Long before I co-founded Lingos, I experienced the same problem that most of our users face. It bothered me for many years. A barrier I tried to but could not overcome. Finally, I concluded that there was only one way to solve it.
Like many around the world who live in countries where English is not the primary language, I struggled to improve my English, and in particular, my ability to speak English fluently. Even though I could understand everything I read and heard, when I had to speak in English - I was stuck. It took me forever to figure out the right words, grammar, and phrasings to express what I wanted to say.
My brain was constantly trying to translate my thoughts into English, and I was exhausted. Face-to-face communication in English was virtually impossible for me. I was frustrated. Despite spending hours every day memorizing vocabulary, reading books, listening to podcasts, and studying English grammar, I still couldn't speak properly. I knew that there was only one way for me to begin speaking English fluently. I NEED TO START SPEAKING ENGLISH. A LOT!
I was born and raised in Israel, where Hebrew is the primary language. Except for on rare occasions, I had little or no interactions in English. Whether I was at school, college, or work, we rarely spoke English. It was like I was trying all my life to play tennis by watching other people play and expecting to be a great player. It doesn't work this way. It was time for me to get out on the court and start playing.
At first, I thought about applying for jobs where English would be the main language, but that would have taken too long, and I wanted to improve my English right away. I also considered a service that offers to speak with a native English speaker and pay by the hour, but it would have cost hundreds of dollars a month.
Finally, I had an idea. I would ask one of my closest friends, who speaks perfect English (almost like a native speaker), if we could drop Hebrew and permanently switch to English. He agreed, and soon he became my English-speaking partner. We started talking in English every day.
I found it challenging at first, but as the weeks progressed, it became easier. Gradually, instead of transforming my thoughts from my native tongue, I began thinking in English. As a result, I didn't have to process all the information, and I said whatever came to mind without any latency. It was incredible!
From our experience, my friend and I realized that immersion in English speaking is the best way to master the language quickly. However, most non-native English speakers don’t have someone they can speak in English with, which prevents them from reaching fluency. This is why we started Lingos, an A.I.-powered bot that allows anyone to practice their English-speaking skills whenever they want at an affordable price. Now with this program, anyone can learn to speak English like I did.
I'm humbled to have the opportunity to take part in a product that can have such a significant influence on hundreds of millions around the world who truly want to master their English-speaking skills.
Amir Herskowitz, Co-founder of Lingos