Your English isn't that bad, you just have the wrong 'Walkthrough Guide'
Have you ever had this experience?
You've studied English for over a decade, gone through countless vocabulary books, and watched plenty of TV series. You've practised shadowing in class and on apps, feeling quite confident. But then, in the real world, whether it's a job interview or simply ordering a coffee abroad, your mind goes blank the moment you open your mouth. You can't recall a single word you've memorised or sentence you've practised.
In that moment, you really start to question everything. It feels like all those years of effort have been for nothing.
It's not that your English is bad; you're just trying to take on a max-level boss with starter gear.
See every conversation as 'clearing a game level'
Let's change our perspective. Stop viewing speaking English as an academic subject and imagine it as a level-based game.
Every real-life conversational scenario – ordering at Starbucks, meeting with foreign colleagues, attending an international party – is a brand new 'level'.
Each level has its unique 'map' (the environment/atmosphere), 'NPCs' (the people you're talking to), 'quest items' (key vocabulary), and 'fixed moves' (common sentence structures).
The English we learnt in school was, at best, a 'beginner's tutorial'. It taught you the basic operations but didn't give you a 'walkthrough guide' for any specific level.
So, it's perfectly normal to feel at a loss when you walk into a new level empty-handed.
I was the same. At university, I worked part-time in a restaurant that had many foreign customers. Even though I studied English, when faced with customers, I had no idea how to politely take orders, explain the wine list, or take reservation calls in English. The knowledge from textbooks was absolutely useless here.
It wasn't until I realised that what I needed wasn't more 'English knowledge', but rather a restaurant-specific 'walkthrough guide'.
Your personal 'walkthrough guide' in just four steps
Forget the heavy burden of "learning English". From today onwards, we'll focus on one thing: preparing a personalised guide for the next 'level' you're about to face.
Step One: Reconnaissance (Observe)
When entering a new environment, don't rush to speak. Be an 'observer' first.
Listen to what the 'NPCs' around you are talking about. What words do they use? What's the flow of the conversation like? It's just like watching the map and the Boss's move demonstration before playing a game.
In the restaurant, I started listening carefully to how my experienced colleagues interacted with customers. How did they greet them? How did they recommend dishes? How did they handle complaints?
Step Two: Gather Your Gear (Vocabulary)
Based on your observations, list the most essential 'gear' for this 'level' – in other words, high-frequency vocabulary.
At the time, the first thing I did was look up and memorise all the dish names, ingredients, and sauces on the menu (e.g., Rosemary, honey mustard, mayonnaise). These were my most powerful 'weapons' for this level.
If you're interviewing for a tech company, your 'gear' might include words like AI, data-driven, synergy, roadmap.
Step Three: Anticipate Moves (Scripting)
Write down the most likely conversations in this scenario, just like writing a script. This is your 'move list'.
For example, at the restaurant, I prepared various 'scripts':
- If guests have children: "Do you need children's cutlery/high chairs?" "Will your child be ordering from the children's menu or sharing with the adults?"
- If guests are a couple on a date: "We have decaffeinated drinks..." "These dishes have a particularly tender texture..."
- General questions: "The toilets are over there." "We accept cash and card payments." "We're full at the moment, so there might be a 20-minute wait."
Step Four: Simulation Training (Role-Playing)
At home, talk to yourself. Play both roles and rehearse the entire 'script' you've just written.
This might sound a bit silly, but it's incredibly effective. It's like practising a combo in a 'training ground' until you've got it down pat.
Once you've prepared these 'guides', the next time you enter the same 'level', you won't be that panic-stricken beginner anymore. You'll carry a sense of composure, feeling "I'm all set," and you might even feel a little eager to test out your training results.
Don't be afraid, go ahead and 'tackle the challenges'
"What if they say something that's not in my script?"
Don't panic. Remember what they said. When you get home, add it to your 'guide library'. Your guide will become more and more comprehensive, and your 'combat power' will grow stronger.
"What if my pronunciation and grammar aren't perfect?"
The essence of language is communication, not examinations. As long as the other person can understand what you mean, you've already 'cleared the level'. The remaining details can be gradually improved as you 'tackle future challenges'.
This method breaks down the huge and vague goal of "learning English well" into clear, actionable "level-clearing tasks". It removes fear and brings a sense of control.
If you're looking for a safer 'training ground', or need a portable coach while preparing your 'guides', you can try Intent. It's a chat app with built-in AI translation, allowing you to communicate stress-free with friends worldwide. When you get stuck, real-time translation can help you out; when you're preparing your own 'conversation scripts', you can also use it to quickly check if your expressions are natural.
It's like a 'smart companion' on your journey to clear levels, helping you to level up and defeat enemies faster.
Next time you need to communicate in English, stop thinking, "Is my English good enough?".
Ask yourself: "Have I prepared the walkthrough for this level?"