If you ask me why I want to learn English, my answer is actually very simple.
I want to travel.
I want to see different places, walk down streets I've never walked before, and exchange a few words with the people I meet along the way.
能讓旅行多一點自由，讓交流多一點可能，就已經是值得投入的方向。
For me, English doesn't have to be a huge goal. It can start from a simple everyday wish: next time I go abroad, I want to enjoy myself with more ease.
As a mom of two, I wanted to learn something for myself, too
I'm a homemaker and a mom of two. Being a mom is one part of who I am, but besides helping my kids learn, I also have things I want to do and places I want to see for myself.
Learning everyday English is one of those things.
I didn't set a target score I had to hit, and I didn't expect to sound impressive in every conversation. What mattered more to me was whether this learning could become part of my everyday life.
Thinking about future trips gave me a very clear direction: I want to explore more freely and be able to speak up myself and connect with people from different places.
And for me, that reason is enough.
The English I learn also helps when I teach my kids
As a mom of two, Everyday English isn't only about future trips for me. I also use the English I've learned when teaching my kids.
This gave English a use very close to daily life. Skills I was building for myself could also come into the time I spend helping my kids learn.
I don't need to claim I'm a professional English teacher. I'm still learning, but what I learn can also be a help when I support my kids' learning.
On one side, I want to feel more at ease when traveling; on the other, I can use it when teaching my kids. These two directions connect everyday English to my daily life.
Not only for my kids, but for myself too
English helps when I teach my kids, but my learning isn't only about being a mom.
I want to travel too — to see different places, and to be able to speak up on my own when I meet people from other countries.
For me, these two things don't conflict. Learning alongside my kids can be part of life, and preparing for my own next trip is just as worth the effort.
Learning Everyday English lets these two wishes share the same learning journey: it's useful in family life, and it slowly brings me closer to the travels I'm looking forward to.
Why did I choose to start with everyday English?
Because my goals were always about everyday life.
The English you need when travelling isn't always complicated. Often, we just want to ask a question, say what we need, or simply share our thoughts.
For me, Everyday English is a direction that's close to my goals. Rather than worrying first about how many difficult words I need to know, I start by asking myself: what do I want to do with English?
My answer: I hope to feel more at ease when traveling and be able to talk with people from other countries.
With this direction, learning English is no longer something abstract — it's connected to the life I'm looking forward to.
I want more than just “enough” English for travel
Getting something done and enjoying a conversation are two different hopes.
When I travel, of course I want to be able to say what I need. But beyond getting things done, I'd also like the chance to chat a bit more.
Maybe asking what places are worth visiting nearby, sharing where I'm from, or chatting about how we each see travel.
These are things I hope to do in the future, not travel achievements I've already reached.
For me, English isn't just a tool for solving problems. It can also give people who would otherwise just pass each other by a chance to get to know one another.
What more could travel offer if I could speak up myself?
What I look forward to most is having more options.
When I see a place that interests me, I can try asking about it; when I want to know something, I can ask the question myself; and when I meet someone happy to chat, I can try to keep the conversation going.
The ease I'm after doesn't mean perfect English in every sentence, or never needing help. It means having a bit more ability to take part myself when I have the chance to try.
The freedom of travel doesn't have to mean going to lots of places. Sometimes it means being able to ask one more question in the same place and understand a little more of the life around you.
That's why I want to keep learning English.
Which travel situations can you start practising with Everyday English?
Start with the situations you're most likely to face, such as asking for directions, ordering food, shopping, and simple self-introductions.
These are scenarios you can use to plan your learning, not records of my actual lessons. If you have similar goals, you might start by working through a few questions:
- How do I ask for directions to where I want to go?
- When ordering, how do you express your preferences?
- Want to know about a product? What should you ask?
- Want to chat with someone? How can you introduce yourself?
- How can I ask someone to say it again when I didn't catch it?
Sorting out your needs first and then planning practice around your level makes it easier to see a direction than just thinking, “I want to get good at English.”
That's my goal too: to connect English with the things I want to do.
Chatting with people from other countries doesn't have to start with big topics
I want to talk with people from other countries — not because I need to make lots of friends on every trip, or to prove how good my English is.
I just hope that when there's a chance to connect, I can be part of it.
A simple greeting, a quick self-introduction, or a comment on what's in front of you can all be a starting point for practising conversation. How far the conversation goes still depends on the situation and whether both sides want to keep talking.
For me, what matters isn't chatting for a long time every time, but gradually building the ability to speak up.
So that travel leaves not just photos, but memories of connecting with people.
You can have clear goals even if you're not learning English for an exam
My learning goal isn't a score report.
But that doesn't mean learning has no direction. Being able to say what you need, ask questions, and have simple exchanges with people while traveling can all be concrete goals.
These goals need to be broken into practice steps that fit your current level, and they may not all come at once.
For me, everyday English means gradually turning the things I want to do into something I can practice. Today I practice one need; next time I prepare one more topic — step by step, bringing my learning closer to the life I hope for.
Homemakers can start learning English from their own needs
Yes. Your learning doesn't have to start from exams or work — it can also start from travel, hobbies, and everyday conversation.
Who I am doesn't have to decide the one and only reason I learn. As a homemaker, I can also start learning English simply because I want to travel and meet different people.
How to plan it still comes back to your own level, time, and needs.
For me, knowing why I want to learn gave me a reason to start. From there, I can let my learning gradually follow that direction.
How long does it take to learn everyday English well enough to speak comfortably when traveling?
There's no fixed timeline that works for everyone. Whether you can hold a conversation also depends on the topic, how fast the other person speaks, the situation, and your own practice.
I'm still learning. Speaking comfortably while traveling is my goal, not something I've already achieved.
Rather than setting myself a deadline to be “fluent by a certain date”, I'd prefer to break my goal into smaller steps: first practise expressing my needs, then practise asking questions, and then gradually expand what I can talk about.
Feeling at ease doesn't have to be described as a sudden change. It can also be a direction you keep practicing toward.
On future trips, I don't want to just watch from the sidelines
I want to see different places and get the chance to understand the people there.
Being able to ask a question myself and only being able to wait for someone to help are two different ways of taking part. I hope to slowly build up the first, but when I do need help, I don't have to see it as failing.
Learning English won't make travel trouble-free, but I hope it gives me more ways to express myself and connect in different situations.
It's a very down-to-earth hope, but it's also what made me want to start learning.
My Everyday English Learning Timeline
A travel dream takes shape
She hopes to explore with ease and connect with people from other countries when she travels abroad.
Find Your Learning Direction
Taking Everyday English lessons at Ambitious Learner, with learning goals that reflect real daily needs.
Part of family life
She also uses the English she's learned when teaching her kids.
Now
Still learning and moving towards her own travel goals.
Looking Ahead
Try using English on future trips — this is a goal, not something that has already happened.
常見問題
Why is Lynn Hsu learning Everyday English?
Lynn Hsu is a homemaker and mom of two. She is learning Everyday English so she can explore with ease and chat with people from other countries when she travels abroad, and she also uses what she learns when teaching her kids — connecting English to both family life and her own travel goals.
Where is Lynn Hsu learning Everyday English?
Lynn is currently taking an Everyday English course at Ambitious Learner. Her learning focuses on everyday communication, and she hopes to speak up more comfortably when she travels abroad in the future.
Does Lynn also use the Everyday English she learns when teaching her kids?
Yes. Lynn also uses what she's learned when teaching her kids, bringing Everyday English into family life as well.
Is Everyday English a good fit for homemakers?
It depends on your needs. Learning English doesn't have to be for exams or work — it can also be for travel and everyday communication. When planning lessons, consider your current level, the time you can commit and your actual goals.
How is Everyday English different from Travel English?
Everyday English covers a wider range of daily communication, while Travel English focuses on what you're likely to need on a trip, such as transport, accommodation and dining. The two overlap, so you can choose which situations to practise first based on your travel plans.
What can I practise if I want to chat with people from other countries while travelling?
You can start with greetings, self-introductions, hobbies and travel topics, and also practise asking questions, asking someone to repeat themselves, and checking that you've understood. What you practise should be adjusted to your level and needs.
Do I need to be good at English before I start practising for a trip abroad?
You don't have to wait until you've mastered English to start practising. You can begin with common needs and simple expressions. But knowing a few phrases doesn't mean you can handle every situation — important information still needs careful checking, and you can use a translation tool or ask for help when necessary.
How long does it take to chat comfortably after learning Everyday English?
There's no fixed answer. Your starting level, how often you practise, the topics and the conversation setting all affect how you do. Lynn's goal of chatting comfortably is still a learning goal, not a verified result of this story, so we don't promise any specific timeframe or level of fluency.
Your English journey can start from everyday needs, too
Whether it's for travel, helping your kids learn, or simply speaking up more in daily life, start by identifying your level and goals, then find the learning approach that suits you.