I used to teach group classes.
And then I switched to private lessons.
And here’s a fact:
Students who have a private teacher improve faster.
Here are some tips on how to use your private teacher to improve even faster.
QUESTION #1:
“Can we do some grammar?”
Learning rules is good for passing tests.
But it’s a disaster for speaking better.
After you’ve learned the basics, focusing on more and more complicated rules will make you speak slower and lose your confidence.
And in fact, many research studies prove that studying grammar is NOT the best way to improve your grammar.
QUESTION #2:
“Can you correct all my mistakes?”
The biggest mistake my students make is not a grammar mistake or a vocabulary mistake or a pronunciation mistake.
It’s the mistake of worrying about mistakes.
When you focus on mistakes you become stressed. And when you become stressed you speak worse.
Research shows that being corrected by a teacher doesn’t help you speak correctly.
Instead, it makes you feel bad about yourself which can lead to you avoid the English language entirely and even quitting.
QUESTION #3:
“Can we learn business English?”
Years ago, my student Jana asked me this question and then bought an expensive business English text book.
We did one lesson from the book and the next week I asked her “Did you do the business English homework?”
“No,” she said. “I lost the book.”
And the CDs… And the workbook…
That’s something you only do with a boring book.
I’ve never heard someone say, “Hey, where’s my copy of ’50 Shades of Grey?’ I think I lost it…”
If you want to learn business English read a business blog, watch business news, listen to a business podcasts, and then talk about business with your teacher.
Same vocabulary, same grammar, but it’s not boring!