1 . When I decided to leave my home country of Iran to pursue a Ph.D. in Canada, I hadn’t expected that communication would be an issue. In Farsi, I was a(n) _______ speaker. I had taken English lessons in my 20s and _______ well on the English test for university admission.

But soon after my _______ in the English-speaking world, I realized how wrong I was. Expressing myself in Farsi had been effortless, but now I had to be careful and deliberate. I needed to _______ and simultaneously (同时地) follow the conversation. I needed to _______ it into my native language, reflect and generate thoughts and ideas in _______, and find the right English words and put them in the right order to _______ that response. I had a hard time remaining present and focused in _______, because I was constantly thinking about what I would say next. I gradually turned inward and _______, particularly when surrounded by native English speakers. And I worried about my future. ________, effective communication in English is critical to being included and recognized in many academic and professional ________.

Later, I ________ to say exactly what I meant in discussions over and over again. Suddenly, a simple idea ________ to me: why not ________ the discussion in writing, in an email to my colleagues? That small adjustment was a game changer, because writing gave me ________ to reflect and comfortably ________ my points in English. I made a ________ of sitting at my computer and putting my Farsi thoughts into English words, taking my time to ________ clear sentences with accurate vocabulary and ________. Over time, this practice helped me simultaneously think and speak in English, as I do in my first language. I grew more ________ with oral communication, which revived my spirits.

With some efforts and a willing heart, my language obstacles have been overcome.