Let me tell you a secret. You can learn English without a textbook or a teacher!
You can learn from the English that is around you every day. All you need to do is look for it.
Think about all of the “teachers” you have:
friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, waiters and waitresses, cashiers, taxi and bus drivers, flight [...]

Clients often ask me which is better, private lessons (1-1) or classes? My answer always depends on what the client wants to learn. I often ask two questions, “What do you want to improve?” and “What kind of classes have you taken before?”
Regarding the first question, if the client wants to learn how to speak [...]

Do you know when to use the, a, & an?
Use “the” before a noun when…

the listener knows the exact thing you are talking about “The speech was really long.” (The listener knows the speech you are talking about.) “The car that drove by was speeding.” (The listener saw the car.)
there is only one in the [...]

I read a blog post today from Chad Fowler called “How Learning a Second Language Changed My Life.” I think it’s a great story, and I would like to share my own thoughts about how people can learn a second language on their own.
First, find out what kind of learner you are. Answer these questions [...]

Have you ever finished a classroom discussion where getting the learners to talk was like pulling teeth? The learners just don’t seem interested in speaking up, or when they do answer questions, their answers are too short.  I recently read a blog post titled, “26 Reasons why most brainstorming sessions fail (and what to do [...]

Fear and anxiety freeze our ability to speak in a foreign language, and there are many stressors in the workplace that can heighten that fear. Impatient coworkers are one such stressor. When coworkers refuse to have patience for someone who doesn’t speak “perfect” English, the result can actually negatively affect the speaker’s ability to communicate.
I [...]

Disney’s new Earth movie is visually stunning.  Cascading waterfalls, tremendous oceans, golden deserts, and crisp arctic snow…what a wonderful way to spend an evening, and what an amazing glimpse into the natural world!  From a language trainer’s perspective, the movie is also an excellent opportunity for nonnative speakers of English to improve listening skills. It [...]