What I haven’t told you is that I’m in the post office in Brussels and I’ve decided to use my limited French to send a registered letter abroad. The one I’m holding.

There’s a million thoughts rushing through my head:

“Technically, I have been learning the language long enough to be able to do it.”

“So what’s the problem? What’s the big deal?”

“So what if my pronunciation isn’t perfect? So what if I don’t understand something and have to resort to using English?”

“It’s just the post office. It’s just a simple conversation…”

No matter what I say to myself, my stress level remains high.

It’s my turn.

I take a deep breath. Swallow the lump in my throat. I force myself to smile and blurt out the rehearsed line.

It doesn’t come out as I wanted it to, but, surprisingly, the lady behind the counter takes the envelope from me….

SUCCESS!

A short conversation ensues. I understand her questions. She understands my answers.

It’s over in three minutes with the usual, “How would you like to pay?” followed by a merci and the obligatory have a good day.

Mission accomplished. It worked!

I breathe out.

Endorphins are running through my veins….

I did it!

Turn your achilles’ heel into a superpower

I’ve always loved languages. To me they are more than just “a tool” - they’re about building relationships with people, about discovering other cultures, about identity… and so much more.

BUT

As you could see from my post office anecdote, I find using them quite stressful.

I don’t enjoy

not understanding,

not being understood,

feeling silly…

It’s this paradox that first made me want to become an English teacher

My manifesto:

I would make language learning fun, light and effective, and, all along I would be mindful of the fact that speaking a foreign language can be emotionally demanding. I would never be a “strict” English teacher, I would not focus on my students' mistakes, and I would definitely never shame them into studying harder.

And it worked.

Since 2005, I have worked with hundreds of people on improving their communication skills in English, but I’m proud to tell you the biggest value that they got out of working with me was feeling

better about themselves,

more-self confident,

more capable of achieving their goals.

Improving their English proficiency was merely a (desirable) side-effect.

Today, with

nearly 20 years of experience of working with people on achieving their goals,

over 400 hours of highest-quality coach training in two countries,

empathy, self-awareness, and curiosity

I feel ready to ask you:

How can I be of service to you?

Do you…

• find using English stressful?

• feel that your English isn’t “good enough” even though people tell you “it’s great”? (you may even have certificates proving it!)

• feel like you’ve already “tried everything” and are willing to try a different, more holistic approach?

If your answer is YES to any of these questions, check out:

Do you…

• find it hard to find and sustain motivation to do things you care about (like learning your next language)?

• wish you could build powerful, lasting habits?

• sometimes feel that you’re “too lazy” to achieve your goals?

If your answer is YES to any of these questions, check out:

Want to know more about me?

Head on over to my Linkedin profile or check out my blog post in which I tell you a bit more about myself….