Introduction.
I stopped learning English when I was 18, and for the last twelve years I haven't given it much thought at all, mainly because I my ability to understand both written and spoken English is good enough for my use what I need it for. I don't think about the language at all while reading novels and history books, and I usually watch tv-series without subtitles.
It's when I try to express myself that I feel that.. resistance.. I can't find a better word for it... that comes with not being a native speaker. I can't think of a good word to sum up that feeling either. I would change the sentence slightly to something like:
However when I try to express myself I sometimes struggle to find the right words, which comes from not being a native speaker.
Part of the problem is that my active vocabulary isn't quite big enough.
Also, - the only time I ever wrote an academic essay in English I really struggled.
But how do you expand your active vocabulary?
I don't know where to start, really.
Moving to an English speaking country isn't an option.
P.S: I know it might look like a question, but I wrote it to get corrections. Writing about myself was easier than writing about something else.
P.S.2: This is quite intimidating. I'm nervous now.