As part of our relentless pursuit to identify and share with our community some of the unique and compelling stories from the ecosystem, this week we invited yet another passionate women entrepreneur Inderjeet Kaur to understand more about her journey. She is a Soft Skills Trainer, Mentor, Consultant, Influencer and Change Enabler. Let’s learn more about her background, her incredible journey so far and her advice for our community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Inderjeet:
Could you please talk us through your background and your journey?
I am an enthusiastic and result-driven English Language Trainer with a proven track record in the education management sector.
I am passionate about empowering learners to achieve their language goals and excel in their academic and professional pursuits.
My expertise lies in Business English, Training, Tutoring, IELTS preparation, and teaching English as a Second Language (ESL).
How did you discover your passion as a ‘Trainer’?
Discovering a passion for becoming an English language trainer involved a specific set of steps tailored to this field. I enjoy reading, writing, and communicating in English. I have a strong command of the language and find joy in using it, teaching it is a natural fit.
I feel a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment when someone shares about how I have helped them grow professionally. Positive experiences can point to a potential passion. Effective communication is crucial for teaching. I have the ability to explain concepts clearly, listen actively, and adapt my communication style to different audiences.”
Teaching is fundamentally about helping others learn and grow. If one has a genuine desire to see others succeed and improve their English skills, nothing else can be a strong motivator. I have always been curious about how languages are learned. I find the process of language acquisition intriguing and enjoy exploring different teaching methodologies.
Teaching is about sharing knowledge and insights. I find joy in sharing what I know and guiding others through the learning process, it’s a positive sign. I have helped students and professionals understand a challenging concept. It gives a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment. Teaching can be deeply rewarding. A true passion endures over time and sustains your enthusiasm.
Passionate English language trainers are often dedicated to their own professional development. I am excited about improving my own teaching skills, it’s a positive indicator. Mostly I have received positive feedback when helping others with their English skills, it suggests that my teaching approach resonates with learners.”
Teaching English often involves interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds. I appreciate and enjoy learning about different cultures, it can enhance my passion for teaching English.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
Being an ESL (English as a Second Language) trainer can indeed come with its challenges, but I find great fulfilment and motivation in my work. Here are some strategies and sources of motivation that help me as an ESL trainer to keep going despite the challenges:
1. Impact and Growth: Seeing students’ progress and witnessing their growth in language skills can be incredibly rewarding. Knowing that you are making a positive impact on their lives can provide a strong sense of motivation.
2. Passion for Teaching: A genuine passion for teaching and helping others learn can serve as a strong driving force. I truly enjoy the process of guiding learners and witnessing their successes, it keeps me motivated even during tough times.
3. Personal Fulfillment: The feeling of personal fulfilment comes from sharing knowledge, facilitating learning, and being an essential part of someone’s language journey can be deeply satisfying.
4. Relationship Building: Developing connections with my students and understanding their unique learning needs and backgrounds makes the teaching experience more meaningful. Building relationships helps me stay engaged and motivated.
5. Positive Feedback: Receiving positive feedback from students who have benefited from my teaching can be a powerful source of motivation.
6. Continuous Learning: The challenge of tailoring my approach to meet different needs can be intellectually stimulating and engaging.
7. Innovation and Creativity: Finding new and creative ways to teach language skills keeps the teaching process exciting and fresh.
8. Professional Development: Investing in my own growth as a trainer by attending workshops, conferences, and furthering your education provides a sense of accomplishment and renewed motivation.
9. Supportive Community: Connecting with fellow ESL trainers and educators creates a supportive network where I can share challenges, ideas, and successes. A strong community helps me overcome challenges.
10. Celebrating Small Wins: Acknowledging and celebrating even small achievements and progress can helps me maintain a positive outlook and keep going, especially during challenging times.
11. Remembering Why I Started: I reflect on the initial reasons that led me to become an ESL trainer. Reconnecting with those initial motivations reminds me of the passion and purpose behind your work.
12. Student Success Stories: Hearing stories of students who have gone on to achieve their language goals, advance in their careers, or achieve personal milestones reminds me of the importance of your role.
What are some of the mantras/strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
Growing as a person while working as an ESL (English as a Second Language) trainer involves both professional development and personal enrichment like continuous learning, reflective practice, setting goals, receiving feedback, expanding cultural competence, developing empathy, enhancing communication skills, practising flexibility, engaging in reflective journaling, networking, embracing challenges, work-life balance, practice mindfulness and much more.
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
I will say it straight that there are many factors but if you really have to have the key elements then to me these are the ones:
(a) Accepting & Loving myself.
(b) Responsibility for my actions
(c) Standing up for myself
(d) Resourcefulness
(e) Curiosity
(f) Positive Attitude
(g) Taking massive action (execution) with consistency and belief
What advice would you give to our readers?
Here are some valuable suggestions that I can give to my readers to help them succeed in their language-learning journey:
1. Practice Regularly: Consistency is key. Set aside time each day to practice reading, writing, speaking, and listening in English. Even a short daily practice can make a significant difference over time.
2. Immerse Yourself: Surround yourself with English as much as possible. Watch movies, TV shows, and listen to music or podcasts in English to improve your listening skills and familiarize yourself with different accents.
3. Use Technology: Explore language learning apps, online resources, and language exchange platforms to supplement your learning. These tools can provide interactive and engaging ways to practice.
4. Set Clear Goals: Define your language learning goals. Whether it’s improving your conversational skills, preparing for an exam, or advancing your career, having clear objectives will give you direction and motivation.
5. Read Widely: Read a variety of materials in English, such as books, news articles, and online blogs. Reading exposes you to new vocabulary and sentence structures, improving your overall language proficiency.
6. Keep a Vocabulary Journal: Maintain a journal to jot down new words you encounter. Write their meanings, sample sentences, and use them in your own writing and conversations.
7. Speak Aloud: Speaking aloud helps improve pronunciation and fluency. Practice speaking English with friends, classmates, or even by recording yourself. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – it’s all part of learning.
8. Engage in Conversations: Engage in conversations in English as often as possible. Join language exchange groups or find language partners to practice speaking with native speakers.
9. Seek Feedback: Don’t hesitate to ask for feedback from your instructor, peers, or native speakers. Constructive feedback helps you identify areas for improvement and refine your language skills.
10. Learn from Mistakes: Mistakes are a natural part of learning. Don’t be discouraged by them. Instead, learn from your errors and use them as stepping stones to improvement.
11. Practice Pronunciation: Pay attention to pronunciation and practice speaking words correctly. Watching videos with subtitles and repeating phrases can help refine your pronunciation.
12. Use a Dictionary: Keep an English dictionary handy, either in print or as an app. Look up unfamiliar words to expand your vocabulary and understanding.
13. Join Discussion Groups: Participate in discussion groups, online forums, or clubs where English is the primary language of communication. Engaging in discussions can improve your communication skills.
14. Be Patient: Language learning is a gradual process. Celebrate small victories along the way and understand that progress takes time. Stay patient and persistent.
15. Review and Revise: Regularly review what you’ve learned. Revisit your notes, re-read texts, and revisit vocabulary to reinforce your memory and understanding.
16. Stay Curious: Maintain curiosity about the language and the cultures it represents. Learning about cultural nuances and idiomatic expressions can enrich your language skills
17. Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements. Every step forward, no matter how small, is a positive step in your language-learning journey.
18. Stay Positive: Language learning can have its challenges, but maintaining a positive attitude and believing in your ability to learn can significantly impact your progress.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
