What is it like to speak English poorly?

My poor English is really a joke, especially in an era when English is so prevalent.

I am engaged in computer training. Our institution is a foreign-funded institution. Foreigners often come to the institution to give industry lectures to students. It mainly introduces industry prospects and technology development directions, etc.

I remember one time I was talking about software technology and development trends. Many students gathered below, all of them college students. As a result, when the expert started giving lectures, all the students below frowned and had strange expressions. I thought it was strange and asked them what was going on. They all said they didn't understand. I said it’s impossible. I’ve passed CET-4 and CET-6 and yet I can’t understand it?

Their answers made me completely understand that this lecture was really not that simple for them. This requires not only a certain level of English listening, but also an understanding of computer-related vocabulary. Even if they have passed CET-4 or CET-6, there are too many professional vocabulary words that they cannot understand.

So, I took the initiative to translate for them. Because my English listening and speaking is already pretty good, plus I am a computer major and have work experience, I have no problem with these professional vocabulary.

When I conveyed first-hand information from experts to them, they really learned a lot and understood a lot of the latest information. After the experts finished speaking, there was a free question session. Although some people sitting here wanted to ask, but due to their lack of English skills, they had to turn to me for help, hoping that I could help them.

When I explained their questions to the experts one by one, the experts answered them patiently, and then I translated them to the students. After this came and went, they were all satisfied, but I was exhausted.

Through this incident, I really felt that my English was not good, and I was really at a disadvantage. This kind of lecture is definitely not something that an English major can handle, nor is it a person who is purely technical in English and is not good at it. What people can do requires the combination of the two. I should be very fortunate that my persistence in English at that time seems to have come in handy now.

So, people who are good at English can get more information and opportunities than those who are not good at English. I fully agree with this.