In November 2024, I enrolled at the City University Institute of Languages and took a placement test to determine my English level. My English was not bad at that time because I had studied in both high school and university where the curriculum was taught in English. However, this program was different from my previous learning experiences. The course was well structured and designed in an advanced way, with a strong focus on developing communication skills. Fortunately, I was placed in the Elementary level, which is part of a six-level program: Beginner, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, and Advanced. This placement marked the beginning of my fifteen-month journey of learning and improving my English skills.
The reason I started this Advanced Diploma was to challenge myself and improve my English writing skills. As someone who is interested in blogging and research, I wanted to express my ideas more clearly and effectively in English. Before I started, I expected the programme to be challenging and competitive because it is one of the most advanced courses offered by City University in town. And indeed, it is. I also met many people who were eager to start the programme, but they were afraid that they might not be able to continue in such a competitive journey of improving their English language.
At the beginning of the program, I felt nervous about speaking in class. I was often worried about not finding the right words to express my thoughts, and I used to memorize my topic instead of speaking naturally. I do remember one of my early days in the program. We had a speaking activity in the class one day. Everyone stood up and spoke except me. I was ashamed not to speak. But, one thing I was very impressed with was my teacher at that time, Mr. Adam. He did not pressurise me to speak. Instead, he patiently explained some useful tips on how to present well and how to reduce anxiety while speaking. His supportive approach helped me feel more confident and comfortable. As the program continued, the interactive environment of the class encouraged me to participate more. Over time, I gradually gained confidence in communicating in English.
Another area that challenged me was grammar. I often felt uncomfortable when it came to grammar because, as I moved from one level to another, it became more difficult. Sometimes I struggled to use the correct sentence structure. However, through continuous practice and feedback from my teachers, I gradually developed a better understanding of grammatical structures. This improvement helped me write more clearly and confidently.
Another important improvement I experienced during the program was expanding my vocabulary. Although my vocabulary was not bad before, I learned many new words and expressions throughout the program. Most of these words came from my teachers during class discussions, and I used to write them down in my notebook. This habit helped me remember and use them later in my speaking and writing. Today, one of the things I admire most is that when I read articles, online newspapers, or other English texts, many of the words feel familiar to me.
Moreover, I improved my writing skills during the program. Before joining the course, I could write in English, but my writing was not well organized and sometimes lacked clarity. During the program, I learned how to structure my writing properly, develop clear ideas, and support them with examples. I also learned how to write paragraphs, reflections, and short essays in a more academic style. As a result, my writing became organized, clearer and more logical.
In addition, one of the challenges I encountered was my listening and comprehension skills. At first, I found it difficult to understand the audio lessons that the teachers played in class. Sometimes it was hard for me to follow what was being said. However, I learned one important lesson: listening is a skill that needs to be developed through practice. To improve my listening skills I spent time listening to native speakers outside the classroom while using subtitles. Gradually, this practice helped me improve my listening and comprehension skills.
During my days at the City University Institute of Languages, I also had the opportunity to develop leadership skills during the program. I was selected as the class monitor, which gave me the responsibility of representing my classmates. In this role, I participated in discussions with the instructors and the management team about improving the program and addressing some of the challenges students faced. This experience helped me develop confidence in expressing ideas, communicating with different people, and taking responsibility to support my classmates.
All these opportunities have been made possible, after being terminated from my job organization I worked for, due to a lack of funds. Although losing my job was difficult, it gave me the opportunity to focus fully on my Advanced Diploma. I was able to dedicate my time and energy in learning, practicing and completing assignments in English. This experience taught me the importance of adapting to unexpected changes and using available opportunities wisely.
One of the key lessons I learned from this program is that practice is more important than talent. Everything we want to learn requires time and consistent practice. When it comes to learning a language, it is not just about working hard—it is about working smart and using the language regularly in speaking, writing, and thinking.
On the other hand, one of the greatest challenges for anyone eager to learn English is the environment. In Somalia, people do not speak English which makes it difficult to practice. However, if you want to improve your English, you can create your own English environment. For example, you can watch films and news in English, read books in English, and follow pages or content in English online. These activities will help you practice the language consistently and slowly improve your English.
Looking ahead, this diploma is closely connected to my future career goals. I am interested in blogging, research, and communication, and strong English skills are essential in these fields. The program helped me improve my writing, speaking, and critical thinking abilities, which are important for expressing ideas clearly and effectively. I believe that the knowledge and skills I gained during this diploma will help me share my thoughts with a wider audience and pursue professional opportunities in the future.
As my journey as an English language student at the City University Institute of Languages comes to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to my teachers, classmates, and the management of the university. Their support and guidance throughout the program played an important role in my learning experience. I am truly thankful for the knowledge they shared and the positive learning environment they created. I would also like to express my special thanks to my dear friend Sharmarke, who is also an alumnus of this program. His unwavering support and encouragement in many ways were invaluable, and without his help, this journey would have been much more difficult.
In a nutshell, throughout my years of schooling, I found this course to be one of the most challenging in terms of brainstorming and actively using the mind. However, this challenge also taught me an important lesson: when we apply patience and effort, we can overcome difficulties and achieve our goals, for patience pays. Finally, I would recommend this program for anyone intending to improve their English skills and is willing to commit to the learning process.