasks and understand instructions that were sometimes given very quickly.

Opening a bank account, accessing a service, speaking with the reception team at my accommodation or explaining that I needed help with a problem all became challenges. Speaking on the phone could be even more difficult because I could not rely on gestures or facial expressions. At first, I mentally prepared what I wanted to say before making a call.

Healthcare also presented a challenge. Registering with a GP, discussing the medicines I used or explaining a symptom required vocabulary that was not part of my usual conversations. These experiences taught me that knowing English does not mean knowing every word in advance, but being able to explain an idea in another way, ask questions and confirm that you have understood correctly.

Even the simplest activities became opportunities to practise: ordering food, shopping at the supermarket, asking for a chai, checking a route or talking with someone who was helping me. Over time, I stopped preparing every sentence so far in advance and began to respond more naturally.
 

A Country Full of Accents

When I arrived, I discovered that the challenge was not only understanding the British accent I had heard in films or songs. The UK has an enormous variety of regional accents and, within an international university, you also hear the different ways in which students and lecturers from around the world speak.

Training my ear required time, attention and patience with myself. There were conversations I understood immediately and others in which I had to ask politely for something to be repeated. I learned that saying, "Could you repeat that, please?" did not mean my English was poor. Even native speakers can find certain accents difficult to understand.

Spending time with local people and international students helped me enormously. Every conversation taught me new expressions and ways of communicating. Little by little, English stopped feeling like a barrier I had to overcome and became the bridge that allowed me to meet people, form friendships and understand other cultures.
 

Finding My Voice in the Classroom

Academic life brought different challenges. I had to read a large amount of advanced material and learn to write essays according to UK conventions. Having good ideas was not enough: I needed to express them clearly, develop arguments and use appropriate academic language.

I also felt nervous about participating in my first classes. Students were expected to debate and share their interpretations in seminars, so remaining silent was not the best way to make the most of them.

Although I was afraid of making mistakes, I decided to take the risk. I began to raise my hand and express my opinions. One strategy that helped was reading in advance and preparing a few notes or comments. I did not need to memorise a speech; having a few written ideas was enough to start talking.

My lecturers and classmates were always respectful. I never felt excluded because I was not a native speaker. On the contrary, the international environment made linguistic differences a natural part of the experience.
 

Much More Than Speaking Correctly

Living in English taught me that communication is not about speaking perfectly. It is about listening, asking questions, explaining an idea in different ways and having the courage to continue even when we make mistakes.

Being bilingual also brings a special perspective. Thinking in two languages allows us to recognise that the same idea can be understood in different ways and helps us develop flexibility, empathy and a more open mind.

I would tell anyone with a good level of English who is afraid of studying and living entirely in that language to try. Nobody knows from the first day all the vocabulary they will need, and everyone makes mistakes, including native speakers.

My English did not need to be perfect for me to begin. I simply needed to use it, live it and allow every class, administrative task, conversation and experience to open a new door.

- Karla