January 17th, 2026 January 17th, 2026

Today, I was overwhelmed withby a sense of failure. Today, I was overwhelmed by a sense of failure.

These words were runningran through my mind. These words ran through my mind.

"Were running" is fine too; The nuance here is that past progressive ("were running") implies a continuous action at some point in time, while simple past ("ran") merely describes a completed action. Past progressive usually fits better when you use certain words to describe the time period (i.e. during, throughout) Example: These words were running through my mind *throughout the conversation*)

Then, I came across a YouTube video where a Japanese interpreter explains how to speak English more naturally. Then, I came across a YouTube video where a Japanese interpreter explains how to speak English more naturally.

Then, I came across a YouTube video where a Japanese interpreter explains how to speak English more naturally. Then, I came across a YouTube video where a Japanese interpreter explains how to speak English more naturally.

Her strategy was not that new, but the way she spoke inspired me. Her strategy was not that new, but the way she spoke inspired me.

At first she explained the reason why we often freeze when we speak in English. At first she explained the reason why we often freeze when we speak English.

At first, she explained the reason why we often freeze when we speak in English. At first, she explained the reason why we often freeze when we speak in English.

We tend to translate what we want to say from our mother tongue before we speak in English. We tend to translate what we want to say from our mother tongue before we speak English.

We tend to translate what we want to say from our mother tongue before we speak in English. We tend to translate what we want to say from our mother tongue before we speak.

"in English" is not really required here since you've established that in the previous sentence. Including can sound very slightly repetitive but it's not a huge deal.

Therefore, she suggested that we should practice until our native language stops coming to our mind when we speak English. Therefore, she suggested that we should practice until our native language stops coming to our mind when we speak English.

Therefore, she suggested that we should practice until our native language stops coming to our mind when we speak English. Therefore, she suggested that we should practice until our native language stops coming to our mind when we speak English.

Therefore she suggested that we should practice until our native language stops coming to our mindwe no longer think in our native language when we speaking English. Therefore she suggested that we should practice until we no longer think in our native language when speaking English.

So, she highly recommended that we should always ask ourselves how we’d say things in English with curiosity. So, she highly recommended that we should always ask ourselves how we’d say things in English with curiosity.

So she highly recommended that we should always ask ourselves how we’d say things in English with curiosity. She highly recommended that we should always ask ourselves how we’d say things in English with curiosity.

"So" can feel a little heavy-handed here considering the last sentence started with "Therefore" (a word with a very similar function).

I think this is one of the methods I’ve been avoiding, but I definitely I need to do that. I think this is one of the methods I’ve been avoiding, but I definitely need to do that.

"Definitely I..." is grammatically correct but "I definitely" is more natural.

I think this is one of the methods I’ve been avoiding, but I definitely I need to do that. I think this is one of the methods I’ve been avoiding, but I definitely need to do that.

I’ve been getting frustrated more and more, and ended up bursting with emotion earlier, while talking to one of my language partners. I’ve been getting frustrated more and more, and ended up bursting with emotion earlier while talking to one of my language partners.

Actually this isThis is indeed what always happens to me. This is indeed what always happens to me.

Japanese words often come to my mind when I try to speak English. Japanese words often come to mind when I try to speak English.

It prevents us from speaking fluently because structures of each languages are different. It prevents us from speaking fluently because structures of each language are different.

It prevents us from speaking fluently because the structures of each languages are different. It prevents us from speaking fluently because the structures of each language are different.

Using "the" highlights the subject of the subordinate clause ("the structures of each language are different")

ItThis prevents us from speaking fluently because the structures of each languages are is different. This prevents us from speaking fluently because the structure of each language is different.