Only when you shed the shame around speaking English can your skills truly take off!

Do you find yourself wanting to hide at the sight of a foreigner, always starting conversations with, "Sorry, my English is not good,

" as if speaking imperfect English is something deeply shameful? Honestly, there's absolutely no need for us to be so hard on ourselves!

I. "Is Bad English Shameful?" Don't Let Shame Stifle Your Expression

Many English learners unknowingly fall into a trap. Afraid of making mistakes and worried about their accents, they simply choose not to speak. 

They start with "sorry," feeling that their imperfect English is a fault. But let's not forget, English isn't our native language! Being so self-critical is completely unnecessary!

The less you dare to speak, the harder it is to improve; the worse your English feels, the less you want to speak. It's a vicious cycle, 

trapping many as victims of "mute English"—full of knowledge but unable to express it fluently.

II. A School Visit Experience That Completely Changed My View of "Good English"

I once accompanied a family on a visit to an international school, where we ran into the principal. He was very friendly and greeted us warmly. 

The child, having attended public schools in China with little exposure to foreigners, immediately became nervous and visibly uncomfortable.

When the principal asked the child "How are you?" in English, the child got flustered, forgot the typical "And you?" response, stumbled over words, 

and finally blurted out: "Sorry, my English is poor."

I expected the principal to correct the child. Instead, he said very gently, "You don't need to apologize. You know, you speak two languages, and I only speak one. 

I admire you for that—you're more capable than I am!"

In that moment, I couldn't help but applaud the principal inwardly. Isn't the very reason Chinese parents invest so much effort into sending their children

 to international schools the hope that they will use language confidently and communicate bravely with the world?

III. An Accent Isn't a Flaw; It's a Unique Cultural Imprint

Why are we always so critical of our English accents? The British have a British accent, Australians have an Aussie accent, so why can't we Chinese have a Chinese accent?

An accent is never a flaw. It's like a unique tag representing your cultural background. We speak Chinese, English, perhaps even a local dialect or another foreign language. 

Just for that, we are more impressive than those who speak only one language!

The essence of language is to serve as a tool for communication. If you can make your ideas understood and achieve the goal of communication, that is enough. 

Japanese, Korean, and Indian accents are everywhere in English—they don't let their accents stop them from speaking!

IV. Be Kinder to Yourself! Understanding Shouldn't Be Reserved Only for Foreigners

Let's think carefully: when a foreigner speaks to us in not-so-standard Chinese, do we laugh at them? Of course not! Instead, we think, "Wow, you're amazing, you can speak Chinese!"

So why, when our fellow Chinese speak English, do we sometimes mock each other or put ourselves down just because the accent isn't "standard" enough? 

Those foreigners who only speak one language admire us for mastering multiple languages! What reason do we have to look down on ourselves?

V. Shed the Shame and Let Your English Truly "Take Off"

Language is like a bridge connecting us to the world. It should be a tool that helps us reach broader horizons, not chains that limit us. 

When you let go of the shame around speaking English, stop fearing mistakes, stop worrying about your accent, and bravely start expressing yourself, 

that's when your English skills will genuinely begin to improve.

If you're still struggling with "mute English," try stepping out of your comfort zone. For instance, join a professional English intensive program to challenge yourself in an immersive environment. 

From January 5th to 30th, 2026, I will be leading a Spartan English Bootcamp. Spend one month breaking through the barrier of "mute English" and gain the confidence to speak English fluently! 

Don't let so-called "standard accents" stifle your desire to express yourself. So what if you have a Chinese accent? It represents your unique cultural heritage—something to be proudly showcased!