minyan gal:
(I believe) There is nothing wrong with talking to Hashem in English, even during the Amidah. The issue is one should still use the format of Chazal, the Shemona Esrei + 1. If one wishes to add additional requests, they can do so either at the end, or during the middle of the Amidah (not the first or last three brachos), if it is relevent to the prayer being said.
The issue with your Temple is that one should not be Mafisik (interrupt) between the brachos of Shema and the Amidah. That is a different issue.