Speaking practice

I would like to talk about my former English teacher, Ms Lan, who taught me during my final year at secondary school. At that time, I could read English reasonably well, but I was terrified of speaking in front of other people. I worried so much about making mistakes that I usually stayed silent. What made Ms Lan different was her patience. Instead of correcting every error immediately, she listened carefully and asked questions about what we actually wanted to say. Once, she asked us to describe a favourite place. I struggled to find the words, but she encouraged me to finish and then showed me two expressions that made my answer clearer. She also shared stories about her own learning difficulties, which made her feel approachable. Gradually, I began practising with classmates after school. A few months later, I volunteered to give a short presentation, something I would never have imagined doing before. I admire her because she treated confidence as a skill that could be developed, rather than something you either had or lacked. Her approach still influences me today. Whenever I face an unfamiliar task, I remind myself that making a small attempt is more useful than waiting until I feel completely ready.