If the 2011 census data is to be believed then a little more than 10% of Indians speak English as their first language. However, if we take those who speak English in some form or the other into account then the figure could be as high as 30%. Whatever the accurate numbers of English speakers in India, there's no doubt that speaking fluent English is still quite aspirational in the country and with the increased internet penetration all over the country due to the government's Digital India initiative, even the rural areas have imbibed the aspiration.

Getting your child enrolled in an online English speaking course has become more of a necessity than a status symbol. And why not? Possessing a good knowledge of English opens a lot of career avenues for the youth in the service sector, especially the tourism and hospitality sector. No wonder people from the lowest strata of society want to send their children to English medium schools and get them admitted to English-speaking courses both online and offline to get a better grip on the language.

The 'Quality' factor of English education in India

Even though most schools in India teach English there's an immense disparity in the quality and content of the material taught. As someone rightly said once the top educational institutes in India are actually "islands of excellence in a sea of mediocrity". The divide between urban and rural English speakers is huge and it has resulted in a weird complex of hierarchy and inferiority among the latter. This inequality cannot be justified in any way where the rich reap the dividend of modern English education while the poor and those less fortunate are indirectly put in a position of subservience.

The urban centers have all the quality teachers and institutes which cater mostly to the needs of the urban population leaving those in tier 2 and 3 towns as well as in villages to fend for themselves. There's no dearth of talent in the hinterlands of India and if given equal opportunity they would shine the brightest. In this context, it is relevant to mention that with increased digital access in every nook and corner of the country, the majority of Indians now have the opportunity to grab what was so far available only to the elite sections of society.

They have the entire world at their fingertips and can now get a large wealth of information online - both free and paid. All Indians can now learn the fundamentals of every subject under the sun from the internet and avail of the services of thousands of digital content creators who cater to the needs of millions of students worldwide. One could easily search for a good online English tutor on the internet.

Why taking an online class is better

Some students have successfully mastered the English language of their own volition. The common way to learn the language is by immersing yourself in that world - listening to English songs, reading the works of famous writers, watching a ton of movies, and doing the crossword puzzle. Although mastering something on your own is highly rewarding but you have to realize that it's extremely time-consuming and not everyone has the luxury of time to go through such a tough grind. It is much better to look for a capable online English tutor who would crystallize all the methods into a compact course material and significantly shorten your learning curve.

Despite a wealth of books flooded in the market and a whole range of free apps on the PlayStore, apart from several YouTube channels teaching English, it may not be suitable for every learner. Each person is unique in his way and his learning needs and capability are also different. Keeping this aspect in mind, it is crucial to design a course that meets the needs of the student perfectly so he can learn at his speed. It is also important to practice especially when learning a language to truly gain mastery over it.

Even though many Indians technically speak English, they are not able to express themselves properly because the words don't come naturally to their minds due to a lack of adequate practice. Even if you enroll yourself in English coaching classes where the mode of teaching is passive, it is just pointless. This is because you may think that you have learned a lot by just paying attention in class and admiring the teacher's fluency in English but if you gain mere theoretical knowledge and don't apply it in real-world then the whole process amounts to nothing and you would have to start from the scratch.

Conclusion

Even though the 2011 census recorded that over 10% of Indians speak English as their first language, there's some discrepancy in the data as found by the sample survey conducted by Lok Foundation and Oxford University, which put the figure at a paltry 6%. The survey further pointed out that only 3% of the respondents spoke English in rural areas as compared to 12% in urban areas.

This clearly shows that access to quality English education in India is highly concentrated in urban areas and the career opportunities available to an English-educated urban youth are far more than his rural counterpart. However, there's light at the end of the tunnel because, with increased digital awareness due to government initiatives like Digital India and the entry of private players in the online education sector, the field is leveled to a large extent.

There is a wealth of information available on the internet if only one has the discipline and the strong urge to learn. You could easily find an online English speaking course that provides personalized guidance to students and helps them communicate better with their evolved practice methods in which they involve the students during the teaching process in a highly engaging and interactive manner. It is wise to invest in such classes rather than go through the rigor of reading multiple books which is a time-consuming process. So don't miss out on the opportunity of mastering the English language and getting the career boost you deserve.