What Success Means: The Problem With Perfection And How It Can Stand In Your Way

As a tutor, it is easy to want to fix every single mistake your learner makes. However, it is important to remember that your learner's goal is to communicate, not to be 100% correct.

The Laubach Method: What It Is and How You Can Use It

The Laubach Method is a way of teaching reading and writing through image association, which can be found in the "Laubach Way To English" book series. Understanding this method may give you some ideas that you can incorporate into your tutoring sessions.

The Laubach Way To English: The Importance of Cultural Awareness

In this post, I talk about the importance of cultural awareness as described by the Laubach Way To English handbook. I also give a few examples of some cultural differences you may encounter in your tutoring sessions.

What is the TOEFL Test ? (Part Three)

What is the TOEFL iBT test, from the perspective of a learner. 

What is the TOEFL Test ? (Part Two)

What is the TOEFL iBT test, from the perspective of a learner. 

What is the TOEFL Test ? (Part One)

What is the TOEFL iBT test, from the perspective of a learner. 

My Language Learning Journey from Beijing to South Dakota (Part Four) - Socialization Plays an Important Role in Language Learning

Socialization can be an important factor in language learning. Compared to younger adults who tend to be involved in many more social activities that help them improve their language speaking ability, older adults find it harder to socialize because they tend to have more family and social responsibilities.

Regional Employment Boards and Other Career Resources

Regional Employment Boards (REBs) help residents become economically self-sufficient and part of a competitive regional workforce. Metro North REB has many resources to help your learner find local career opportunities.

My Language Learning Journey from Beijing to South Dakota (Part Three) - Verbal Reductions

Spoken reductions in American English can be a big obstacle for learners. Reductions exist in all languages. Introducing your learner to reductions can help them to improve their listening skills.

No Two Learners Are Alike: Understanding the Individual Needs of Your Learner

Every learner has different needs, skills, and learning style. Understanding this will help you tailor your tutoring to help your learner reach success.

Is your Learner a Parent with Children in School?

A useful and comprehensive curriculum, from English for New Bostonians, for adult English language learners with kids in school.

Teaching Your Learner the Importance of Small Talk

Tips on helping your learner adjust to some of the American norms of casual conversation.

Documenting Immigration: "Welcome to Shelbyville" and "I Learn America"

"Welcome to Shelbyville" and "I Learn America" are two documentaries that explore the lives of American immigrants as they join their new communities and begin their new lives. 

How to use LEA Transcript to Teach Learners More Than Just English

This post gives some tips about how to use LEA transcripts to help learners understand more about living in America. In this example I explain how to use a photo prompt to teach about public transportation.

My Language Learning Journey from Beijing to South Dakota (Part Two) - Getting Used to Reductions

Every language uses reductions. For me, understanding my art professor's reductions made it difficult for me to understand his lectures. So I recorded them, and listened to them repeatedly, until I understand what reductions he was using, and where. 

My Language Learning Journey from Beijing to South Dakota (Part One)

From a learner's perspective: How our 24-year-old intern Shiyi Zhang, who just received her master's degree from Suffolk University, took the first steps towards becoming bilingual.

Using Dialogue Journals to Identify Writing Strengths and Weaknesses and Much More

Dialogue journals are way to teach learners how to write. Not only do they help you build a relationship with your learner, but they also help highlight their strengths and improve their writing. 

Why Won't My Learner Speak more English At Home?: Part III

Even though it may be hard to get your learner to speak more English at home, there are plenty of ways to help your learner get real-world practice with their English during your tutoring sessions. This post outlines a few of those possibilities.

Why Won’t My Learner Speak More English at Home?: Part II

In a linguistically isolated household, no one over the age of 14 speaks English comfortably. In these households, the family mainly speaks in their native language.This post explains the force of linguistic isolation and how tutors may never be able to get their students to speak English at home. 

Why Won’t My Learner Speak More English at Home?: Part I

Many tutors may find that, despite their continuous encouragement, it is difficult, if not impossible, to get their learners to speak more English at home. In fact, outside of the two hours of tutoring each week, learners may not be speaking any English at all. From a tutoring perspective, nothing would help a learner improve their English more than more practice; however, getting non-English speakers to step out of their comfort zone to achieve this goal is easier said than done.