One Student’s Journey on Finding her Voice, and Going from Fear  to Fluency 

When Arancha first arrived in Ireland, she was surrounded by the English language—but it felt like a world away. She could manage the basics, hold conversations with her host family, and get through everyday interactions. But something was missing. She wasn’t connecting. “People were trying to understand me,” she said, “but they couldn’t. And I was just saying what I thought was correct. I wasn’t making any effort to improve.”

Back then, she wasn’t short on courage—but she was short on tools.

Like many students, her early language learning experience had been shaped by traditional grammar education and unengaging classes. “English was always the subject I didn’t like,” she admitted. “I never saw the point of it. I could pass exams without studying, so I didn’t bother.” 

But that mindset shifted the first time she visited London as a teenager. Watching her friends speak freely while she struggled to form even the simplest sentences, she realised something important: she wanted more.

“I didn’t want to travel and just be silent,” she said. “I wanted to understand. I wanted to join in.”

What followed was a slow but powerful mindset shift. Passing her B2 exam with Trinity was a practical step—something she did to prepare for her next move—but it wasn’t the end goal. “I didn’t want to go to Ireland and just freeze in conversation. I wanted to show up and be part of life.”

Arancha’s growth didn’t come from textbooks or perfect grammar drills. It came from real-life pressure, real conversations, and eventually—real support. 

“I was living with another Spanish girl who spoke fluent English. She would do all the talking, and I got comfortable staying quiet. But deep down, I knew that couldn’t last.”

During our chat together, Arancha talked openly about how things really began to shift once we started working together-and I prioritised not just her English, but her voice, what mattered in her life, and her emotional wellbeing. 

“It wasn’t a traditional class. It was a conversation. Sometimes we didn’t even touch the homework because something had happened in my life, and we just talked about it—in English. That’s where the real learning happened.”

As her confidence grew, so did her goals. What started as a desire to feel more comfortable in shops or at work evolved into something bigger. 

“Now my goal is to live my life in English the same way I live it in Spanish. If I’m sad, I want to be able to express that in English. If I’m excited, I want to say why. I don’t want a certificate. I want a life in this language.”

🎧 Listen to the audio snippet above where Arancha shares what real fluency means to her—and it’s not what most people might expect!

For Arancha, the C1 exam she is currently preparing for this summer, is just a stepping stone. But her real vision is deeper than any achievement on paper. “My big goal is not C1—it’s to do my life in English. To feel like myself, not just someone trying to survive in another language.”

Her advice to other learners ...

“Find someone who sees you. Who helps you become yourself in English—not just someone correcting your grammar. You’ll grow so much faster when you feel safe.”

Her fluency journey hasn’t been about becoming perfect. It’s been about becoming real. And the more she owns her voice, the more powerful—and fluent—she becomes.

Arancha’s story is a reminder that fluency isn’t a finish line—it’s a journey of finding your voice and learning to trust it. Her confidence didn’t come from chasing perfection, but from creating space to grow, make mistakes, and speak up anyway. And that’s exactly what I love providing for students—a place where your English can grow alongside your confidence, where your voice matters just as it is. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to speak up, maybe this is your moment.

If you’re ready to feel more like yourself in English—to speak up, be understood, and build a voice you actually love, The Fluency Lab™ is my new signature course to support more students just like Arancha find their true voice in English.

👉 [Find out more by joining the waitlist HERE to be the first to know when doors open. Spots are limited!]