She moved to the U.S. and couldn’t understand anything…then she did this

Foreign.

Hey everyone, it's Hadar. Thank you so much for joining me. Today we have another interview in the Immigrant Experience Interview series and this time we're going to talk with one of my students, Alma Vivero. And Alma has moved from Mexico to Michigan in the US about nine years ago. And her story is fascinating. From thinking that she knows English to realizing that the English she learned has nothing to do with the English that is actually spoken up to the feeling of belonging and when she finally started feeling like she belongs in the U.S. we're also going to talk about habits and how she was able to build habits that allowed her her English progress and improvement. She will also share with you a few tips on how to keep going and stay motivated with when you feel stuck. Alma is a student of mine inside of New Sound and she's also an ambassador, which means that she helps new students succeed inside the program. And she is also a member of beyond our English Practice community. I have no doubt that you are going to love this interview. Let's listen. Hi Alma. So nice to have you here. How are you doing?

Hi Heather. I'm doing well. Thank you so much for having me. I always wanted to have a one on one with you and it's happening. I'm super excited. Thank you so much. I did it.

So I'm very, very thrilled to have you here because you have such an interesting story. First as an English learner and of course one of my students and now ambassador. And I also want to hear about your story as an immigrant because you had to face so many struggles moving to a new country as well as managing the language challenges, difficulties, stigma and a lot of things that we're going to talk about today. So I thought it would be such an interesting story to hear that and also to learn more about you and how you were able to overcome it. So for those who don't know you, those who are not our students, would you like to tell us a bit about yourself and about your background?

Of course. Thank you so much. So I'm from Mexico. I have been living in the States nine plus years. It's been a long journey for sure. And I moved because of my husband's job. And I remember when he came home and told me about the opportunity, I was like, yeah, let's do it. It will be a nice opportunity to learn the language, to learn more about the culture. But I thought that my English was good enough to survive in this country because I was learning English and I was working, I was using English at work but just a little bit. Not that much, but I thought should be enough. Then when we came here, I was like, what is this? I'll learn a different language at home. You know, it's totally different. Wow. And I remember going to this tour with my husband, and because he was in the same boat, and we will have, like, come up to a conclusion and then answer. You know, people will talk to us. And we were like, what do you understand? I understand this. Okay, let's respond this. It was kind of fun to do that all the time. And, you know, people will look at us like, what is wrong with these people? But it's just.

Let me just see if I got it straight. So on one, like, when you decided to go to the US you had no hesitation, like, because of the language, because you're like, I know English. I've learned English in school. Right. And even though you didn't practice it, you had a pretty good idea of, like, what. What is needed. And then when you got there, your biggest struggle was facing the real life English. Right. Like, how people actually use it. And am I getting it right? That it was, like, understanding people? Because if you and your husband both could not understand someone, I guess it was a really.

Yes.

Big issue.

Yeah.

Wow.

Yeah. Especially at the beginning, you know, when you have to get, let's say, cell phone services. Cell phone services and all that. Yeah, it was a struggle. And then how did that make you feel? You know, I was like, oh, my gosh, I don't know English. I felt so bad because, first of all, I'm like, I wasted my money in Mexico and time because the English I learned is totally different from the one that is spoken here. And now you understand because of the course and the work that I have done with your material and everything else going to get to it. But it's like, okay, now it makes sense. There are a lot of differences between Spanish and English, and it was just a matter of understanding what were the differences. And of course, nobody tells you that in Mexico. And plus, I started learning English when I was, like, 20, like, really late in life. It was just a struggle. Yeah. Yeah.

And, okay, so what did you do?

So then I told my husband, you know what? We need to take ESL classes because we are not going to survive. And always I wanted to work, too. So I was like, I'm not going to survive like this. I need to take ESL classes. And that's what we did. But the thing is that here, since you take classes with native speakers, they don't Know, I mean, some of them, they don't even have experience with learning a second language, so they don't truly understand you, what you are going through. They teach you more like grammar, more like those things that you don't really use in real life. I remember also I took an American accent training and the same thing. The teacher, she knew what the languages and everything, but there were people from different places and she didn't know the struggles or the difference between those languages. Of course, she taught us like a general overview, like, okay, you have to do this and that. And towards the end, she was like, okay, this is just too much. And we ended up doing different things other than learning the American accent. So I was like, okay. But, yeah, it's just different, really different.

How did you feel around you're in the new neighborhood or when you started meeting people around you? What was the biggest challenge, like, connecting with the locals? Let's just say so.

First of all, I always felt that my English wasn't good enough. And I thought, okay, I don't have the right idea to share. I don't have the right words to tell. It's not worth it. Just don't say anything. Like, I had this voice in my brain saying, don't waste it. Just don't say anything. You don't know. You are going to screw it up. They are not going to understand. They're going to say, please, can you repeat yourself? What's that? Or permit. You know, all those things that they tell you and you just feel like, really bad because you're like, I don't speak English. But you do. The thing is, you know, the work in mindset, what you keep saying in your courses is a lot of work in mindset because you know how to speak the language is just a matter of believing in yourself. And I think that was happening to me. And I will just don't talk. And I remember my husband will say, hey, let's go. Let's invite somebody home to have dinner or do things with native speakers, or not even native, where I needed to use the language. And I would say, no, I don't want to do it. I just want to speak in Spanish and just don't do it. I don't want to do was really a struggle because I didn't feel myself in English. Yeah, we'll avoid those conversations for sure.

So when did that all started to change and what did you do to start getting more comfortable with the language?

So, you know, everything started like two years ago with the pandemic. I Always felt that something was missing with my speaking habits, with my pronunciation. Because I will always apologize when I needed to talk on the phone or talk to somebody who's native. I always will apologize and say. Because I wasn't sure how to pronounce the words. And I will say, oh, sorry. Probably I'm pronouncing this incorrectly. Sorry about that. I will apologize all the time. And I was like, this is not okay. And also, I really, you know, I really had, like, high expectations of myself because I thought, hey, I have been living in the States for so long, by now I should speak a better English.

Can you talk a little bit more about that? Because I feel. And then we can move on. Because I feel like a lot of people feel that, like, a lot. Especially immigrants coming to the U.S. like, every time I speak, especially with people who have been living there for a few years, there's always this feeling like, oh, they should have been in a much better place by now. Can you talk a little bit about that and, like, how to navigate through that? Because I know now you're at a totally different place and how to navigate through this insecurity or personal challenge?

Yes, of course. So I, I thought, okay, you know what? At that time, I was like, I have been living here for seven years, working in English, living my life in English, so I should have a better pronunciation. I need to do something. But you know what? Now I understand that I needed to be more forgiving, more understanding with myself. It's a process. I wasn't born into the language. I wasn't lucky enough to live in this country since I was little. So of course it's a process. And part of learning is making mistakes. Because how you're going to learn, if you don't make mistakes, you don't allow yourself to make mistakes. So I guess, like, understanding, it's a lot of, like, mindset work. Understanding, like, hey, it's okay, you are where you're supposed to be. And hey, with the English that you had get you where you are now, it's good that you are realizing that you need to work on your English. But hey, you need to be, like, grateful what you have done, 100%.

I think this is a huge part. And people forget, like, they. They don't even think they deserve that positive talk. And I think that immigrating to a new country, especially us, the US that is so big, and like, usually there is a cultural difference and there are all these things that you have to take care of when you move into a new Place. It's like, it takes a few years, honestly, to get settled in and have the energy even to invest in the language. Like, I think there is like all this emotional transition that you have to make that your body is just focused to. Your body, your mind, your soul, all of that is just focused really on surviving this move, navigating it. Right. And a lot of like, things, things, stuff to take care of that really. It makes sense that in the first few years you would find it difficult to make a huge difference in your English because you're really like, just trying to survive. Like, am I right? Like, I've seen that so many times, even in my own experience.

Yeah. Yes.

Yeah.

But you know what? I don't know why happens that you have really high expectations and you are so hard on yourself. And the problem is that you don't give any credit to yourself. You know what I was doing too? I was like, oh my gosh, how come this person has a better English than I? And I have been long living here in the States. And all those thoughts that don't serve you better or don't serve you at.

All, on the contrary, they hurt you. You know, they hurt you because they hurt your ability to find that motivation or the positive energy to do the work that's needed. And then you're just like stagnant. You can't, you freeze, you can't do anything because you feel anyway like a failure and like nothing's gonna help. Where in fact, there was no possible way for you because you really had to deal with everything. And you know, like, I have a lot of female students, women in particular. You know, they have to, to care for their family and to make sure that their kids are feeling at home so all their energy goes to them. And then it's okay. If you have been in the US for three, four, five, six, seven years and you're still not where you want to be, but at some point you do find the time. We have another student, we both know her inside of New Sound that has been in the US for almost 14 years. And only now I think she's like, now is my time. Now I feel that I'm ready to invest in myself. And I think that when that happens, there should be no room for self judgment or criticism because you do what you can at any given moment. And I feel that you, exactly, you have had to like, understand that as well.

Yeah, for sure, I was at that point. But then, okay, it's good, you realize what you need. But now, okay, what do you do you need to find the right course, the right practice that give you results because you don't want to invest the time and then doesn't work? I think that's the tricky part. And that's also one of the things. I mean, I think I got really lucky because I found you right away, and I was like, this is it.

Because that was back in 2020, right? Like the beginning of the pandemic.

Yeah, that was back in 2020 when I found you. And I was like, I was browsing because, you know, I was really stressed with the pandemic and everything else. I'm like, I need to focus on something else. And I always wanted to do this. This is my time. And I was browsing around, and I found you, and I watched a video of you on YouTube, and I'm like, oh, my gosh, her English is amazing. She must be a native speaker. Then I kept watching more videos, and I'm like, she's not. Oh, no, no. She's married to an American. That's why her English is so good. And then I kept watching, watching. I'm like, wait, she lives in Israel. She's not married to an American. What is this? I want to speak like her. And then I learned more about you. I found that you had a course at that time, and actually you were about to launch a festival on Facebook, which I participated in. And I was like, this is it. This is exactly what I need. Because right away I was like, hey, she doesn't hesitate to share her knowledge. She really cares about her students. The festival was really well organized with clear instructions. And I'm like, this is it. That's exactly what I need. Because I knew that I needed to improve my pronunciation. And you know what? I was trying to learn everything at once instead of focusing on one thing. Instead of focusing on one thing at a time, I was trying to learn a lot of things. And I honestly, this is the value of your course, because it's thinking in the new speakers of English is designed by somebody who knows the struggles, who understands, and also you experience the transformation. I think that's the biggest value of this course. And I'm like, this is it. This is exactly what I need. Because basically, you compile everything, you already tested it, you knew what didn't work, and put everything together in one place. And you also provide schedules. So you just need to follow the schedule, click, play, and that's it.

So for you, it seems to me like it's, of course, the program, and you have your own fascination with Pronunciation that we're going to talk about. But like, it felt like what worked for you was all about building that habit. The English practice. Right. Why is that important for people who are in your situation? What would you tell them? Like, why? Why would that be worthwhile if they want to improve?

Yeah. So first of all, you got to understand that English is like any other exercise. Then you need to practice every single day to get good at it. And also, one of the things that I learned is that, and this is through your course as well, about muscle memory, I was like, is that a real thing? It is. After I learned about it, I Google it. I'm like, it is a real thing. And understanding, hey, it's okay. It's a process. English is just like an exercise and keep practicing. And that's really what helped me. And also the other thing was finding my motivation. Because your course not only gives you the material that you need to work on, but also gives you tools to find your motivation and keep going and showing up every single day and how to build habits which you can use in other places. Because that's what I do. I use it not only in English, but also in other aspects of my life. You know, it's like you, you get everything in one place. But more importantly, what you said, the.

Motivation, and just for the record, like, just for people to understand your status, right? Like, you, you're a working mom. Like, you were able to do that work while having a job and while, you know, being a mother. So talk a little bit about that and how you were able to navigate everything together. Because I'm sure that a lot of people would say, yeah, but it's easy for you maybe, because you probably had time and you had this. So I know that you're like one of the busiest people I know.

So. Yes. No, not really. Of course I had a full time job at that time. I only had one children. I had a husband, I had a house to take care of. But I also have to say that my husband was really supportive because he's like, okay, this is what you need, this is what you want. I'm going to help out with Emma at that time, my daughter, and also gave me the opportunity to focus on these because I'm like, this is working. And yes, I was super busy, but I took the time. Of course, I was working weekends at night, but I knew what I wanted. And I always like, this is it. I want to do it. This is what I want. And I want to feel confident in English. I want to feel like myself in English.

Yeah. So let's try to tell us a little bit more. What does that mean? You want to feel like myself? What was your goal really, like when you said, I want to do this, what is this?

So first of all, I always had this all or nothing mentality. Like if I don't do it, like 100%, I'm not going to do it. But then I'm like, if I do it, like little by little, taking small actions every day, I will see the results. And that's what I did. And also I. I'm like, I want to feel like myself in English the way I feel in Spanish. I want to be funny, I want to be able to express myself. I want to be able to talk to anybody and don't have any hesitation. And that's exactly what I was feeling when I was going through the transformation. That's what I was feeling and I really liked that feeling. And the more I did it, the more I felt like that. So I think that was my biggest motivation.

What was the thing that worked for you? Mostly because I think that when it comes to English, there are a lot of different elements. There are those who are obsessed with grammar and those who are obsessed with new words and can have a hundred different notebooks with words and others with pronunciation. So what was your thing?

My thing was doing a speech analysis, which is one of your techniques. Because before I watch one of your videos and you were talking about speech analysis and I was doing it, but I wasn't doing it right. I was just repeating for repeating and that's it. But then after your course, okay, I understand how exactly works. And then I started doing it. I'm like, this is it. I love doing TED talks analysis and just listen to the rhythm, to the intonation. And I think that was really fascinating to me. And those are like simple exercise that you don't need any money to invest, but you need to understand, have a clear objective what you are going to work on and do it. But the way I learn it is because of you, because of your technique. And I think that really served me really, really good. And I still do it.

How do you put into practice what you learn and when you practice into your day to day life, like what change have you seen, let's say at work or in your social life.

That.

Was impacted by this English work?

So one of the things, because at first I was really obsessed with the sound, with everything, I wanted to learn everything. And I remember one of your coaching sessions, I asked for a hot Seat, which is part of your process, what you offer in the course. And I remember you telling me, because I didn't know where else to do, where to go. And I remember telling you, hey, I still feel this hesitation to talk to native speakers because I think I'm not enough. And I remember that I needed to do more work. And I remember you telling me, you know what, you need to trust the work that you have put into it and just go and put yourself out there. And since then, that's what I have been doing. And you know what? I feel more focused at work because right now I don't worry about English. I just worried about sending the right message, which is really important. I think it's like a ripple effect. One thing starts another and then you are doing other things that you never thought you will be doing. Yeah, it's just like a ripple effect. That's the way I could describe it.

Because like, when you're confident about communicating, you're confident about your job, you're confident about your position. Right. Like your social skills, when English is not a barrier, or at least when you feel like you're putting in work, you know what you're doing. And then I absolutely agree, like, I think that it's not just about the communication in English. It really is about how you carry yourself as a person.

Exactly, exactly. And what you keep telling us, hey, you deserve to be heard. You have a lot to add to the conversation, to work. You have a lot of value in you. You deserve to be heard. And I think that's crucial. And I have always that in my mind, like doing a lot of mindset work, it's important to feel confident and just express yourself.

Yeah, it is. I think it's an integral part of any language training and especially I think for people who are surrounded by English, immersed in English, people who have moved to English speaking countries, because you're constantly confronted with this, you know, notion of you who is maybe somewhat, a little different, you know, in that sense of belonging. And speaking of that, when did you feel like you belong in the us?

So I felt that after probably like a year of doing your course, your work.

So eight years into living in the.

U.S. wow, eight years. Yes. I always felt like, hey, my English is not good enough. I don't deserve to be here. I don't. You know that imposter syndrome that you talk about, it, it's. That was in my mind. And then I was like, no, I need to just work on my mindset and speak up, say what I think and now I feel, yes, I belong here. I deserve to be heard. And it's so silly because as I was saying at the beginning, there is a lot of people from different places in Michigan. Everybody has a different accent. So I don't. I don't. Yeah. Right now it's. I'm in a way better position after eight years.

Yeah. Like, that concept of you need to sound a certain way is ridiculous. Right. It's sold to us by, you know, like, the media and also just, like, perceptions around what it's like to speak English. But, yeah, like, you live in a place, and there are so many places in the US who are so diverse that are so diverse that, like, you don't. No one sounds a certain way or the same. Right. They don't all sound the same.

Yeah, that's true. And the other thing that I like about the course was the community, which, in my opinion, is everything, because they really push you to do things, you know, out of your comfort zone, like recording yourself, posting videos, because everybody's doing it, and you're like, I gotta do it. Everybody's doing it. You know, so why is it important?

Talk. Talk to me a bit more about why is it important to not just do this learning process on your own?

So, first of all, I don't know what is about your course, but you attract certain people, which is, like, really motivated to learn to do the work. And you usually, for your course, you create a Facebook group, and everybody's there sharing their experiences, their thoughts, and practicing together. And everybody's, like, doing the work, and you feel, like, motivated to do it because everybody else is doing it.

Yeah.

It's like, I think, honestly, it's really important to have that support system to do the work, because sometimes you are not motivated all the time, even though you have an objective in mind. Sometimes it's not in there all the time. But then you open up Facebook and you see everybody doing the work, and you're like, I gotta do it. It's like.

It's like, healthy fomo, right? It's like fomo, but it's good for you because it's gonna get you to practice. And this is what we want. Like, we want people to feel, I wanna be doing this too, which is an incentive to do it, because it's so easy to say, okay, I'll do it tomorrow. It's so easy to not stay committed. Like, our human brain wants to not do hard things. And I think that when you surround yourself, you're also held accountable. You have, in a Second, we'll talk about your impact inside of our programs. But it's like you create an accountability group where you're like, it's not just about you anymore. They're expecting you to show up, they need you for their journey. And you made a promise that you're gonna either make a video, show up for practice, and if you don't, then it's not just, oh, I'm not practicing my English, it's also, I don't wanna disappoint them, or I feel accounted like, I feel like I don't wanna break my word. And I think we need that to stay on track to do the work. And of course, English needs to be spoken, and for that you need good people to speak to. So it's interesting and fun and it feels like home because we've seen in the programs, especially the last round, that we had people who did not speak before. And then just simply by showing up and speaking over the course of three months, as much as possible, and going through the content, all of a sudden they're speaking. And it's not about just learning more. It's also about opening up all those channels by speaking with others. And again, whether it's in my programs and other programs or on your own free online, it does not matter. But it's so important to surround yourself with good people who would encourage you to move forward. What would you say, Alma, to people who don't have, you know, you talked about your husband and how supportive he was. Supportive it was. And even now for the interview, right before the interview, Alma told me that she was like telling her husband, I need you to take the kids and go outside for an hour. This is my time right now. Yes, and I love that. Like, I think it's so important to have support at home. Me personally had support at home from my parents, from my partner. But that's not always the case for people. So what would you tell people who don't have the same support at home and they still want to stay on track, consistent, and do the work.

So what I will say is that you don't need to invest like three hours a day. Just commit yourself to do 20 minutes instead of watching Netflix, just play a video and start practicing. Because that's the other thing that I had this misunderstanding and probably a lot of people have it that just by watching TV you are going to learn English. That's not true. That's just consuming content. You need to practice. You need to do active practice. And I think probably if you have 20 minutes, just sit and practice. Even though I had the support and I could invest more time, I can tell you that I've seen people who does only 20, 30 minutes, but constantly, and I see the result, just taking little actions that will lead to a bigger result.

Yeah, absolutely.

Yes.

So what made you want to help others on their journey? Because like I said at the beginning, when I introduced this interview, I told them that you are an ambassador, which means that you help facilitate the program to new students. So you took New Sound as a student, and now you're helping others get through the program and achieve success. What made you want to do that? And what's your biggest reward, let's say, from doing that?

So again, you know, having this Facebook group and posting videos towards the end of the program, people will comment and say, hey, your English is so good. I was like. I felt that I was inspiring people, and I thought, okay, I'm making an impact now. What else can I do? And I told my husband, you know what? I think now, with the knowledge I have, I might be able to help others, but I don't have an audience. I don't know how to do it. And then your team approached me and told me, hey, you want to be an ambassador? I'm like, this is it. Now I have the idea of how to do it, and now I have the audience, so I'm going to just do it. And you know what? As you said this last round, it was, like, really profound that I felt like I was doing a lot of impact in the community with my coaching sessions, and people will show up to each of them and practice with me. And I was like, this is it. It's not about me anymore. It's about helping others. And now that's my goal, is like, okay, what else can I do to help others to see that, to make their journey easier? Because it's a lot, and you're going to have a lot of setbacks. But if you have a good support system in the community, that really helps to keep going and remember, hey, she did it or he did it, and now I can do it. I just need to put the work and the time.

Yeah, yeah. And I think that also when you. One of the things that I keep telling my students, and I'm sure that, you know, you remember that. That there is a point in your English practice that is, you know, it's about you, but then there is a point that you need to start making it about other people. Because first of all, when it comes to English, when you start Explaining English or you know, talking to other people about sounds or elements of speech and stuff like that. You have to explain it in a certain way that gives you all this clarity, right? Clarity that probably did not exist beforehand. So I think that when you move away from just it being about you to it being about other people. And again, like the people that we attract and in our programs are people with a very big heart who, you know, who want to improve English because they want to make deeper connections. They want to be able to feel like themselves. They want to feel expressive, right?

To.

To let their voice be heard. So it's like really about that. The reason why we're all here on this earth, really. And I think that that idea really resonates with people of that sort because they're like, yes, I want it to mean something more than just saying what I need when I go to the grocery store or even saying what I think about the product in a meeting at work. Sometimes it is more than that.

Exactly. I totally agree with you. And I experienced it myself with the last round because it was just amazing. And I was like, how is this possible? This feeling really fulfilled, you know, really fulfilling, like seeing others to do or to practice with your audios? Because we will do. I will do like speech analysis with TED talks and then people will post videos on Facebook of the analysis. And I was like, oh my gosh, they are doing. Was just incredible. Yeah, I loved it for sure.

What would you recommend someone who, let's say, has just moved to the US or Canada or Australia or like an English speaking country and they experience exactly what you have experienced. Like that feel like my English is not up to par. Like it's not allowing me to do what I need and get what I want. What would you recommend for them to do?

I will say that you guys need to be more understanding, more forgiving with yourself. And understand that is a process, that it takes time to learn a language because unfortunately we wasn't born into it. And remember, I mean, speaking two languages is our superpower. You know, it's just incredible. And at the beginning I had this idea speaking like a native speaker, but now I understand how people are going to know that I'm from a different country if I don't show up. My accent and that's my superpower. I think guys, you need to understand that's an advantage and you just need to practice, put the time and you will get there. Because we have the courage, the new sound. We are the new sound. As you keep saying, the new Speakers of English and what you said, what is the standard? Who said that? Who defined that? We are the standard? I think because right now with the pandemic, everything is online, so you need to be able to understand people from different places, not only from the U.S. i think that's the new norm, honestly. As I said, speaking two languages is our superpower, and we need to be proud of that, proud where we come from.

Amen to that. That is so Good. I agree 100%. Thank you for sharing that. Do you have a funny story story or an interesting story about communication in the U.S. maybe when you first got to the U.S. maybe at work, something that people can kind of resonate with and see that even if this happens, nothing's wrong with you? Really?

Yeah, actually, I have two really funny. So the first time we went to a restaurant, the waiter came, gave the menu and everything, and then they usually give you options for starting, and they are like, what do you want, a super salad? I was like, oh, my gosh, they have, like, super salads in here. Give me that. And he kept saying, like, super salad. I'm like, give me that. The super salad. Give it to me.

So good.

They're like, no, it's soup or salad. I'm like, oh, give me the salad. Yes.

And this is such a good example of when you learn the language in a certain way, you think of it word by word by word. You don't think about connected speech. You don't think about reductions if you haven't learned. And when you go there, it's like, reductions, baby. Reductions, connections, all of that good stuff.

Yes.

Oh, that's so good. I love that.

Yeah. And the other thing, and this is more cultural. So I remember my first week at work because usually people are really friendly, and they are like, hey, my name is this and that, you know, and introduce themselves. And then you see them again, and they're like, how are you doing? And I will stop and say, hey, I want to tell you how I'm doing. And they will keep walking. And I was like, wait, you just asked me how I'm doing? And you just kept walking. What is this? You know, they are just being friendly, and probably they are busy and they don't have time to talk to you, but I will stop and wait for them to listen how I'm doing. They kept walking. Okay. This must be a cultural thing.

Absolutely. Like, I think, how are you doing? They think of it like, hello, you know, and if you're not, like, coming from that specific culture, by the way, for me as well. You know, you say, how are you doing? You're like, yeah, you're expected to, to answer to a certain degree, right? Funny. And they took you a minute to understand why they're being rude.

Yeah, yeah, I thought that was so funny.

And now you're like, probably greeting people with, how are you doing?

And keep walking, of course, and keep walking. Like, how are you doing?

When in Rome, when in Michigan, you know.

Yes, yes, yes.

Oh, Alma, Alma, it was so good, so good hearing your story and talking to you. Is there anything else you'd like to share or tell us?

Of course. Yeah. First of all, as I said at the beginning, I always wanted to have this one on one interview with you. And you know, recently we were in the celebration week of new sound. You know, a lot of people were like even crying and really excited because of all the things that they can do now. And I was like, oh my gosh. How does it feel to make such a positive impact and changing people's lives? How does it feel?

Okay.

Wow.

I think first of all, thank you. And yes, it was such a. We had a five hour session. I was crying every two minutes. You know, it was so, so beautiful to hear those stories. And I think it's like Judith, our coach says, I think you hit the sweet spot in new sound. And I was like, yes, I think so. Because when I. Creating new sound has evolved from creating a pronunciation program and then like seeing the need for mindset and then starting to gradually incorporating, to incorporate it and then to create a totally different program that. Where it's kind of like scheduled and structured and then to understand that. And I think this was a big realization for me that my job is to really help people make a positive change in their lives and to gain freedom. Right. Like to be able to express themselves and language, you know, English is the tool. English is the tool to do that. So when I see that. So on one hand, it really feels like this is the essence of why I exist. It feels so rewarding because I know what goes behind it for me, for the team, for my family. There's a lot that goes into making something like that happen. And I think that when I see that, I'm like, ah, it is all worth it. And when I feel, when I lose motivation, which happens in the day to day grind, I remember those moments, those specific people. I have stories of people in front of me all the time because it's so important for me to remember that everything goes to this one purpose, which is this angle to See that change in people's lives. But I can also tell you that sometimes it's kind of like, over very overwhelming, like, emotionally overwhelming, because now I know how to manage it better. But when it first started, it felt like I didn't have the emotional capacity to deal with. It felt overwhelming. I had the imposter syndrome. It's like, is this really happening? Is this really me? You know, like, I think that. That it's not really about me. And, like, I had to tell, like, I used to tell myself all these stories about why this is happening. And maybe, you know, and I. And I also had to do. What I teach my students is to kind of like, accept, you know, that all that goodness and change and compliments, which we as people, women in particular, find it very hard to do. Right. We want to deflect it. No, no, it's not us. It's not like. Because it's kind of like it goes against. It's like the opposite of the imposter syndrome. Right? And we want to believe in the imposter syndrome. We don't really, but, like, we want to believe that we're not good enough. We're looking for validations like, that negative. And when something that is exactly the opposite is happening, it feels like an internal clash. And I've had to deal with that for. For many years. You know, when I had, you know, when we opened doors and there are a lot of people joining, I was, like, so excited, but also full of fear. You know, it's just like, is this really happening? What's going on? And I guess that with time, I had to learn how to receive that with, like, love and with appreciation and with also kind of like, validation of the good stuff, of my purpose, the company purpose, and the team, you know, what they want to do. So I think that I, you know, I'm so incredibly grateful for that. Really grateful. And it's solely seeing that and hearing that is solely the reason why I do what I do. So with all the complexity around it, it's the best possible thing that I could ever experience. And I'm so grateful for my students and for you guys. For you, the ambassadors that have been making that a reality for everyone, for all of us.

Yes. And we are so grateful to be part of this amazing project. I mean, it's just incredible what you are. You are constantly reinventing yourself to help others, because I feel that you truly listen to your students. You are constantly sending out surveys asking, okay, what else can I do for you guys? What else can I Implement. What else can I change? And it's just incredible that you are constantly reinventing yourself and learning more and see, how can I apply these to English and just helping others. I think that's what really, really matters in here. Just helping others and making an impact. And you are doing it not only new sound, but also in Beyond. I love your coaching sessions, your business coaching sessions, because you help out. Like, okay, if you do this, if you have an idea, but if you see it this way, and I can give you the resources, because I remember. I don't remember her name, but this lady who wants to do yoga, you said, okay, Vanessa. Yeah. You said, okay, I'm gonna give you the resources. Let's set up a session about yoga and do it. Practice here. That's just incredible.

I think, like, well, first of all, thank you so much. And I think that I'm personally a very proactive person, and I expect that of my students in English, like, they can't manage to, first of all, get the results that they want, but also, even go through my programs without being proactive, because there's no. Like, you can be passive and improve, and you can't be passive and be in my program because you're not going to get the results. And I think that if I expect that from my students, I have to do that in my life and in my business. Like, I got to walk the talk, right? Like, and I think that this is why it's so important for me to keep innovating because. Or to keep changing things and keep improving and be in that, like, open dialogue with my students, because I also think that I would want them to do it with their lives, with their English, with their colleagues, you know, and I think that.

That.

We as a company cannot do one thing and then demand something else. So thank you for acknowledging that and noticing it. And I love it that you like the business coaching session in Beyond. Beyond is a membership community that is not just about English, but it's just, like, a place to immerse in English and to work. And we have business sessions there. So it's a lot of fun.

They are so good. And then people coming up with these ideas and using English for their businesses is like, this is incredible.

Exactly. It's all, like, the purpose of, you know, using English to make a difference in their lives. Yes, absolutely. Exactly.

Yeah. Because you're like, okay, now you know English. What else can you do? How can you use it? Right. It's really cool. I love it.

Alma, what are your next. Where do you see yourself in five years.

Well, for sure. I want to keep doing what I'm doing right now in new sound as ambassador and keep helping others. I want to learn more about pronunciation coaching, and someday I want to work in your team because, you know, it's amazing. Your vision is just amazing. I just love it. It's incredible. Yeah. I mean, yeah. As you said, that's your purpose. That's why you are here in this world, to help us to feel freedom in English, to achieve the things that we always wanted to do in English, to feel confident about it and to be heard. That's what it is. Absolutely.

Absolutely. Alma, thank you so, so much for this beautiful conversation. I wish you all the best, and I have no doubt that whatever you set your mind to, you're going to get it. I've seen you. I've seen you at work. You're so passionate, and the impact that you have on our students is just amazing. So thank you so much for being here.

Thank you so much for having me. Really appreciate it, and I love you so much. Thank you.

I love you, too. Bye. Thank you.

Bye. Bye.