"I Had Lunch Planned" — And Other Stories We Tell When We’re Afraid to Speak Up in English
He didn’t say, “I’m nervous.”
He didn’t say, “I’m worried I’ll mess up my words.”
He just said, “I had planned my lunch.”
That was the reason he gave for skipping a short online meeting — one that happened to be in English. On paper, it sounded practical. Reasonable. Polite.
It was one of those messages you have to read twice.
It didn’t exactly flow. It was hard to follow — even for me, and I work with language every day.
Still, I recognised what was between the lines — not in what he said, but in how he said it. That careful detour around what he really meant.
He’d just started a new job. With a new team. And this meeting? It was in English — a language he knew, sure, but one that still felt like walking a tightrope without a net.
Beneath the awkward phrasing, I heard something I’ve come to recognise:
“Is my English good enough?”
“What if I say something wrong?”
“Will I sound like I belong here?”
I looked at the message again.
It wasn’t far off. But it needed shaping to be clearly understood in a professional context.
And that is where I come in.
I don’t teach people to speak perfect English.
I help them speak their English — the kind that feels authentic, confident, and understandable.
Because here’s the truth no one says loud enough:
Your English doesn’t need to be flawless. It needs to be heard — and understood.
Here’s what I focus on:
— Helping people find words that feel true to them
— Turning tangled thoughts into clear, human language — in meetings, emails, interviews
— Supporting professionals who’ve been quietly avoiding calls or “circling back later” because English still feels like a spotlight they didn’t ask for
This isn’t about giving more rules.
It’s about helping people show up fully — even when their voice shakes a little.
🟡 And if you’ve ever hesitated to speak up in English?
Come and practise — no pressure, no judgement — at our next Speed Networking for the Bold & Brave session. It's relaxed, supportive and designed for connection, not correction.
Let’s turn “maybe next time” into “I’m glad I came.”