Teachers' articles, thoughts and opinions

Embarking on a new language is a thrilling odyssey, one that unlocks a universe of possibilities and expands your horizons. English, in particular, as the lingua franca of the globalised world, has the power to increase your professional prospects and personal experiences. In this blog post, my aim is to give insights into mastering English as an English as a foreign language tutor, and offer valuable tips to propel you towards excellence in the...

The moment you decide to learn a new language, a flurry of questions are bound to take center stage in your mind. One such crucial query that often leaves language learners bewildered is - should I focus on conversation or delve deep into the grammar? To help you on your linguistic journey, let's break down the pros and cons of these two dominant learning methods and pinpoint the best route for language acquisition. 1. Can you learn a language ...

According to figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), people with an insufficient level of physical activity have a 20% to 30% higher risk of death compared to those who achieve a sufficient level of physical activity.  Nowadays, taking sports and fitness classes is not a matter of vanity to achieve a better physical appearance, it is really a matter of personal health, necessary to achieve a healthier lifestyle. It is true that f...

Learning a new language can be both exciting and challenging. But when it comes to language lessons, what's the best way to learn: Should I follow traditional grammar classes or try conversational ones? That's where everyone gets confused, and to answer this question we are going to break it down step by step. Can you learn a language exclusively through regular conversation? Yes, you can definitely learn a language through regular conversation...

If you´ve decided to take on private lessons in programming, you may have already learned that every programming language used involves the concept of a variable. What is a variable? A variable is the name given to a computer memory location where some data is stored for processing. There are some programming languages in which we need to define a variable before we use it and there are some programming languages in which we don't need to ...

The fact that your child has expressed a desire to learn music is very good news: music is a creative art that allows them to express themselves freely. In addition, they can acquire some skills that will help them grow, such as having a better memory, better concentration or knowing how to work in a group. So, don't hesitate to sign them up for some good music lessons! But how do you make sure you are choosing the right music tutor for your chi...

When embarking on a journey to learn a foreign language, the choices of language lessons can be overwhelming.  Aspiring learners often find themselves torn between regular conversation-based classes and traditional grammar-focused ones and I was one of them while approaching English. In this blog post, we will delve into the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches, aiming to determine the most effective route to master a foreign lan...

Modern language learning techniques used in private language lessons and in schools have created a divide between conversation classes and grammar classes. Assuming that traditional grammar classes lack the tools to teach conversation, language methods these days have often catapulted to the opposite extreme: conversational skills without conscious teaching of grammar.  Can you learn a language exclusively through regular conversation...

As a Spanish tutor, and having learned languages myself, I feel I have found the best techniques for learning a new language. Before this relevant discussion, let me tell you a story about me. When I was 6 years old, I remember quite well, those were my very first days of classes in primary school. It’s probable the teacher had spent long time showing the colors, and suddenly she saw me, back there in the classroom, and asked me to write ...

I´ve worked as a Spanish tutor at adult education centres in South Wales for several years, teaching beginner Spanish and intermediate Spanish.  During these classes, I was regularly asked by students why they needed to bother with grammar. I would tell them that learning Spanish has to have a bit of "dry" content which I would keep to an absolute minimum in order to keep the class intact. But they had to trust me. Some students ...

My name is Luisa Wichtendahl, I am a language tutor offering French lessons and Spanish lessons, and I want to give you my own personal point of view on how you can master any language. The most important tip I can give is that theory should always be applied with practice. What I mean by this is that, learning vocabulary and grammar doesn´t serve much purpose if you´re not going to practise and use what you´ve learned with native spe...

I get this question asked a lot… to me, this is like being asked: what is more useful to have, bones or muscles? A heart, or a brain? This approach triggers my fallacy alerts. If you don’t recognise the concept, or it sounds a bit like a dirty word to you, allow me to clarify: Fallacies are quick, simplified conclusions our brains have learnt to reach, in order to survive.  For example “Lion: dangerous”.   They make sense and are ...

In my experience, it's difficult though possible to achieve a basic level of personal and local communication, by means of regular conversation exclusively. I can find an example of conversation in connection with household activities such as washing and cookery. Household objects and equipment for washing and cleaning provide the basis and stimulus for speech. A mother explains to her child that she puts clothes and stuff in the machine, puts p...

Ciao a tutti! Are you ready to conquer the Italian language and unravel the secrets of its grammar? In this blog post, we'll embark on a thrilling adventure through Italian grammar, making it fun, approachable, and easy to understand. So, grab your favourite gelato and let's dive in! "Ciao, Verbs! Mastering Italian Conjugations": Verbs are the heart and soul of any language, and Italian is no exception. In this section, we'll delve into the...