I'd like to describe¹ my university friend, Leo, who is exceptionally good at learning and speaking new languages. We first met during our first year at university², when we were assigned to the same group for an English presentation. I was immediately impressed because he could speak confidently and naturally, while the rest of us were still worrying about our pronunciation. What makes Leo stand out is that he treats language learning as part of his daily life³ rather than as a school subject. When he starts learning a new language, he first learns common phrases that people actually use⁴ in everyday conversations. Then, he watches films, listens to podcasts, and follows social-media creators in that language. He also keeps a small notebook of useful expressions and tries to use them in conversations with native speakers online. Instead of being afraid of making mistakes, he sees them as a necessary part of the learning process⁵. At the moment, he can speak Mandarin Chinese and English fluently. He also speaks fairly good Japanese and Spanish, and he has recently begun learning Korean. Last summer, he travelled to Japan alone, and he told me that he was able to order food, ask for directions, and even have casual chats with local people entirely in Japanese. I genuinely admire Leo because he is not only talented but also disciplined and curious about other cultures. Being around him has made me realise that learning a language is not just about memorising vocabulary or passing an exam; it is a way of connecting with people and seeing the world from a different perspective. He has inspired me to be more confident⁶ and consistent in improving my own English.