From 4/20 to English Teacher: The Story That Changed My Life

 "Failure gives you two choices: stay where you are or become the person you're capable of being."


People often see the result but rarely the journey behind it.

Today, I'm an English teacher with a Bachelor's degree in English Studies and a TEFL teaching certificate. I teach students from different backgrounds and help them achieve goals they once thought were impossible.

But my journey didn't begin with success.

It began with failure.


The Day I Scored 4/20

I still remember my first year of high school, the first time English became one of my school subjects.

Walking into the classroom, I had no idea what to expect. The teacher spoke almost entirely in English. Every lesson sounded like a foreign language which, of course, it was.

I understood almost nothing.

When the first exam came, I scored 4 out of 20.

I was disappointed, embarrassed, and frustrated.

After class, I gathered enough courage to speak with my teacher.

I explained that this was my first year studying English and asked if he could reconsider my grade.

He looked at me and calmly replied:

"There's nothing I can do for you. You need to work."

At that moment, I was angry.

I thought he was being unfair.

Looking back today, I realize those words became the turning point of my life.


Refusing to Accept Defeat

I've always been someone who struggles to accept defeat.

That day, instead of giving up, I went home and made a decision that would completely change my future.

I would learn English on my own.

I didn't wait for school to teach me everything.

Instead, I created my own learning system.

I started with children's storybooks because they used simple vocabulary.

I memorized new words every day.

I watched English movies without subtitles even though I understood almost nothing.

Most people would probably think that sounds pointless.

But every movie trained my ears.

Every unknown word became something I would eventually learn.

Every hour spent listening made English feel a little less foreign.

At school, I deliberately chose to sit next to the students who worked the hardest.

Their discipline pushed me to improve.

Little by little, English stopped feeling impossible.


The Results Started Showing

The following year, I had the same English teacher.

This time, things were different.

He noticed how much I had improved.

Instead of struggling to understand the lessons, I had become one of the top ten students in the class.

Ironically, I had started to appreciate the very teacher who once refused to change my grade.

His refusal had forced me to become responsible for my own learning.

By my final year of high school, I had become the number one English student in my class.

I consistently scored 20/20 on my exams.

That was the moment I realized something important.

I didn't just enjoy learning English.

I wanted to dedicate my career to it.


Choosing English as My Future

After graduating from high school, I enrolled in university to study English Studies.

University wasn't simply about earning good grades.

I treated every class as an opportunity to improve.

Whenever there was a chance to participate in Spoken English or Public Speaking classes, I volunteered.

Even when I wasn't completely confident, I forced myself to speak.

Every presentation made me more comfortable.

Every conversation made me more fluent.

Every mistake taught me something new.

Eventually, I completed my Bachelor's degree in English Studies and earned my TEFL teaching certificate.

The student who once couldn't understand a single classroom lesson had become a qualified English teacher.


Becoming the Teacher I Once Needed

Today, I teach English professionally.

One of the most rewarding moments is when native English speakers compliment my pronunciation, fluency, or communication skills.

Those moments remind me how far I've come.

More importantly, they remind me that talent wasn't the reason for my progress.

Consistency was.

Every vocabulary word.

Every movie.

Every mistake.

Every conversation.

Every small step mattered.


What My Journey Taught Me

Looking back, my biggest lesson isn't about English.

It's about learning itself.

Many people believe successful learners are naturally gifted.

I don't.

I believe they're simply willing to stay consistent long after everyone else has given up.

Failure is rarely the end.

More often, it's an invitation to improve.

If I had accepted that 4/20 score as proof that I wasn't good at English, I wouldn't be teaching today.

Instead, I chose to see it as feedback.

That single decision changed my life.


If You're Learning English Right Now

Maybe you're struggling to understand grammar.

Maybe you're afraid to speak because you're worried about making mistakes.

Maybe your grades aren't where you want them to be.

I've been there.

The important thing isn't where you start.

It's whether you're willing to keep showing up every day.

Progress doesn't happen overnight.

It happens one lesson, one book, one conversation, and one mistake at a time.

Years from now, you'll look back and realize that the hardest days were the ones that built your future.

As the ancient proverb says:

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Mine began with a score of 4/20.

What's your first step going to be?


About Me

My name is Adnane Chantaf.
I am currently a high school English teacher and a private tutor, working with students to improve their language skills and communication.

Alongside teaching, I am continuously developing my interest in entrepreneurship, business, and personal development.

You can connect with me here:



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