English speaking practice with Nandakumar Gopalan @EnglishYaari

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]Thank you very much. Really. Now I feel you HAVE DONE MBA.

[00:00:04]>> [laughter] >> THANK YOU, SIR.

[00:00:08]THANK YOU so much. I also feel like today I am a manager I am a manager You are a manager. You are like some value you have added some value for that MBA.

[00:00:17]I was very studious kind of person. I used to talk less. I used to absorb observe people. And now also I am that type of person. Nobody can motivate me if I'm if I don't want to wake up early in the morning, no one can wake me up.

[00:00:31]But if I want to wake up early in the morning, I can do it without any hurdle. I can do it.

[00:00:37]>> Life is all about management. Yes. You know, you don't you don't have need to have a management degree to be a captain of your own life. Okay. But in your case, you have an added advantage.

[00:00:50]You have a management degree. So how did this management education transform the way you approach everyday problems?

[00:01:01]Priyanka, I was just cutting cutting off that student I had another student. I was talking to her and she had last minute doubts. I was clearing that.

[00:01:12]She's a doctor from Mumbai. Okay. How's everything? How's everything? Everything is going so well. How about you? How are you doing?

[00:01:20]>> Yes. Yes, I'm doing well. What's written there? Born to stay.

[00:01:25]Born to slay.

[00:01:27]To slay.

[00:01:29]And forced to work.

[00:01:32]Right.

[00:01:33]>> [laughter] >> How do you get such a beautiful t-shirts where from? You buy it online?

[00:01:39]No, I buy I purchased it on offline from a store. Offline from the shop. Yeah.

[00:01:45]Oh.

[00:01:46]Wonderful. So how's your day?

[00:01:48]It's going so well. Yeah.

[00:01:51]Wonderful.

[00:01:53]>> [clears throat] >> Born to slay.

[00:01:55]Forced to work.

[00:01:57]>> [laughter] >> Yeah. Okay. Nice.

[00:02:01]>> [clears throat] >> So I was going through your profile.

[00:02:05]Okay. You have done MBA, right? Yes, I have finished MBA. So can you tell me something about your MBA? When did you do that? Where from you do that?

[00:02:17]Mhm. Okay. Uh yes, I was in a village that time. I have done my MBA. So in there is a Rudrapur city. I think you heard about it in Uttarakhand. So there was a there was an institute. So I done MBA from that place. Yeah.

[00:02:35]So it was not a big university. It was affiliated by AKTU.

[00:02:42]Yeah.

[00:02:43]Mhm.

[00:02:44]Yeah. [clears throat] So what was your major? It was it finance, marketing?

[00:02:48]Yeah, it was finance and marketing.

[00:02:52]Okay.

[00:02:53]So was it an online course or was it a regular course? It was a regular course, 2-year course. Yeah, four semesters.

[00:03:01]Mhm. So after that, what happened? After that, I started preparing for UGC NET examination. I get interest in preparation and I wanted to become a an assistant professor so that I started preparing for that.

[00:03:17]Okay, then?

[00:03:20]Then I completed I qualified that UGC NET examination. Now I'm waiting for vacancies. There are many vacancies, so I'm applying there for the job purpose. Yeah.

[00:03:33]So before that, you must have there is a minimum requirement you must be a graduate, right?

[00:03:39]No, for assistant professor, you must >> no, for MBA for MBA. For MBA, yes.

[00:03:44]Uh-huh. So what what was your graduation?

[00:03:48]Top subject. Uh my graduation was in English literature and economics.

[00:03:54]Yeah. Then you went for MBA. Yes. So you could have gone for MA literature English literature. Instead, you use you wanted to go for MBA. So what motivated you to pursue MBA? What is the reason?

[00:04:08]Actually, I didn't want to do that conventional thing. I wanted to try something else. Then I thought I can do MBA. So I enrolled myself in MBA and I started doing it. Yeah. I wanted to explore new new things as a career wise.

[00:04:24]I didn't want to do BA, but because of circumstances, I was living in a village, so I were forced to to choose BA. But after 3 years, you had your freedom. Yes. You were on your own. You were on you know, you could decide your future yourself.

[00:04:42]So you thought, "Okay, I'll go for MBA."

[00:04:44]Yeah. So in this At that time, were you aware of the the branches offered in MBA like finance, marketing, sales? Yes, I used to watch a lot of things related to this. I used to read newspaper and all and I used to discuss with my uncle also what is it and how can we do it. So my interest was that time my interest was in banking. But later I realized no, my interest is in teaching and I want to teach people not in Hindi. I want to teach in English. Yes. Yes.

[00:05:21]So that is why I choose I chose this career and yes, now I'm working upon it. Yeah.

[00:05:27]Okay.

[00:05:28]So life is all about management. Yes.

[00:05:31]You know, you don't you don't have need to have a management degree to be a captain of your own life. Okay. But in your case, you have an added advantage.

[00:05:42]You have a management degree. So how did this management education transform the way you approach everyday problems?

[00:05:52]You're a professional manager.

[00:05:54]Uh yes, so after finishing my MBA, now I know how to manage finances. I know how to Finance.

[00:06:03]Oh. Yes. Value of saving, how to spend, when to spend, what different aspects of money and money's importance of money.

[00:06:13]Yes, and other thing is time management.

[00:06:15]I learned time management, how to manage time.

[00:06:19]And somewhere I know how to deal with people because I have completed that HR management, human resource management as a subject. So that is also I can manage easily. I can understand people and I can manage them.

[00:06:34]I can guide them. I can motivate them.

[00:06:37]Wonderful. Wonderful.

[00:06:40]>> [clears throat and cough] >> So do you think that it has influenced your life, your decision-making abilities a lot? Right.

[00:06:48]Yes, now I am the one in my family who has done MBA and at the same time UGC NET examination.

[00:06:59]UGC NET that is also national eligibility test. So it is not piece of cake for many people. But I have done that, so now I have extra edge in my career.

[00:07:11]Yeah.

[00:07:12]I can go for a job. I can go for teaching as well. There are so many options, opportunities. I can teach online as well. And now I can take decisions wisely. I know what is right, what is wrong because of these management degree. Yeah.

[00:07:28]So at that time when you were doing MBA, how was your communication style?

[00:07:34]I was very timid that time. I used to be very shy because I come from a village village background. Yes, in villages people don't allow you to speak more.

[00:07:46]But when it comes to doing the management course, you have to speak a lot. You have to present yourself every single day and there are presentations also. So I was used to very shy, but I remember there was a teacher, Monica ma'am. She used to encourage me a lot.

[00:08:03]So yeah, so because of her, I got some motivation. She used to give me extra classes also like related to English, how can you speak, how can you present yourself. And there was one more trainer, Vipin sir. I still remember those two teachers' name because they motivated me a lot. Yeah. Wow.

[00:08:23]Okay. So from your MBA, your qualification, from your experience, most of the managers like working professional corporate managers, they take decisions purely based on data.

[00:08:37]They need some data to further proceed.

[00:08:39]Okay. So have you ever made a decision purely based on the data or you make decisions on your intuitions?

[00:08:50]Impulsive decision-making. How do you do that in your daily life? You wait, you think, you collect some data like if it's something >> [clears throat] >> important decision-making. So do you go through that procedure or it is intuitive or is it impulsive?

[00:09:09]Okay. So there is a saying in management, if you are able to make a good plan, that means your half work is done. So I always try to make a good plan. I break it down and then I follow it.

[00:09:21]I never like sometimes I use my intuitions as well, but not much. I always try to write down pros and cons. Then I take decisions. If there are pros pros are pros are more than cons, then I take decisions. Otherwise, I skip it. And we should use our brain like wisely where we have to use it. No matter how many degrees you have, but somewhere they are helping you, but you have to [clears throat] think broadly. Then only you will be able to your past experiences, so many things are there.

[00:09:53]>> Think broadly. Broadly. Yeah. Think about that all sound, broadly.

[00:09:58]>> Broadly, think broadly.

[00:09:59]>> Yeah, broadly. Okay.

[00:10:02]So, it's all about decision-making.

[00:10:04]Sometime you need to make a a decision fast.

[00:10:09]Mhm. So, sometime you have to have an accurate decision.

[00:10:14]Which one you prioritize? Faster decision-making or accurate decision-making or both?

[00:10:23]No, I don't believe in fast decision-making. I always think >> You take your sweet time. Yeah, I take my time.

[00:10:30]>> Wait, and I think I can get advice from other people also. Nowadays, I'm not taking any advices from anyone. I take on my own because uh my experiences are different, their experiences are different. My knowledge is different, there's their knowledge is different.

[00:10:46]So, nowadays, I'm not taking any uh advice from anyone. I take my decision. I think two three times and Mhm. try to Yeah, try to think about output, then I take decisions.

[00:11:00]Try to I try to take decision accurately, not in fast.

[00:11:04]>> Not in haste. Not in haste. You never take hasty decisions. Mhm. Yeah.

[00:11:11]>> Okay.

[00:11:12]Uh do you are you an intrinsically driven motivated person or extrinsically motivated person? Intrinsic and extrinsic.

[00:11:23]No, I'm not an extrinsic motivation motivator kind of person. I >> [clears throat] >> Internal.

[00:11:31]Intrinsic. Intrinsic. Internal. Yes, I am an internally motivated since my childhood. I am that kind of person. I You're your your own cheerleader. Yes, I'm I was very studious kind of person.

[00:11:45]I used to talk less. I used to observe observe people. And now also I'm that type of person. Nobody can motivate me if I don't want to wake up early in the morning, no one can wake me up. But if I want to wake up early in the morning, I can do it without any hurdle. I can do it properly. I can wake [clears throat] up at 3:00 a.m.

[00:12:06]also. But if the motivation is inside, otherwise I I don't know. I don't follow anyone.

[00:12:13]Yeah. Can you give me three the best qualities of a manager and explain in your opinion?

[00:12:20]Um should he be empathetic?

[00:12:23]Mhm. Should he be impulsive? Should he be a fast decision-maker? Should be should have good leadership qualities?

[00:12:32]Should be good communication? Should have he should be a team player? So, give me three best qualities of a manager and explain why you think that is important.

[00:12:45]Okay. First thing is good communication skill. That requires a lot in every field.

[00:12:51]>> Why? Because many people rely on manager. They follow him. So, if that person is not able to communicate well, the person is not able to deliver his message, so how can people will follow him? So, that is the one thing they should manager should be good at communication skill. And second thing is empathy. Empathy is also important.

[00:13:14]Many people they become very rude after getting money or after getting certain position, they become very rude.

[00:13:22]So, I think this is also good if you have that empathy towards your >> [clears throat] >> subordinate and your employees, so they will feel more motivated, they feel connected, and they try to do their best. Empathy is also important. And yes, decision-making is also imperative if you're able to take good decisions, your firm your company will grow like uh like anything, yeah. So, Wow.

[00:13:50]decision-making is also important. Yeah, because a manager is accountable, responsible, so yes, that is important because >> Okay. because of him, yeah, firm move freely or fast.

[00:14:05]Okay. Okay. Nice. So, do you handle conflicts within a team? Imagine you are a team leader, you are a manager. How do you handle conflict within a team? Will you be an emotional person or will it that your it will be strategic approach or emotional approach?

[00:14:26]Yes, [clears throat] I am kind of emotional person. As a girl, I feel I'm kind, more polite, and I can understand other situation. I try to put myself in other's shoes, then I try to solve the problem. I try to understand problem, what is the problem, at what is the root cause of the problem, then I try to solve the problem. I try to use my IQ, EQ, and then I try to solve it.

[00:14:53]Oh.

[00:14:55]See, last month, there was a strike, a bank strike, all India bank strike.

[00:15:01]Okay. Okay. Bank employees, they went on one day strike.

[00:15:06]You know what is their demand?

[00:15:08]Five day week.

[00:15:10]Okay. Five day >> uh five day work. Five day work. So, nowadays, they are working first Saturday and second Saturday and fourth Saturday off.

[00:15:24]Mhm. Okay. Okay.

[00:15:27]And the first Saturday and the third Saturday, they have to work.

[00:15:32]Mhm. Now, they are demanding they will work whether any any first Saturday, second Saturday, they will not work on Saturdays, they will not work on Sundays. Mhm. Okay? Everything is digital these days. There is no need of like, you know, these employees going and working. They want work only from Monday to Friday. Friday. What is your opinion?

[00:15:56]Yes, I'm my opinion is on this. This is important because nowadays, people Like in one day, what you can do if you have only one day for rest or for your all your all your work, household work or whatever you feel at home. So, I think one day is not enough.

[00:16:16]At least two day days are required. At the same time, they need rest. They are stressful nowadays. They don't have time to spend with their family. So, I feel they are asking for the right like this is the right thing they should have at least two days for themselves. They are earning well, they are And nowadays, because of digital digitalization, they can work at home also. Like >> Yeah, from home also, work from home as well. Mhm. Yeah, and spend time [clears throat] with their family.

[00:16:46]>> they have to work. They have to work.

[00:16:49]No.

[00:16:50]>> [laughter] >> Like if there is something something important, they can do. Otherwise, no. I don't feel. At least two days are required.

[00:16:58]Okay. Okay. I got it. Yes, well explained your opinion. Okay, everyone can have their perspective.

[00:17:06]There is nothing wrong in airing your thoughts, your perspective. Imagine in a team, you are the team leader, and you have many members, and you have a project in hand. Mhm.

[00:17:17]>> Okay. So, >> [clears throat] >> two members disagreed strongly about deadlines. Okay.

[00:17:24]>> Okay. Whenever there is a project, you know, project management. So, one said that one felt the timeline was unrealistic.

[00:17:33]Okay, there you have given only one month's time, and they felt one person, one employee felt that it is unrealistic.

[00:17:42]While the other believed if we delay the project, that would damage the credibility of the company, credibility of the organization. So, one is feeling we should do it as fast as possible within the time frame deadline.

[00:17:59]The other person is thinking that one wish the deadlines are unrealistic. So, you should extend the time period. You are the time leader. How would you convince these two people?

[00:18:14]I would tell them uh I like I would tell them try to find a common ground where you both can work together.

[00:18:23]>> Mhm. Okay.

[00:18:24]We have to focus upon the output, not the work how we will manage it. I would just suggest them try to uh find a common ground where you both can work together and focus upon output so that the result [clears throat] would be good and the company will grow. So, like this, I would try to manage. Yeah.

[00:18:48]You you will be very diplomatic. You have to convince both Both of them.

[00:18:53]because the time is is not You cannot go for an endless project, okay? I understand your concerns. I understand your concerns about the quality.

[00:19:03]And I also see the urgency from the client's side. If the client is demanding to be done within three weeks, you have to respect their urgency.

[00:19:13]Urgency.

[00:19:13]>> But at the same time, it should not be partially baked cake. It You should You should You have concerns on the quality as well.

[00:19:24]Right. Yeah.

[00:19:25]>> Right.

[00:19:26]>> [clears throat] >> Suppose you are a manager and a team of employees coming to you, they are asking there should be break time in between for yoga. Okay.

[00:19:39]>> Because job is very stressful, and they are telling, "Ma'am, like we are coming here at 9:00 and our job is up to 6:00, so I we want like 45 minutes break Mhm. perform yoga."

[00:19:53]We have a yoga studio in our office. So, why don't you allow us to take a break and do some yoga?

[00:20:01]Will you think yes, of course, this is a good idea. This will improve the productivity of the employees. Or you will be tough. No, work means work. 9:00 to 6:00. You can do your yoga after 6:00. Or if you are so keen on performing or doing yoga, come before 9:00. You can do yoga from 8:00 to 9:00.

[00:20:23]Mhm. But don't try to do it on company's expenses. Because if you're doing it at 11:00 to 11:30, you're doing it at company's expenses, right? Company's time, your working time. As a manager, how are you going to consider this?

[00:20:39]Okay.

[00:20:40]>> the situation. Interesting [snorts and clears throat] question.

[00:20:43]>> [laughter] >> So, here I would like to tell [clears throat] them yes, I I can understand your situation, what you are looking for. Specifically, you feel bored while you work and you need 45 minutes for yoga. So, I would tell them politely, I think this is not the good idea.

[00:21:04]Um you can do yoga or exercise before or after the uh work time, but not in the office because this is the office and we have to maintain the work culture. But if you need 45 minutes, we should start we can start something else like any cafeteria we will open, you can do chit-chat there or we will start some other activities there. You can take like a 5 minutes break or a 10 minute max, not like 45 minutes. Not like 45 minutes. 30 minutes 30 minutes is okay. We will start some activities like something we where you can physically involved, but directly we cannot start yoga classes here. This is against our work culture, so we are not going to start it. But yes, if you want you can do it before or after, but we can provide you the area or the cafeteria where you can do some activities. You can enjoy with your You can have fun. You can have fun.

[00:22:06]Yes, you can relax, but this is not the great idea. I would respect your idea, but I feel this should be the case. We have to work according work ethics.

[00:22:17]You are the manager, employed by the company. You are the head of the entire project.

[00:22:22]>> Yeah. Okay? Even if the majority of the employees coming to you and telling yes, we need yoga time. Mhm.

[00:22:31]You cannot go for democratic ways in the company because you are the all sole in charge of the company. You have to take call thinking the the importance of the values of the company which is the standing you have deadlines to meet.

[00:22:48]Mhm. You are not a welfare officer. You are thinking only about the welfare of the company you are of the employees you have to think about the welfare or the ultimate goals of the country. Like last question is there is a conflict between a male employee and a female employee.

[00:23:05]Mhm. Okay. The case the case comes to you.

[00:23:08]Mhm. And the female employee complains that that male employee insulted her.

[00:23:15]Mhm. Kind of misbehavior.

[00:23:17]Mhm.

[00:23:19]You you will have that complaint.

[00:23:22]The next minute, will you suspend the male employee or what will be your strategic approach?

[00:23:30]Okay, I'm not going to uh fire that person that employee.

[00:23:35]First, I want to try what is the main thing happened. I would try to investigate what is hap- what happened there. Maybe the female employee maybe they she is understanding diff- differently and maybe that is right whatever she is telling. So, first I try to find out what is the root cause and what is the problem here. And then I would talk them with empathy and sympathy and then I try to reach on a certain if the if the male male is the male employee is involved in that, then I will try to take strict action, but I'm not going to fire him because we should give them a second chance second chance.

[00:24:22]>> Okay. Yeah. So, everybody makes mistakes, so we should think like why this happened, what was the main reason behind it and then I will try to make >> If you are if you are to give an exemplary punishment to that male employee.

[00:24:40]Finally, you have a concluded that you have concluded that yes, he has misbehaved. You have talked to the witness. You have talked to the people who can vouch on for the lady. So, finally you have concluded that yes, this has happened. So, what would be an exemplary punishment for this male employee?

[00:25:01]Maybe I will give him something like maybe I will cut his salary.

[00:25:09]Or will you ask him for a public apology? Public apology yeah and maybe I will I will give him Take take leave or voluntary voluntary leave. Yes, for 1 month. Go on leave for 1 month. Go on leave because he doesn't want to go on leave, but you will force him to go on leave or a voluntary leave for 1 month.

[00:25:33]Time for self-reflection. Oh my god, I shouldn't have done that. He will have some time to regret and repent. Mhm.

[00:25:41]Yeah. And without payment, yeah. No pay, no pay.

[00:25:45]>> No pay, no pay, yeah. And from the next month onwards, he won't even dare to look at a female employee which is not that good, but he will learn his lesson.

[00:25:55]Learn his lesson. And if the person is really feel bad like whatever she has done whatever he has done if he is really apolog- apologetic >> Apologetic mhm. So, then I We can consider we can reconsider our >> reconsider him. actions. Yes.

[00:26:13]Thank you very much. Really, now I feel you HAVE DONE MBA.

[00:26:17]>> [laughter] >> THANK YOU.

[00:26:21]THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR. I also feel like today I am a mana- I am a manager. You are a manager. Yeah, like some value you have added some value for that MBA.

[00:26:30]You have not totally forgotten those management principles. Right. What you have learned from the college from the university, you have applied it at least in English Yadi classes. Thank you very Right. Yeah, thank you so much, sir.

[00:26:44]Namaste. Bye-bye. Take care. Bye-bye.