When Xiumei first arrived in New Zealand from China over ten years ago, she quickly realised that improving her English would help her become more confident in everyday life. Although she had learned a little Japanese at secondary school and had some basic English, she wanted to develop practical communication skills that would allow her to connect with people and become more independent. That's why she chose to study at DynaSpeak. "I like the way DynaSpeak teaches. The lessons build step by step, the teachers explain everything clearly, and the course content is very practical." Currently studying NZCEL Level 1, Xiumei enjoys the interactive learning style. She especially appreciates how each lesson reinforces previous learning through plenty of speaking practice and regular revision. "The classes help us remember what we've learned while encouraging us to keep improving." Since starting at DynaSpeak, Xiumei has become much more confident speaking English. Before joining the course, she mostly relied on gestures to communicate. Today, she can ask and answer simple questions using complete English sentences. She has also found it easier to chat with her neighbours and has gained a better understanding of New Zealand's multicultural community. Looking ahead, Xiumei hopes to communicate confidently without needing translation. She wants to travel independently, shop with ease, manage everyday situations, and eventually become a volunteer so she can give back to her community. One of her favourite parts of studying at DynaSpeak is learning alongside classmates from different countries. "At first, we could only introduce ourselves. Now we can have simple conversations about hobbies, daily life, travelling and shopping. It's wonderful to learn from each other." For Xiumei, learning English is about much more than language—it's about building confidence, making new friends, and creating new opportunities in New Zealand.