--- title: "Student Blog Contest Winner: My Amazing Journey Learning English" description: The very first time I tried hard to learn English was on January 1st of 2020. I was in the New Year’s service at my church in Brazil. image: https://blog.approachusa.org/hubfs/blog_banners2021%20(24).png --- - [Contact Us](https://approachusa.org/contact-us/) - [Apply Now](https://approachusa.org/application-form-2/) Menu - [Programs of Study](https://approachusa.org/programs-of-study/) - [English as a Second Language (ESL)](https://approachusa.org/esl/) - [Test Preparation (TOEFL, GMAT, GRE, SAT)](https://approachusa.org/testprep/) - [Advanced Programs](https://approachusa.org/speccialty-programs/) - [ESL Teen Culture Program](https://approachusa.org/youth-programs/) - [Student Services](https://approachusa.org/student-services-2/) - [Join our Community](https://pages.approachusa.org/approachusa-community) - [Blog](https://blog.approachusa.org/) - [Academic & Career Advising](https://approachusa.org/academicadvising/) - [Student Activities](https://approachusa.org/academic-activities/) - [Students’ Success Stories](https://approachusa.org/students-success-stories/) - [Housing](https://approachusa.org/student-services/) - [Admissions](https://pages.approachusa.org/en-us/our-programs-usa) - [Apply from Abroad](https://pages.approachusa.org/applying-from-abroad) - [Tuition and Fees](https://pages.approachusa.org/tuition-and-fees) [![Approach International Student Center®](https://blog.approachusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Approach_USA_April2021/images/header_logo.png?height=500&name=header_logo.png "Approach International Student Center®")](https://approachusa.org/) - Call us today **[+1 617 787 5401](https://wa.me/16177875401)** - Email us **[admissions@approachusa.com](mailto:admissions@approachusa.com)** ![](https://blog.approachusa.org/hubfs/blog_banners2021%20(24).png) # Student Blog Contest Winner: My Amazing Journey Learning English Published by [Pablo Prates Fernandes](https://blog.approachusa.org/author/pablo-prates-fernandes) on Jun 1, 2022 3:03:55 PM The very first time I tried hard to learn English was on January 1st of 2020. I was in the New Year’s service at my church in Brazil. At that time, I prayed to God asking for help learning this new language because I always had this dream of spending some time living abroad. That year, I started to study English using Youtube channels like Liguamarina, EngVid, SmallAdvantages, Sounds American, and so on. These channels helped with the listening, grammar, and writing parts. I also paid for a one-year license of the App ELSA to help me with the pronunciation part of the learning. These channels and the app helped me to kick it off, but I felt that I needed more. Then I signed up for a one year of Cambly (an app to get conversation classes with natives English speakers) lessons. With these classes, I could develop my conversation skills, by losing the fear of speaking and unlocking the conversation chain. After two years, the result was amazing. I have learned more than a thousand words, and hundreds of expressions and I have talked with people from all around the world through my computer. Now, at the exact time, I am writing this blog, I am completing 4 months of studying English in the United States (at Approach International Student Center), I have met a lot of different people, and my English level is getting higher each day and I have seen, with my own eyes, my dream becoming true. Thank God! [Back to Blog](https://blog.approachusa.org) ## Related Articles ## [How to Plan Your New Year's Resolutions](https://blog.approachusa.org/how-to-plan-your-new-years-resolutions) How was 2022 for you? Can you believe this year is already ending? This year, I’veaccomplished some... [Read More](https://blog.approachusa.org/how-to-plan-your-new-years-resolutions) ## [Watching Movies & TV Shows In English](https://blog.approachusa.org/watching-movies-tv-shows-in-english) One of the best and most entertaining ways to learn a new language is through watching movies and... [Read More](https://blog.approachusa.org/watching-movies-tv-shows-in-english) ## [What worked for me when I was learning English?](https://blog.approachusa.org/what-worked-for-me-when-i-was-learning-english-1) Brazil isn’t really known for being a bilingual country. According to British Council, only 5% of... [Read More](https://blog.approachusa.org/what-worked-for-me-when-i-was-learning-english-1) ##### About Us Approach International Student Center is a well-established English language school located in Allston, MA, only 5 minutes away from Boston – one of the most dynamic student centers in the world. 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