Hello Language Learners,
In my local conversation club this week, we’re exploring the collocation “off the beaten path,” which means taking the road less traveled; discovering something new, away from the most popular sites and places.
We often use this phrase in the context of travel. When you visit a new city, you have two choices: You can follow the guidebook, or you can wander.
Most people stay on the main streets. They visit the most photographed landmarks. They eat at the most recommended restaurants. It feels safe. Predictable. Efficient.
But something interesting happens when you step away from that path.
You might get lost.
You might feel uncomfortable.
You might not understand everything.
And that’s exactly where growth begins.
Going off the beaten path often leads to deeper conversations, unexpected connections, and stories you couldn’t have planned. You begin to notice the rhythm of real life. How locals move, speak, gather, and think. You stop consuming the city and start experiencing it.
As I was preparing materials for this discussion, I realized the same is true in language learning.
Many learners stay on the “safe path”:
reviewing grammar rules
completing controlled exercises
listening passively
But real progress happens when you take small risks:
speaking before you feel ready
sharing an opinion
recording your voice
joining a live discussion
It might feel uncertain. But uncertainty builds fluency.
This week, members of the Kenza Speaks English advanced community are reading a short article about going off the beaten path and answering an open-ended question. By sending me their recorded responses, they will receive feedback on syntax, grammar, pronunciation, and fluency.
Join us and see how stepping off the usual path in your English practice can take your speaking to new places.
The beaten path feels comfortable.
But real transformation happens just outside it.
Last week on TikTok, I dove into some pronunciation practice with subtle difference between /ʒ/ and /dʒ/.
Watch to learn the difference between the /J/ sounds in words like “beige” and “job”.
Speak soon,
