If you're really interested in IT stuff, then you probably already have a few ideas in mind of what you'd like to mess around with. If you're interested in programming, start with a programming language. If you're interested in learning another OS, do that, and so forth. My point is to take advantage of whatever opportunities you have to tool around with the subject on your own time, and get some hands-on experience.
Also, while they might not have had much tact... English is very important. Yes, even in IT. Being able to clearly express yourself in a manner that other people can understand is of the utmost importance in any technical field, because you need to be able to express yourself concisely, precisely, and effectively. You also need to know how to communicate with people who aren't technically-minded; you need to be able to explain and describe things to these people, as well as interpret what they're saying even if they aren't using the right words or know much about what they're saying themselves. Communication breakdown is a very common and problematic thing when it comes to IT support, teaching in general, and, to some degree, any sort of technical discussion. Maybe people shouldn't be ripping into you about it so much on an Internet forum, but they do have a point; your ability to communicate matters. A lot.