"Does he have a tennis racket?" - A story of language learning Learning a new language is never an easy task, but it can also be a rewarding one. As someone who has been studying English for several years, I have faced many challenges along the way. However, one particular experience stands out as a turning point in my language journey. It all started with a simple question: "Does he have a tennis racket?" I was attending an English course at a language school in my hometown. Our teacher, a native speaker, was trying to teach us some vocabulary related to sports. She showed us a picture of a man holding a tennis racket and asked us to describe what we saw. I remember feeling confident and eager to participate, but when it was my turn to speak, I froze. "Um... Does he have a... um... tennis... um... racket⛷?" I stammered, struggling to put the words together. My classmates looked at me with confusion and amusement. The teacher, on the other hand, seemed concerned. "Are you okay?" she asked. "You seem to be having trouble speaking." I felt embarrassed and frustrated. I had been studying English for years, and yet I couldn't even ask a simple question. I knew I had to do something to improve my speaking skills, but I didn't know where to start. That's when I decided to take matters into my own hands. I started watching English movies and TV shows, reading English books and articles, and listening to English podcasts and music. I also started practicing speaking with native speakers online and in person. It wasn't easy, and I made many mistakes along the way. But I kept pushing myself, determined to improve. And slowly but surely, I started to see results. One day, several months after the "tennis racket" incident, I found myself in a similar situation. I was at a tennis court with some friends, and one of them asked me if I had brought my tennis racket. Without hesitation, I replied, "Yes, I did. And what about you? Do you have a tennis racket?" My friend looked surprised and impressed. "Wow, your English has really improved," he said. "I didn't know you could speak so well." I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. It was a small victory, but it meant a lot to me. It showed me that all the hard work and effort I had put into learning English had paid off. Looking back, I realize that the "tennis racket" incident was a turning point in my language journey. It was a wake-up call that made me realize the importance of speaking skills in language learning. It motivated me to take my learning into my own hands and to never give up, no matter how difficult it may seem. Today, I am still learning English, and I know that there is always room for improvement. But I am also proud of how far I have come, and I am grateful for the lessons I have learned along the way. And who knows? Maybe one day, I'll be able to play tennis and ask for a racket without any hesitation.