I've wanted to write articles in English many times, but I still fear making grammatical mistakes. However, writing is an excellent way to learn a language. I can use tools to correct my sentences, explain my errors, and show me how to improve. I also avoid using words I'm not familiar with. So, let’s dive in.

Writing not only helps you to understand what’s going on and to crystallize your thoughts, it actually makes you think of new ideas and come up with solutions to your problems.

Back in school, English used to be my worst subject. It wasn't until after I graduated that I began to develop an interest in learning the language. I have been exposed to different forms of media, such as movies, music and games, But for interviews, art books, documents, or YouTube videos with film analysis and high-quality English materials, I have to rely on translation, Mastering a language is very different, and some things get lost in translation. during that time, I realized that English is essential for understanding deeper information on the internet, so I knew I had to start studying.

It’s true that learning different languages can influence my way of thinking, leading me into other patterns. Nowadays, when I think about things, my mind often switches to English. That’s a very fresh and weird experience. Sometimes the voice in my head is even that of some movie characters. When I speak English, it feels like switching to a different personality. I kind of like that sensation. Occasionally, words pop straight into my head, but I still can’t spell them right. Reading is easier than writing, which is why I need to practice more.

Although I think reading is easier, my vocabulary is not extensive enough. I've been learning new words every day, and I'm almost at 200 days in a row. Some words still take a bit of time for me to recall their meanings. Sometimes reading some framework documents or blog articles makes me feel frustrated. On one hand they are difficult to read, but on the other hand I can learn more vocabulary. If I feel exhausted, I will choose to read some children's storybooks.

In addition to books and online courses, I also play video games without Chinese language, like Slay the Princess, Missed Messages, What Remains of Edith Finch, and In the Grace of Our Malice. Most are short visual novels with impressive visuals, attractive stories, and charming characters. What really affected me was Life Is Strange. This game was another initial motivation for my wanting to learn English. When I was playing, the Arcadia Bay vibes and scenery immediately drew me into this glamorous fictional world. highly recommend it. Games are more vivid, and meanwhile, they can also expand my vocabulary.

A few months ago, I discovered a blog called Brad Woods Digital Garden on the Internet. The design of the website is distinctive, and the content is outstanding. He defined his notes as having four different statuses:

• Seed: New content planted (created) less than a year ago.
• Sprout: Content planted over a year ago. Regularly tended (revised).
• Mature: Content planted over 2 years ago. Regularly tended.

I love this whole concept. Revising some of the articles I've written is something I do regularly. It can make the content more accurate and improve the reading experience. This process is similar to learning or growing, with time, You will see the gains.

I don't want to overstate the important of learning English. When someone start to learning something, they must have their own reasons. For me, what I'm doing now feels like an effort to reconcile with my past self, That's the third reason why I'm learning English. It's hard to explain this emotion. Looking back, I regret wasting so much time when I was in school, and I know I need to change my attitude towards myself. damn, why have I become so positive? anyway, willingness to learn is always beneficial. Don’t let stress drive my learning, instead, let passion guide me.

That's it. Still impress myself by deciding to write articles in English, even though the content initially has a tooooooooon of grammar mistakes that need to be fixed. Start rough, refine later.