Exercise: Why Your English Disappears When It Matters This is not a language exercise. It’s an observation exercise. Take 10–15 minutes. Be honest. Don’t try to sound smart. Step 1 — Name the exact moment (2 minutes) Answer in one sentence: In which exact situation does your English fail you most? Examples: job interview meeting with senior people presenting ideas answering unexpected questions Choose one situation only. Step 2 — Observe what actually happens (3 minutes) Complete these sentences quickly: When this situation starts, my body feels __________ My thoughts become __________ My voice becomes __________ The first emotion I feel is __________ Don’t correct your English. Don’t explain. Just notice. Step 3 — Separate knowledge from performance (3 minutes) Make two short lists. List A — “I know this” words I know grammar I know ideas I could express List B — “But I don’t use it” what disappears what I avoid saying what I simplify too much Most people are surprised here. This is usually the moment they realise: the problem is not missing knowledge. Step 4 — The role check (4 minutes) Answer this question honestly: Who am I trying to be in that moment? Examples: “someone perfect” “someone who makes no mistakes” “someone who doesn’t look stupid” Now ask yourself: Is this a real role — or a defensive one? Most learners discover something uncomfortable here: they never built a clear role for English. They built skills. And fear filled the gap. Step 5 — One reflection (1 minute) Finish this sentence: “If I stopped learning English for a moment and started building the role of __________, my English would feel __________.” A quiet note If this exercise felt unsettling, that’s not accidental. This is usually the point where people understand why years of learning didn’t change how they feel — and why the solution was never “more English”.