As an international student pursuing my undergraduate degree in an English-speaking country, I have always struggled to fully express myself in English, especially when it comes to emotions. Whether it is happiness, sadness, anger or love, I find it challenging to put my feelings into words.
Growing up, I communicated primarily in my native language, which is vastly different from English in terms of structure and pronunciation. This disparity has made it difficult for me to convey my emotions effectively.
Whenever I try to express my feelings in English, I find myself searching for the right words, which are often inadequate to describe the depth of my emotions. Consequently, I often end up feeling frustrated, lost, and misunderstood.
For instance, when I am happy, my English vocabulary fails me; I am unable to choose the appropriate adjectives to describe the intensity of my emotions. I struggle to convey the extent of my joy and enthusiasm, and I end up saying something like "I feel good," which does not truly reflect my emotions.
Similarly, when I am angry, I find it hard to express my feelings coherently. My words often come out muddled, and I struggle to articulate the reasons for my anger clearly. As a result, people tend to misunderstand me or think that I am overreacting.
Perhaps the most challenging emotion to express in English is love. As a romantic language, my native language thrives on expressions of love, but in English, I find it hard to convey my affection to someone. My attempts at expressing my love often sound awkward or contrived, which can be disheartening.
Despite these challenges, I have come to appreciate the nuances of the English language as I continue to immerse myself in it. I have learned that expressing emotions in another language requires patience, practice, and perseverance. It also requires an open mind and a willingness to learn from others.
In conclusion, the inability to express emotions in English can be frustrating, but it is not impossible to overcome. As an international student, I continue to learn and hone my English language skills every day, and with time, I hope to fully express my emotions in English, just as I can in my native language.