Short welcome speech

Could you tell me how the following short welcome speech is? I think it seems to have no problem as it is, but some told me it sound too old-fashioned. If it really so, could you make it more natural? The crossed lined parts is revised by me. If it is still not good, or not need to revised, please recorrect my revision also. Thank you in advance.

Today, Jenifer is here from USA.
I met her through a mutual friend when I traveled to New York last year.
She was very interested in my country and culture, so she asked me many questions.

However, I wasn't used to speaking in English, so I had a hard time answering. => didn't speak English well then, so I almost couldn't answer her questions.
With the hopes to communicate with her better in the future, => I hoped to better talk with her in English if I would meet her again,
so I decided to take English classes. => so I started learning English after I came back home.
Jenifer, how am I doing? => how do you feel about my English?
Has my English improved? => Do you think I can answer your questions tonight that I couldn't before? I really hope so because, if not, you have to wait for another year unfortunately, or should learn the most difficult language to gratify your intellectual curiosity. (I tried to make this part more humorous)
I am very happy to not only reunite with you , but see you back in my home country.=> I am very happy to see you again here in my country.

Let's all enjoy this special occasion!
Please raise your glasses, cheers!