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Saleem Akhtar

ESL Teacher

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I think beginners of any language translate every word or sentence in their minds. This translation method takes long time to learn any language. They should focus on rather core skills of language; ie. reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Nick's Corner

💡 Engaging, Personalized, and Relevant English Lessons: My students' reviews and ratings say it all

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Of course! This platform offers a variety of languages, and Chinese is definitely one of them.

Bonga

🌟Learn English with Bonga! 🌟

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Not so genius, but this has worked with my Asian and Latino students: Substitute all "Th-" in words with a "D-", as it is an easier starting point e.g. instead of "The", ask them to say De(almost like a form of pidgin english: de boi VS the boy). Its a matter of throat to tongue, where sounds with "T" and "D" are easier to begin with and then you will gradually progress to the "Th-" sounds as the find confindence and comfort. You could always tell them to pretend they are blowing out candles on a birthday cake; and for the "Th" sound their tongue should gently touch their teeth, like in words like "Thin" or "This". Have them practice the not so elated soft "Th" sound-- its like their tongue is having a short siesta on their teeth! Such a mental jounery and lots of creativity will get you through a lot of pronounciation hurdles.

Hind Ouquessou

Certified ESL teacher

The biggest challenge I faced while learning English was understanding and using different tenses correctly. It took time to get used to the various rules and exceptions.

Nick's Corner

💡 Engaging, Personalized, and Relevant English Lessons: My students' reviews and ratings say it all

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How would you describe success? It varies widely from one person to another. For some, it represents achieving significant academic or professional heights, where formal education is vital. For others, it could mean personal contentment or financial independence, which might not need traditional schooling. While I see education as an important resource, I think it’s just one of many avenues to fulfilling one’s dreams:)

Nick's Corner

💡 Engaging, Personalized, and Relevant English Lessons: My students' reviews and ratings say it all

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* "SO" is often used to indicate a consequence or result. Eg. The client was very impressed with our proposal, so we expect to sign the contract by the end of the month. * "NEITHER" is used to indicate agreement in the negative form, particularly when referring to two subjects. Eg. Neither our team nor the finance department is satisfied with the current budget allocation. * "NOR" is used to connect two negative clauses. Eg. Our competitors have not improved their customer service, nor have they invested in new technology.

Nick's Corner

💡 Engaging, Personalized, and Relevant English Lessons: My students' reviews and ratings say it all

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Early on in my teaching journey, I was trying to clarify the difference between 'who' and 'whom' when I hilariously mixed them up in a sentence. My students caught it right away and burst out laughing, and I couldn’t help but join in. It was a great reminder that teaching is just as much about learning for the teacher too:)

Nick's Corner

💡 Engaging, Personalized, and Relevant English Lessons: My students' reviews and ratings say it all

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USED TO: Something that happened regularly in the past but doesn't happen now E.g. I used to work in marketing before I changed jobs. BE USED TO: Being comfortable or familiar with something now E.g. I am used to working long hours. GET USED TO: The process of becoming familiar with something new E.g. I am getting used to the new software at work.

Nick's Corner

💡 Engaging, Personalized, and Relevant English Lessons: My students' reviews and ratings say it all

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A really cool cultural exchange took place during a lesson focused on food vocabulary. The Thai students shared their traditional dishes with me, like Pad Thai and Som Tum, which are all about strong flavors and eating together. On the flip side, Croatian food highlights fresh ingredients from both land and sea, featuring meals like Peka, where meat and veggies are slow-cooked under a dome. This discussion really opened up our talks about how food plays a role in cultural identity, family get-togethers, and celebrations in both cultures:)

Nick's Corner

💡 Engaging, Personalized, and Relevant English Lessons: My students' reviews and ratings say it all

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Teaching ESL has shown me that communication is more than just words. My students come from all sorts of backgrounds, and their ways of expressing themselves often go beyond how well they speak the language. I've come to value non-verbal signals like gestures, facial expressions, and body language, which are key to connecting with them. This journey has really enhanced my sense of empathy and patience, teaching me that real connections happen when we prioritize understanding each other over just fixing grammar mistakes:)