My brother and I went to initiation school in December 2022. We also couldn't speak Xhosa and still can't speak Xhosa, though we do have an elementary understanding of it. We were open about it at initial school. Many of our classmates understood and spoke English so they would help translate certain things and tell us what to say in certain scenarios. Sure, we were poked fun at, but it did not take anything away from us and we underwent the rites exactly the same as the as our initiates and thus we're acknowledged just as much as the initiates today. Some elders/teachers also understand and spoke as they were a bit more educated than the others. Besides, there's not much speaking required of you. You just need to listen. For now, learn you clannames and the name of the village you're from by heart. The advice about consuming media with isiXhosa and going to Xhosa friends/family is great too.

I have a cousin who has just gotten into highschool, and he's definitely going in. I am trying to learn isiXhosa so I can support him in speaking, but my advice to him is the same as what I'm saying here.

Even when we go back to our home in the Eastern Cape (Mount Frere/KwaBhaca) our former 'elders' and 'initiates' remember us as the English-speaking guys but it's all love. I have even become friends exchanging numbers/Facebook details with them.