When someone asks you, “Who is the king of fruits?” you might answer, “Mango!” And when asked, “Who is the king of the jungle?” you’d probably say, “Lion.” However, if I told you that there was a time when I couldn’t even spell “Lion,” you might be surprised. Today, I am proud to teach English to thousands of people across India. My name is Kamlesh Yadav, and I come from a small village in Khargone district, Madhya Pradesh. Let me take you through my incredible journey from being afraid of English to mastering it.
Humble Beginnings
I was born to a family of farmers, and life in the village was simple yet tough. Like many rural children, I attended the local government school, sitting on the ground to study. I had no idea why I was studying or what education meant at that time. Despite these challenges, I somehow made it to seventh grade. However, one day during an English class, something happened that left a lasting impression on me.
Our teacher entered the classroom and asked me to spell “Lion.” I froze. I didn’t know the answer, and the humiliation that followed was harsh. That day, English became my biggest fear. I struggled to get through school, barely scraping through my English exams. By the time I reached 10th grade, I was doing well in other subjects, but English continued to haunt me.Â
A Dream Shattered by English
After passing the 10th grade, I chose commerce in 11th because I dreamed of becoming a bank manager. My parents made it clear to me that if I failed, I would end up herding cattle—a future I desperately wanted to avoid. So, I worked hard and did well in my other subjects, but English was still my Achilles’ heel.
Upon completing my 12th grade with decent marks (except in English), I moved to Indore to pursue coaching for banking exams. I was excited, but little did I know that English would be my biggest barrier once again. Although I excelled in reasoning, mathematics, and other subjects, I couldn’t clear the English cutoff. After two years of hard work, I failed to qualify for any banking exams because of my English skills.Â
Hitting Rock Bottom
The failure to pass my banking exams shattered my dream of becoming a bank manager. I was frustrated and demotivated. Even when I applied for clerical or call center jobs, my lack of English fluency held me back. I couldn’t even introduce myself properly during interviews. I felt as though English had closed all doors to a successful career for me.
The Turning Point: Conquering English
Faced with two choices—either return to my village and tend to cattle or learn English—I chose the latter. I began my journey by focusing on the basics. What is a sentence? What are tenses? I enrolled in English classes and worked tirelessly on building a strong foundation.
The most crucial part of my learning was practice. I realized that without practice, I would never be able to speak fluently. Since I had no friends to practice with, I started speaking English to myself. If I watched a cricket match, I would describe the game to myself in English when I got home. I also kept a diary where I would write about my daily activities in English, which helped improve my writing skills.
Soon, I noticed significant improvement in my pronunciation. I began listening to native English speakers and mimicking their pronunciation. Within a few months, I had overcome the fear of English that had haunted me for years.Â
Teaching English: Giving Back
After learning English, I realized that there were many people in my village who were struggling with the same fear of English that had once held me back. Determined to help, I applied for a teaching position at a nearby school. To my surprise, I was hired as an English teacher on my first attempt.
Teaching gave me immense confidence, and soon I decided to apply for a position at a bigger school. After clearing the interview, I secured a job at a prestigious institution. But life had another surprise in store for me.
Becoming a Principal: A Dream Reborn
During a meeting at my new school, I saw the respect and value the principal received. I was inspired to aim higher and thought, “If I can learn English, I can do anything.” So, I decided to work on my leadership and communication skills. Within a year, I was promoted to the role of principal. From not being able to spell “Lion” to leading an entire school, my journey had come full circle.
A New Chapter: Online Education and YouTube
During the COVID-19 lockdown, I returned to my village, where I realized that technology could help me reach even more students. I started a YouTube channel to teach English, aiming to make the subject accessible to students who couldn’t attend classes due to the pandemic. My videos gained immense popularity, particularly among girls from rural areas who couldn’t leave their homes to attend school.
Today, I am proud to say that thousands of students learn English through my YouTube channel. The journey that began with fear and failure has now turned into a mission to help others overcome the very challenges I once faced. www.youtube.com/@massstudyenglish
Final Words
English is not a difficult language, but the fear of it can hold you back. If I can learn English and turn my life around, so can you. Start today, practice every day, and watch how this skill opens doors for you, just like it did for me.
FAQs
- Who is Kamlesh Yadav? Kamlesh Yadav is an English teacher who comes from a small village in Khargone district, Madhya Pradesh. He overcame significant obstacles in learning English and is now dedicated to teaching the language to others.
- What challenges did Kamlesh Yadav face while learning English? Kamlesh struggled with English throughout his early education. He particularly faced difficulty in school, where his inability to spell basic words like “Lion” led to ridicule and punishment, causing a long-standing fear of the language.
- How did Kamlesh Yadav begin his journey in teaching English? After failing to clear banking exams due to his weak English skills, Kamlesh decided to overcome his fear and learn the language from scratch. Once he became proficient, he started teaching English to other students in his village and later expanded his reach through online platforms.
- What motivated Kamlesh to teach English? Kamlesh’s own struggles with English motivated him to teach the language to others, especially those from rural areas who face similar challenges. He wanted to help students overcome the fear of English and open doors for their future careers.
- What platforms does Kamlesh Yadav use to teach English? During the COVID-19 lockdown, Kamlesh began teaching English on YouTube, reaching a large audience of students, particularly from rural areas. His practical and easy-to-understand teaching methods became popular, and his subscriber base grew rapidly.
- What is Kamlesh Yadav’s teaching approach? Kamlesh focuses on simplifying English for beginners, especially those with no prior background in the language. He emphasizes the importance of mastering basics such as sentence patterns, tenses, and pronunciation, followed by consistent practice.
- What was Kamlesh Yadav’s early life like? Kamlesh comes from a humble background; both of his parents are farmers. He completed his schooling in government schools and initially faced many difficulties due to a lack of resources and proper guidance in English.
- What was Kamlesh Yadav’s career goal before becoming an English teacher? Kamlesh initially aimed to become a bank manager. However, his inability to clear the English section of the banking exams led him to change his path and focus on learning and teaching English.
- How did Kamlesh Yadav overcome his fear of English? Kamlesh worked diligently on learning the basics of English, practiced regularly, and gradually improved his communication and pronunciation skills. His determination to succeed allowed him to conquer his fear of the language.
- What advice does Kamlesh Yadav offer to students struggling with English? Kamlesh advises students to focus on learning the basics of English, practice regularly, and not be afraid of making mistakes. He encourages them to start speaking English daily and use technology as a tool for learning.
