I started learning English in secondary school the traditional way: with grammar rules, textbooks, exams and no real-life interaction. 
This method didn't get me results and created a sense of frustration.
I knew the grammar rules but kept making the same mistakes.
I couldn't use what I knew spontaneously.
I couldn't communicate confidently. 

As a university student, when I stopped studying English and decided to go beyond the study of the language and instead use English to learn about a variety of topics I was interested in, that's when I started to enjoy learning. And that's what kept me motivated to train daily and become fluent.

Later during my teacher training course in London I have developed alternative, more effective ways of making grammar and vocabulary automatic by focusing on sounds not on words, on set phrases not on single words, on out loud repetition not on written grammar exercises.  
Most importantly, I started to develop a growth mindset: I stopped expecting myself to speak perfectly, I welcomed mistakes and developed training techniques that helped me internalise correct language in a natural way.