Why Learning English Feels So Hard for Newcomers

Read the full article →

Learning English in a new country is about more than grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation — it is about confidence, belonging, and feeling safe enough to make mistakes.

In this episode of Newcomer Network on U Multicultural Channel, host Jhocelin Gilbert speaks with Scott Lao, an English teacher and photographer, about the real emotional journey behind learning English as a newcomer.

Scott shares his personal story of growing up in Winnipeg, learning English as a child, reconnecting with his family’s lost language by moving to China, and later teaching English to students from around the world. Through his experience as both a teacher and language learner, he explains why many newcomers struggle not because they are not smart, but because they are afraid of being judged, misunderstood, or embarrassed.

00:00 Why enjoying life helps you learn English faster
01:29 Growing up between Vietnamese, English, and Chinese
03:00 Why EAL teaching is different from regular English classes
05:20 The biggest challenges English learners face
06:13 Why some students feel traumatized by English
07:40 The fear of accents, pronunciation, and sounding foolish
09:16 Why patience can change everything for newcomers
12:36 How to build a safe space to make mistakes
14:29 The community shift that changed his language journey
17:34 Stop studying English like a test — start living it

Whether you are new to Canada, learning English as an adult, supporting a newcomer, teaching EAL/ESL students, or trying to build confidence in a new language, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone.

You do not need perfect English to belong.
You need courage, practice, community, and patience.

Watch the full episode of Newcomer Network on U Multicultural Channel and share it with someone who is learning English, starting over, or trying to find their voice in a new country.