When I was in 8th grade, I literally couldn't understand when people around me speakspoke to me, even my own brother. I came to America after my brother moved to Americahere about 12 years. earlier; English was my second language. I did know enough English to greet people, but I could never finish my thoughts,. I don'tdidn't understand people most of the time, maybe after they repeatrepeated it 10 times, and I had a terrible accent. I knew learning a different language was going to be difficult tofor me and I also knew that, if I worked hard enough, I cancould overcome it.

First, I made friends who speakspoke my first language and English, to make it easier to communicate with people. I started reading books to increase my knowledge in English. I remember, during summer when my friends playplayed outside, I would go to my bed room, closingclose the door behind me, and readingread any book I seesaw really loudloudly, to improve my accent. In overOver time by, doing this I dramatically increasedimproved my English communication skills.