Every morning in a quiet village in Bangladesh, a young farmer tends to his cattle and sells vegetables in the market. But when he holds up his smartphone, he transforms into something unexpected, a TikTok creator teaching English to thousands. With no city life, no English-speaking environment and no formal training, Zihadul Islam is rewriting what it means to learn and share a global language.
Reflecting on his journey, he said, “Back in school, I was weak in English and often failed in exams. During the pandemic, I decided I had to learn the language, not just to improve it but also because I dream of going abroad one day. With only a smartphone, I began following YouTube channels, practising grammar, and speaking with people online. That simple step completely changed the course of my life.”
His content centres on his daily routine, farm work, and the beauty of village life. By describing everyday scenes in English with simple details, he has developed a unique and practical learning method.
Whether observing the meadow, animals, ponds, or the horizon, he speaks about them in short, easy sentences. He delivers his words slowly and adds auto-generated English subtitles, making the content accessible for learners.
“Today the weather is very nice, and it is called a ‘sunny day.’ Look at the clouds. The clouds look like mountains.” By using such simple lines, Zihadul describes his surroundings, helping his followers to learn practical use of English.
Many followers ask him how they can practice speaking like he does. To help them, the young farmer creates videos with suggestions on improving speaking skills and finding useful online resources. He also shares personal tips that have helped him progress toward fluency.
Beyond speaking English, Zihadul is also working on improving his accent independently. Recalling his motivation, he said, “One day at school, a university student introduced herself in such fluent English that everyone was amazed. In that moment, I promised myself that no matter if others laughed at me, I would one day speak like that. I took it as a personal challenge, and today I feel proud that I can confidently express myself in this global language.”
Zihadul’s story shows that learning a language doesn’t always require classrooms or polished accents; it only requires persistence. In his small village, with just a phone and determination, he has built a bridge to the wider world. And in doing so, he reminds countless others that no dream is too distant, not even in the farthest corner of Bangladesh.
