Against expectations and prevailing beliefs, we were able to help a school in remote northern Sri Lanka learn English vocabulary without the aid of an interpreter. Though educators had considered it impossible for these children to speak or understand English through direct instruction, our experience proved otherwise. The breakthrough lay not in their abilities, but in our willingness to challenge limiting mindsets. Within a remarkably short time, the students joyfully mastered and sang “head, shoulders, knees and toes,” demonstrating not just a grasp of the language, but a spirit of possibility. This experience stands as a testament to what can be achieved when we dare to believe in unconventional paths to learning and nurture resilience in young minds.