The Journey from a struggle

There was a time when I felt that I would never be able to speak English fluently. My friends spoke English fluently, and I used to wonder when I would be able to talk like that. I understood most of what they spoke, but I was never able to reply to them in English. Some of my friends hated English, but my story was different. I’ve always had a deep love for English—not just as a subject to study for exams, but as a language I truly wanted to master and carry with me throughout life.

The journey wasn’t easy. My friends jokingly nicknamed me “Yes Boss,” because my usual response to any question was simply “yes.” While it was all in good fun, deep down, I was quietly battling my own limitations. I realized that if I truly wanted to improve my English, I had to speak it boldly instead of staying silent. With my mom’s gentle yet firm encouragement, I took my first step by switching to English-medium classes from grade six onwards, and from that moment, a new world of learning, confidence, and self-expression began to unfold before me. Gradually, I began reading books, though I soon realized it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. So, I turned to watching English movies with subtitles, and to my surprise, I picked up a lot of new vocabulary along with proper pronunciation. Still, I knew reading was essential, especially seeing how my friend’s vocabulary was so impressive since she read a lot of books. I also realized that if I wanted to speak English correctly, I needed to understand grammar rules. So, I began studying them carefully and applied them in both my writing and speaking. Over time, I became aware of my own mistakes and even started noticing the errors others made.

As I mentioned earlier, it was not an easy journey. Every hurdle I faced shaped me into a stronger and better version of myself. Today, I stand as an English teacher, having successfully navigated the long road, yet I know this is not the end; it is just the beginning of a new chapter in my life.

Behind the scenes note:

This post was inspired by my own journey of learning English and the realization that with courage and determination, anything is possible. I came to understand that without learning the universal language, we limit our connection to the world around us. This was my story of how I learned English, and I’d love to hear yours. Please feel free to share your journey in the comments below