My last post here on English Coach Online explored the defining features of gerunds and to-infinitives and the differences between them. In that post, I promised to examine the like to or like ing dichotomy in the following post. Therefore, I shall now examine the verb like when it is followed by the infinitive and the gerund. Like to or Like ing? - Background  Before I go into the finer nuances of the like to or like ing debate, it’s worth noting that deciding on whether to use a to-infinitive or gerund after like goes a little deeper than whether one is a Brit and American. Traditiona ..read more

This post tackles the very thorny issue of choosing between gerunds and to-infinitives. Although there are some rules which govern the use of gerunds and to-infinitives, only a great deal of practice and exposure to English may enable the learner to retrieve the right form when they are the object of a sentence (i.e. follow a main verb). Before I explore the differences between gerunds and to-infinitives, I will first of all define what they are. What is a Gerund? Gerunds comprise the base form of a verb (bare infinitive) followed by -ing. The most defining feature of gerunds is that they be ..read more

I currently teach around 15 students online. I’ve been teaching a small number of them for over five years. Even though every freelancer around the world seems to have raised their rates, I’ve decided against increasing my private lesson prices for already enrolled students.  The state of play with my prices When I started teaching English in Poland in 2006, my rate for private conversation classes was 60 PLN per clock hour. Very good money in those days. This became 65 PLN in around 2012 when I taught students face-to-face in Lódź, Poland. When I reverted back to teaching mostly Polish ..read more

The web is full of generic blog posts advising English language learners how to choose the right tense when writing. However, this post offers some innovative techniques regarding how to choose the correct tense when speaking English. You got it. Tips to retrieve the right tense when you only have a split second to apply the correct tense. Don’t learn all the tenses under the sun I once wrote a piece urging English language learners to strip down the grammatical syllabus and focus only on those tenses which proficient users of English tend to use in conversation.  So, don’t fret when yo ..read more

Frankly, it’s about time I wrote a piece about how to improve listening skills in English.  Over the past few years, I’ve rather focused on methods for learners to become more competent speakers of English.  Hence, it’s about time I stepped out of my comfort zone. After all, I have plenty of things to get off my chest when it comes to the best ways to hone listening skills. Characteristics of Good Second Language Listeners First of all, it’s important to nominate which traits I believe good listeners in a second language (L2) possess. A good place to start would be this list of ‘Ch ..read more

The Keyword Method is a mnemonic device designed to facilitate students’ learning of foreign vocabulary.  In this post, I explore the early origins of the keyword mnemonic method. Then, I explain what a keyword is. Next, I discuss how the keyword approach can be applied to acquire second language vocabulary. Finally, I consider the effectiveness and possible drawbacks of the keyword technique.  Defining mnemonic and “mnemonic devices” The word mnemonic is derived from the Ancient Greek word μνημονικός (mnēmonikos), meaning of memory or relating to memory.  There is also a cl ..read more

If you’re committed to becoming an independent language learner, you’re in the right place.  This post explores what independent language learning is (and isn’t).  Furthermore, I will go into the role language learning strategies play in autonomous learning and achieving communicative competence (i.e. fluency).  What is Independent Second Language Learning? A number of principles underpin independent language learning, as Cynthia White (In Hurd and Lewis, 2008, p.3) writes: – optimising or extending learner choice, focusing on the needs of individual learners, not the interest ..read more

Following on from the success of recent posts connected with the TOEFL Speaking test, the Cambridge B2 First Speaking test and C2 Proficiency, I’ve now shifted my attention to IELTS Speaking test preparation. To do the topic of preparing for the IELTS Speaking test justice, I interviewed IELTS Master Trainer, Ms Veena Krishnamurthy.  Before I get down to the topic of how to prepare for the IELTS speaking test, here’s an overview of Ms Krishnamurthy’s credentials. All about Veena Krishnamurthy Veena Krishnamurthy is someone who has a passion for languages and an enviable CV.  Highly ..read more

If you’re looking to get a high TOEFL speaking score, your first port of call should be the platform My Speaking Score. Just recently, I interviewed the Founder and CEO of My Speaking Score, John Healy. Before I share the interview with you, I will provide a short account of John’s journey from owner of an IT consultancy business to harnessing Generative AI to supercharge language education. After this biography, I’ll also give a brief overview of My Speaking Score and also an automated scoring system called SpeechRater. A little bit about John Healy It was in 2003 that John Healy sold his f ..read more

If you’re wondering how to encourage students to speak English in class, you’re in the right place. This post is really about techniques you can implement to get students to open up and speak MORE English than they do. Before I get to these techniques, I will consider the common stumbling blocks students face when it comes to practising speaking in class.  Encouraging Your Students to Speak Their Mind: What Are the Common Stumbling Blocks? There are plenty of reasons why students are reluctant to practise speaking English in the classroom: Introverted students Unfortunately, introverted ..read more