English language challenge

I didn't have English as a subject when I studied Environmental Chemistry, and I had French in school. At first, I didn't have complications. Then, I start to read papers... in English... and I felt the horror: I didn't understand anything!! For example, it took me months to discover that "ground state" was "estado fundamental" and not "estado tierra". And that's so basic!! 😢

I was scared and I generated a revulsion towards English. That delayed my understanding of the language:

Films? I watched them with Spanish subtitles.

Music? I listen principally German bands.

Games? I always looked for translations.

It was difficult, but finally I understood papers. And when I improved my English, I noticed another problem: I only knew technical English 😟

Later, when I did my Master in Chemical Sciences (June 2015 - March 2016), the curriculum required basic English, and I took "English I" and "English II" with the first year undergraduated students. I feel like the grandfather of the course, but I took the teachings seriously and I learned a lot.

Now, during my PhD in Chemistry, I take another English course with greater complexity, and finally I don't feel any kind of fear or revulsion towards this language. The most useful tool for me was speaking and listening with a decent grammatical basis that I could improve using blogs. In fact, blogs can help you to improve your redaction and transmission of ideas too. I can think of a slogan: Turn yout flow of consciousness into a source of conviction using blogs 😜

Currently, I need to improve a lot my speaking. But now, I watch films with English subtitles or without subtitles, and my ears are more adapted to the pronunciation. In addition, I have a better vocabulary, especially in non-academics topics. So I can practice my speaking with myself while I improve my listening.

And that's how a horror story can become a "love" story 😅