509. She hit rock bottom in English, then rebuilt everything

Have you ever had a moment where you hit rock bottom and that was the moment where you said to yourself, that's it, no more. From this moment, I am going to change. Whether it was starting to eat healthy or working out or learning a language, whatever that is, I'm sure that every single person has had this experience in their lives. And this is exactly what happened to Monica when it comes to English. Monica had her dream interview scheduled and she prepared for 7 weeks for this interview, but she only prepared for it in her head. And the moment she started speaking, she realized all the challenges that she wasn't able to overcome. In this conversation, Monica is going to tell you about the transformation that came right after that moment where she decided, no more, I am going to change. And she's going to talk about all the things that she did to be able to become a person who speaks English, who owns English, and who feels freedom in English. Her story's inspiring. It's about consistency. It's about believing in yourself, and it's about becoming the person you want to become. This conversation is with Monica, my student, and I cannot wait to share it with you. Let's listen. Hi, Monica, how are you doing?

I am doing so great, so excited to see you, so happy to be here.

I'm so happy that you're here. Thank you so much for taking the time to come here and share your story and your experience learning, immersing, and falling in love in English. And I can't wait. Your story is so inspiring and I can't wait for our audience to listen to it.

Thank you for having me and for, you know, giving me the opportunity to be here in your channel. It's been kind of like a dream for me. So now I am here and it's great. Thank you.

It's, it's great for all of us. I'm excited. So for those, um, for, for clearly most of the people watching this don't know you, the people in our community, they do. But for those who don't know you, would you like to share a little bit about who you are, where you live, um, what language you speak and, um, and just a little bit to, to get to know you?

Yeah. So my name is Monica. I am originally from Colombia. I was born and raised there, but I've been living here in France for the past 11 years now, so time flies. And yeah, so I speak Spanish. Spanish is my mother tongue, and I speak obviously French as well, as I've been living here for so many time. And I started my English journey here with the program, the different programs, the different Hadar's programs, 2 years ago. And it was mainly the first time in my life that I started studying English for sure, you know, like really like you decided to take it seriously and to do the work. Yes. Yeah. And especially I found here a good system that helped me getting there, you know, like speaking the way I, I do today, which is incredible.

So talk to me about French first. Okay. Of course we're here to also talk about English, but I think any language learning journey is interesting. So you moved to, you moved to a place where French is spoken 11 years ago. And did you know any French back then?

I used to be a French teacher when I was in Colombia, so Probably you didn't know that. No, I did, I did. Listen, when I finished high school, I started the university in Colombia, and I followed the modern language program. And at that time, I needed to choose one language between French, English, or German, and I I don't know why exactly. I don't remember why exactly, but I chose French.

Something told you that you might need it.

Yeah, probably.

Yeah.

And yeah, so I started my French journey at a time and after finishing my studies, I, my first job was French teacher and I taught English for, English, French, sorry, for 5 years in Alliance Française in Bogotá in Colombia. And after all those years working there, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and I decided to see what was possible for me as a professional and also as an individual. And I decided to relocate here in France in order to pursue a master's degree in communications and marketing that I successfully finished in 2016. So 10 years ago.

All in France.

All in French, yes, with French speakers, with French colleagues and everything. And after that, I, uh, yeah, I, I, I've been evolving in a, in the corporate world, mainly in automotive industry. Um, so for 7 years I worked in automotive industry and in 2023, uh, everything changed in my mind and I started to feel less aligned. With this final goal to sell cars, you know? So I wanted something bigger. I wanted something meaningful, something, you know, something that I had a burning desire to make an impact in the world and to make like my voice matter and to work for people or for the planet or for something different. And I started while working my current job at the time, I started applying for jobs in United Nations.

As you know, and before, before we move on, I want to talk about that, that, that feeling, right? Like, because I think a lot of people can relate to that, that feeling of, I need to do something different. Was, was something triggered? Uh, was it, was it triggered by something or did something happen that you started reflecting on that? Was it the result of COVID Like, because I remember this time was, you know, after COVID and I don't know. So what, what was it that, that you, that made you start feeling anxious or like you want to change?

It was a couple of things. First, I became a mom in 2022, and I guess when we, we deliver a baby, our brain changed. I don't know why, but it's weird. And also another trigger was that I was working for a big group, an international group called Emile Frey, different brands, different things. And the French brand was underperforming for years. So this big group decided to sell the car dealerships when I was working for to another more local group and more, you know, smaller group. And I, I came to realize that the values of this new group wasn't the same as the other one. So the values and the way of work was really different. And it was kind of, yeah, I couldn't, I couldn't find my place. I couldn't find my, yeah, it was something in that line.

Like you felt like, yes, not right for me. And then you started asking yourself bigger questions because you were moved around, like having a child and then, you know, shifting, shifting in a way, companies, not really, but still. And then, yeah, and then you started asking those deeper questions, which made you decide to change.

I love it.

Okay.

Yes, totally. So, so that's it.

Yeah. So you started dreaming bigger and doing bigger things. And what happened then?

Turning point here for my English journey, because I started applying for United Nations work. And yeah, different applications, different job positions always aligned with what I wanted to do and the background I had. So communications, marketing. And after a lot of rejections, I finally was invited to complete a written test in English that I successfully completed because I was called for a job interview with a panel. And it was in English. And I, my relationship with English before that was pretty comfortable, you know, because I didn't need English really in my life. I was working and evolving in a French environment. I was speaking Spanish with my family, friends, my daughter. So I don't, I didn't need English in my life, but at that moment, and yes, when I was traveling, for example, I was feeling comfortable because I was able to ask for directions or for, you know, order food.

Yes, it's not like you didn't know English.

Yeah, yeah, I had a little background, but I was feeling like, yeah, I speak English. Yeah, so I was invited to this job interview, really important. It was a managerial position that I could completely like take on, and I was preparing. It was a CVI question, it was a CVI interview, so we competency-based interview. I needed to prepare examples of things I was doing and that I have completed in the past to apply for this job position, so I was preparing things, but then I was preparing like writing and concepts in my mind. I will say that, that, and that, and yes, and I just made a capital mistake, and it was like I never opened my mouth to prepare. Nothing. Wow. So it was, you know, the, the, the interview was—

now you would never make that mistake ever, ever, ever in my life. No. So you were preparing in your head, in your head you were like, you know, doing amazing, nailing this job interview, but not with your mouth.

Confident, confident. I was confident. I was like, God, I got that. I love it.

Yeah. This is a lesson for all of you. Watching this, that if you need to, uh, to go take a job interview and make sure you prepare properly and actually use your mouth when you prepare.

And you record yourself and you repeat out loud and you try to find a way to say words because sometimes you know the word very well, you know, you, you know the meaning, everything in your head, but when you have to pronounce it like that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So what happened?

What happened in that interview? So I remember myself opening my computer and like the 3 people popping up in my computer and the woman leading the interview was like, yes, hello, Monica, how are you? And it was like froze because you know, all these little social codes, like, hey, thank you for having me, or it's an honor to meet you, things like that. I hadn't any social code in English, any, any, any. So I remember it was like, yeah, thank you. Hello. Really the basic, basic words. Let alone the questions of the interview. I was trying to figure out how, how to put in my mouth the concepts I was be— I been preparing for weeks because I, I was informed about the interview with 7 weeks, 7 weeks before the interview, so I had time to prepare. And I remember you had a conversation with you before I know it was for the other one with United Nations. No, sorry. So it was the first one. And yeah, so I remember I didn't have the code, nothing. And so I couldn't like find the words in my mouth. One part, one people of the panel, I couldn't understand what he was saying. He was a strong, strong accent and I couldn't even understand what he was saying. So it was pretty hard time, super frustrating. I remember closing my computer and I remember like I was collapsing on my knees, crying my eyes out and promising myself I will, I would study English every single day of my life until became fluent. It was so hard, Hadar. It was a moment like I, I saw and I let this one in a life opportunity, this, you know, this golden opportunity slip through my fingers. I felt that. So it was the turning point and the day—

I feel it in my body. I feel it because it's kind of like, yeah, it's, it's, we know who we are and what we're capable of doing. And then when English doesn't live up to it, even though you know it in your head, right? It doesn't represent who you are. It doesn't represent your level even of English, and definitely your expertise and knowledge and personality, then it's really heartbreaking. And then a lot of times to make a big change, you do need an event like that. A lot of times when people become very, very committed, I often see that something happens when they say to themselves, no, like no more.

No way. Yes. Yeah. Yes. Yes. Yeah. So after that, um, I started trying to be in contact with English. So I was like mainly listening to podcasts, different podcasts. So, um, we met together through your podcast. Because I was listening to the Lex English podcast. Hadar Shemeshesh, and he interviewed you one day. And I'm listening, and I was listening to your voice and listening to your path, you know, to your always— all the things you were going through in New York as an actress, etc. It was like, oh my God, that's amazing. I can understand everything what she's saying. And I fell in love with your voice, you know, with the way you speak, so clear. And I was thinking like, I would like to speak with her one day, like the same. And I started following you. I cut all the other podcasts I was listening to. I cut all the YouTube channels and I keep one thing, your podcast, your social media, your everything. And so it was summer 2023. And at the very beginning of 2024, you opened doors to join Beyond through a Start Strong Challenge. So I did the 7 days and then I joined. But up until that moment, I was being so passive, you know, like even though I had, I promised myself to study English, I couldn't, you know, I hadn't a system or someone saying me do that, that and that. You know, like nothing. So I was being very passive. And when, when I was listening to the podcast and watching TV, etc., I felt like I was doing a lot.

So why do you think that is though? Why do you think we humans do that? Like, you know, like we do something and then we stay passive, like we don't really push ourselves to do things, and then we settle for something like just listening. Which is good, but clearly not enough. So what was kind of like holding you back from doing the next thing? Was it lack of knowledge, like you didn't know what your next steps were, or was it fear? What was it? Laziness?

I guess, yeah, a mix of everything. A mix of everything. Ignorance, I guess, is the first one. Didn't know what to do and how. And also life. Runs so fast, you know, we are always so busy, we are always thinking about what's next. And somehow we have some habits in our day life that are established, already established, and we always, and we usually don't make room for new things that are really important for us. And I learned that through meditation, that is another skill I learned here in your community. I start to meditate, I start being part of the 5 AM club, going to the gym every single day at 5 AM, and doing things like that because I understood how habits shapes, how habits shape, sorry, my life and the person I embody and the person I would like to embody every single day. Now, not speaking about my goal, but the person I am. Every single day at 5 AM and the person who goes to sleep the same day, who I want to be each day, you know, and I learned that here. So, um, so yes, in terms of English, I started to make, yeah, to make room in my daily life to learn English, to make a little step, the 1%, the 1% rule that you explained very well. And I am applying this 1% rule for English and for so many things. Yeah, so many.

The 1% rule, for people who don't know, this is not my rule, I learned it. It's, it's this concept that what can you do every day to improve by 1%? So when you think about it, 1% is not a lot. And you can think of, okay, I can just, you know, just like practice it one more time or learn something new or do it a little faster or do it a little slower or like something very, very small that helps you improve what, what it is that you're working on. In our case, English or building habits or anything that is related to personal development. And even though it doesn't feel like a lot, over time it becomes exponential growth, right? Because 1% and then 1% more the next day and the next day. So the idea is like not to think of huge big changes, which is something that we tend to resist and procrastinate, but do something very small every single day, and then you see the impact and the results over time. And based on what you're sharing, you know, you go to the gym consistently, you wake up at 5 AM, you meditate, and if you want, you can talk about that a little bit more. You practice English consistently. So all of these things are the result of building those strong habits and wanting to improve little by little without, you know, like, not thinking like you need to become a different person overnight. So that's beautiful. That's incredible. How are you different today than who you were 2 years ago?

That's so beautiful. It's a beautiful question because I feel I'm really different. I'm really different. I embody the person who speaks English. I embody the person who is consistent with a lot of things and where I, yeah, whenever I would like to do something, I try to keep going, but I couldn't be this way alone, you know, because sometimes we are like, okay, I will do that. But when you have people who celebrate things with you that happens just for you and you feel that it's sincere, it's so rewarding and you feel so well. I met here in your community so many people who are always cheering me up, whatever it takes. Like, I learn a word, wow, you're amazing, you can do it, you can learn 2 words now. And it's like, okay, I'm feeling this energy every single day. So I feel like I am different.

Right? Like you want to learn just to get that energy from the community.

And the opposite is true as well. When someone has a big goal or a little goal, I feel this happiness and I, because I embody this person who is making efforts and who is seeing results little by little. So yes, I couldn't be, I couldn't be here today if I, if I was alone, let's say.

Like, it's not impossible to master a language and to be expressive in a language on your own. It's not impossible. But I think it's just, I mean, why if you can do it with, in community, right? Like with guidance. Language is meant to be spoken with other people, not on your own. And there is a give and take. It's reciprocal. So this is why you have to have people around you to, to connect, to practice, to make English the tool and not just the goal. Right? And I think when that happens, something opens up. Talk to me about when I asked you, who are you? You said, I'm a person who speaks English. What is it about how you speak English? Maybe if you can describe it physically, if you can describe it emotionally, like what is it about how you speak now practically than how you spoke before? What does it mean to speak English? A person who speaks English?

Yeah, I will start to speak about New Sound. Okay. Because, and I would like to start by another angle, but right now I feel it's a good moment. And when we start the New Sound program, there is one module about mindset. And in the mindset module, we are invited a year to set goals. So the 90-day goal, the 1-year goal, and the 5-year goal. And so I set my goals. When I was taking, revising my notes to prepare this interview, I, I've came to realize that my, my 90-day goal was to master div tags or something like that, and my 1-year goal was to be here sharing my story about New Sound and my transformation in New Sound. No way! Yes! But I forgot about that, you know, and when I was reading, I was like, oh my God, I'm getting emotional. Yeah, I know, me too. Yes. And my 5-year goal was to speak in public, to deliver a— as I was obsessed, you know, with working in, with working in the United Nations, I set the goal to speak in public, to deliver a really important thing, you know, in front of a lot of important people or something like that. And I was imagining myself speaking in a TED Talk or in something related with United Nations. And when I say I speak in English, I'm thinking about that, and I am thinking about sharing things, you know, like always sharing, caring, conveying things, making my voice matter for the people. I'm thinking about that when I think I speak English. And I don't know why it's not the same for French or Spanish. It's English, and it's probably because it's a universal language where you can touch more, much more people, and that much people speak. And yeah, I guess it's the reason why. Um, so yes, uh, it's, it's, I think about that when I think I embody the person who speaks in English. Wow.

And I see that, I completely see that in the community, how generous you are, you know, like what you bring to the community, what you share, um, how you show up. I think you are embodying not just who you are as an English speaker, but really your purpose in the world, which is, you know, I feel like my purpose is to serve, right? Like one of my core values is to serve. And I feel like you share the same value because from the moment you said, I feel like I had a bigger purpose than working in for this company. And language is, is the key, is the tool to do that. And I think English is because for exactly for the reasons that, that you said, you really reach more people that way. You have more impact. And I wish, I hope that someone listening to this is listening to these words and they understand that they have that ability to, and the power to make impact or to have impact with words only, right? Like, and with just like being able to say what you think or to share what you know even if it's just to listen and to hold space and to celebrate others. I mean, you know, like think of how in our community, people, the way we celebrate each other and the way we hold space for each other. I think this is what makes it so, so powerful and how we feel meaningful as individuals inside this community.

So, yes, totally. Yeah, totally.

So in terms of your English journey, just to kind of like understand the timeline or explain the timeline. You joined Beyond in 2024. You still need to talk about the change in your habits and your practice methods. And then you join New Sound. When was it? At the end of 2024?

No, it was in spring, spring 2024. So it was like 3 or 3. Yeah, right after. And I decided to join New Sound because being in Beyond was like, okay, I have my fellow Beyonders speaking about things like diphthongs like clusters, and I was like, okay, what is this? And I had, for example, I remember the coach giving me feedback on my speaking, and it was like, okay, you have to work in the diphthong O. And I was like, okay, diphthong O, but what is a diphthong? You know, so I hadn't this concept really clear in my mind, and everything seems to, everyone seems to get everything. Really clear. And, um, also most of the people being in Beyond had already taken the Nusound course. So they always were like, yeah, this is a transformative experience. You have to take it. Um, yeah, you have to do it. So I decided to do so.

So just to clarify, Beyond is our English practice community, right? Where we practice and speak and connect and there are English classes, but we don't not always, you know, like we talk about pronunciation, but New Sound is the kind of like the transformative pronunciation program where we dive deep into every single sound. And that is where you feel like you have, um, you have made a significant change in how you think and how you speak because of the mindset module, but also because of sounds. So when you, when I was reading the things that you wrote before the interview, you said, What was most insightful for me was learning about sounds that I didn't have in my first language, right? So talk to me about that and why do you think it's important?

I love that because in English we have, for example, in Spanish, which is my mother tongue, we have 5 vowels and in English we have also 5 vowels that we write and in French as well. But we have 16 vowels that we can pronounce. With the same, like, vowel, the same letter. Yes. And in French is the same. In French we have also 16. So I learned things here in Lusong that serve me today as a French teacher and to apply and to understand better in the French language as well. So In NuSound, what I was expecting to find when I joined the course was like that, like to understand the granularity of the sounds, of the English sounds, but also how to produce the sounds like physically, you know, because I have been studying English for so many years. No one never had explained to me how to articulate sounds, how to put my tongue, my lips, my jaw, everything? Never. So here I learned the sound, like the nature of the sound, how to articulate the sound, and then, and most importantly, how to put all the sounds together. Because there is another module I loved, and it was the Prosody module. Yes, so game changer. The Prosody module was like— Mindset and Prosody were my favorites. And in Prosody module, you learn Rhythm, pitch, and through a lot of exercise of repetition. And if you take the Immersion Course, you have to be willing and able to repeat a lot and to be alone. You don't learn the best. I discovered sounds in French. I discovered sounds, for example, the Z sound that I was mispronouncing in French for I don't know how much time.

Interesting.

I was unable to produce this sound, Hadar, this sound voiced.

Yeah.

Because it doesn't exist in Spanish. And I wasn't even able to hear this sound.

Exactly. Right. I think that's the problem because you could make it. It's like it's sound, right? It's not that you couldn't, it's just that it's not used. So therefore the brain is like, I don't need this. I don't need to pay attention to it. And this is why we, misplaced, replaced, or devoiced sounds. So you learned it in English and then you realized that you needed it for French as well. Yes.

And also, for example, the R sound, the R. I was mispronouncing R sound in English for all my life. And I did thousands of thousands of thousands of exercises. I did. Well, thousands, thousands, thousands, thousands of exercises to get there, to get to the sound was so difficult for me.

I love it that you say be prepared to repeat because I think that is the one element that most programs kind of like overlook, not just pronunciation, but also all English programs. You know, I study Spanish now and now, like when I learn something, and my teacher teaches me something and then she moves on to the next thing and I'm like, wait a minute, I have to say it out loud, otherwise I will not remember it. And if I don't do it with her, I have to do it after. And I realize it is so easy to forget. But if I say it really, like, I need to say it at least 10 times for the brain to be like, okay, got it. For the mouth and the brain and the eyes to connect. Like, it's— we're not robots. We can't receive new information and use it immediately. Right. Those repetitions are crucial, which is something that I definitely teach you in New Sound and also in Beyond in the classes. Right. But I think it's something that, that is, is so incredibly important. And often, you know, people don't take, don't understand the importance of it when teaching or when learning.

Yeah.

I'm glad that.

Yes. But it's, it's normal because we have the habit to have a kind of education that is completely, this, in this, you know, like the teacher is teaching and I'm listening. Okay, I'm noting and that's all.

That's it.

Yeah.

Yeah. Because, because when you have a class with 20, 30, 40 students, you can't have them repeat or have conversations and it's not practical for the system, right? And they have to pass exams and to pass exams there needs to be perfection. Yes or no?

Black and white.

But in reality, in English you can say things in so many different ways, but they don't teach you that because it doesn't align with the system and the grading system and what's easy for, you know, like to, to hold a class, especially when, when you learn English as, as a second language, as in high school or in school. So like this has infiltrated our brains and this is the, it's kind of like the framework of how language is needs to be taught. But when you think of how babies acquire a new language, it's just repetition, right? Like repetition, repetition of sounds, of words, saying something incorrectly, incorrectly, incorrectly until it gets corrected because the brain understands it. So how come we're not learning the way we learn our first language, you know, other languages as well? So I think this is what, what's so important to remember. Uh, why do you think, why do you think pronunciation is important? Not just for clarity, but for fluency as well.

I will start with an example. Give me an example. You know, I stopped to— when I was learning, learning at the— because I am still learning, but at the very beginning, I was always hoping that the person I was speaking with, like, got what I want to say. I was hoping, like, praying, I hope he will understand or she will understand what I am What do you want to say? Because I was pronouncing like, you know, like, yeah, I guess this way. So now I feel one of the main shifts was, yeah, clarity, but also this, okay, what I am doing, what I'm saying, I am pronouncing the good way. I'm sure I'm pronouncing out loud. You are in ownership.

You are in control of what comes out of your mouth.

Yeah, exactly.

Yeah.

So that's the main thing.

Yeah. And that— has that increased your confidence as well?

Yes, yes, definitely, definitely.

Because it all interacts, right? Like if you feel more confident, you're going to be more fluent because your brain is not busy thinking about all the things that are not working well. And I also— did you, did you feel— it happens with, with some students that you you feel less tension in your mouth when you pronounce things in an optimal way versus how it used to be.

I'm not sure, like, I'm not sure how it was for you, but yes, it was something that changed also in my mouth because in the NuSound program and also in Beyond, we have a lot of tongue exercises. And for example, when I was working for my R sound, I had so many pains in my tongue afterwards and I was feeling Good, but because I was working, like when you go to the gym, you lift weights and at the end you have pain and you are like, yeah. So it was the same. And now I feel when I, when for example right now I am speaking, I don't have pains. But in the past with the repetition work, I indeed had so many pains in my tongue. But with the exercise, with the daily exercises, your tongue is getting muscle. So, so yes, I feel it. It was part of the work.

Exactly. Just like you work out any other muscle, you got to work out your tongue. And at the beginning it could be tense, but then it becomes effortless because it, you know, like it's a lot more in shape in a way.

Yeah.

So tell me about your teaching because you teach French. Right.

Yes. Okay.

Tell me what you love about it first.

Okay. So I will, I will continue my storyline. So I, in 2023, I quit the automotive industry. I started improving my English. I had time. I joined your program. I started meeting fantastic people, et cetera. So, uh, I continue applied for so many, uh, United Nations jobs. Um, I had another interview at the beginning of 2025, and this was the time we had a conversation when you told me, yeah, you got this, you can do it, you have the level, etc. So I did the job interview, and still today I don't have an answer if it's negative or positive. And it's United Nations, you know, that can, that can happen. Um, but yes, so I continue in this path, but I have come to realize that it was really hard and I need to pay bills at some point because I was living from my economies. And I started at the, in the middle of 2025, I had a conversation with another French in Colombia who worked with me in Alliance Française at a time and She told me like, yeah, you have to be independent. You have to— she started to putting me to pushing me forward to being independent and to become independent in some way. She doesn't was— she wasn't really specific about French teaching, but something. And I was like, yeah, why not? Why not? Why to be all my life an employee? I can do something. And then it was my cousin who is much more like my brother. He came from Colombia to do something here and he asked me, what do you want to do? What are you good at? And it was like, okay, I'm good at French. I have a thorough knowledge of the French language. I am very good at communications and marketing. I love what I do. And recently I fell in love with phonetics and the, you know, the all this, uh, uh, international phonetics alphabet and all this new knowledge I was acquiring in English and also in French. Uh, so we made a cocktail of these three things and I decided to restart, um, teaching French. And since then I have, I've been, so I have, I had been teaching French for a couple of month, you know, like 6 or 7 months with my friend from Colombia who has a company. She gave me some students in Canada, especially in Canada. And I started to, I started feeling again myself because I am helping people pass exams. I am being part of the success of these people having new stories to tell with the language because they are Speaking in French right now. So I'm so happy to see them success in your, in your, in their life. So yes, I, I feel I found something that gives me professional fulfillment and personal fulfillment right now.

That is so beautiful. First of all, because it's, it's interesting to see that journey that you went through as you just explained it, and you're such a good storyteller, by the way, Monica, I have to tell you. But, but really it's, it, you know, and it's good as a teacher to be able to, to explain things through stories. Um, but I think that your personal growth and professional development journey, you know, it's, it's just so inspiring how you kept pushing yourself and doing more than you thought was possible and kind of like you made the container bigger and bigger and bigger until this is where you are today. And I think, you know, finding the passion for languages and for French and for sounds and for community and for service, right? Which is what you do with your students. I think this is definitely, um, a beautiful essence, like such a, such a beautiful place to be in. And so, so, so inspiring.

Um, and I, I, I am also doing some videos explaining sounds in French. And I started in French because I was inspired by your Instagram. And I started only in French. But one day I put a video in English explaining sounds in French. And it was like, I had a lot of thousands of views. And it was like, okay, I will try that. And it's been—

Amazing.

Yeah, it's been 2 weeks.

So now it's both English and French and pronunciation. Oh, this is so beautiful. We're going to link to your accounts, uh, social media.

Thank you so much. Yeah, because I'm sure there are a lot of people watching.

Yeah, where can they find you?

French Sounds Beautiful.

French Sounds Beautiful. Yes, that is so beautiful. I'm gonna, I'm gonna definitely— I need to finish Spanish first, and then I'll move on to French. So, okay, Monica, before we wrap up, first of all, thank you so much for the time and the energy and, and, you know, like, being open and vulnerable. Um, what would you say to someone who has— who is right now where you have been, right? Like, when where you have been or where you were in 2023, and they don't know what to do and they feel this frustration of things not working for them in English, what would you tell them?

Wow. It's a, it, you know, it's kind of super responsibility you are giving me right now. I would say start. Start. So at some point, even if it's, you know, sometimes we are postponing things to Monday, to next month. To next year. Start today, you know, like even if it's Friday at 10 PM, start doing something really little for your English. And I would like to say as well that the New Sound Program is the place to be if you want to understand the granularity of the English sounds and put them into the matrix of the English speaking with prosody, pitch, rhythm, and also your intention, your emotion, how to express yourself. And all of that is made to help you understand the process and to help you become and discover the best English speaker that you can be. So I would say something like that.

I love it. That's perfect. Monica, what is something that you are excited about these days apart from French and English? What is something different that you are excited about?

I am excited about becoming someone who is independent, who doesn't work 9 to 5. I'm so excited about that. It's something I am discovering, I am loving, and I am having so many time to do the things I would like to do and to work on things I would like to, to work on. I have time for my daughter, I have time for me. That's exciting, really exciting at the moment. I am exciting I'm really excited about the possibility to meet you and my fellow Beyonders in a meetup. Hopefully.

Will happen. Will happen.

Yeah, I met Hadar Shemeshesh so many invaluable people here, people that I love, you included, you know, like it's like, it's a feeling, you know, it's not like I'm working on my English. I am feeling English with all my heart, my body, Is that so? I am excited about that these days. And yeah, you're part of this excitement.

Yeah. Well, I'm, I'm excited that you are a part of our community and for sharing this, uh, conversation with, uh, with our audience and with more people in the world. Monica, you are a powerhouse. You are so incredible. I'm so grateful that I came across your way, your path, that you were listening to Luke's podcast that day that I was able to do that podcast. I remember that people were renovating next door, like, and I couldn't even talk to him and we almost canceled it. So thank God we didn't, because that has led you to me and me to you. So thank you, thank you, thank you. And, uh, for anyone watching, if you want to find out more about the program that Monica talked about. So we have Beyond Our English practice community where you are in community and you practice a lot of speaking practice and English classes, conversation groups, daily sprints. So it's more about building habits and consistency. And then there is New Sound, which is really like the, the, like a complete program. It's a complete method around mastering all the sounds and the prosody and the mindset set of speaking English. So it's all about pronunciation and communication skills. So we're going to put all the links below and we're going to put the link to Monica's, um, channel and social media accounts so we can follow her and study some French pronunciation as well. Thank you so, so much, my love. I appreciate you very, very much.

Thank you very much, Hadar. It was a pleasure to be here.

Pleasure to have you. Thank you so much for watching, and thank you, Monica, for sharing your story with us. I invite you today to do one thing to get started with a thing that you want to achieve, whether it's meditation, working out, eating differently, making more friends, or improving your English, becoming a speaker of English. Whatever it is, I believe in you. We believe in you, and the most important thing is to start today. So this is an invitation and a reminder for you to start today. Thank you so much. Have a beautiful, beautiful rest of the day, and I will see you next week in the next video.

Bye.