Meet English Speaking Tutor Alicia – English Speaking Lessons Online
Tell us more about your background as an English speaking tutor?
I have taught conversational English online to students in China – ages 10 to 70. Additionally, I have worked as an English speaking tutor at both the high school and university levels for more than 20 years. I am currently teaching English in 3 primary schools in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I also teach adult classes once per week here in Vietnam.
What are your education qualifications to work as an English speaking tutor?
I have a B.A. in English and graduated Summa cum Laude from University of Iowa. I also attained 12 credit hours toward a Master’s in TESOL from Baylor University in Texas.
As an English speaking tutor, how do you structure your lessons? Where do you focus most? Vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation or fluency?
I think the most important aspect is always speaking and improving fluency. Grammar is normally something taught extensively in schools and something people can study at home. I think utilizing speaking time is the most important, showing students how to put what they have been learning into practice to show how well they are doing.
I think phrasal verbs can be one of the hardest for students as they are difficult to remember due to the student not being able to translate it directly. I find teaching this extremely useful, introducing it, getting the student to use it in their speech and even using role-plays to get the phrasal verbs to stick in their minds.
What is the best way to improve English speaking skills?
The best way to take your English speaking skill to the next level is to spend as much time as possible conversing with native English speakers, if possible, or at least listening to native English speakers. While speaking in English with native English speakers is the best situation for improving your ability to learn the correct pronunciation of words and to increase your ability to understand individual words spoken in English at the natural speed of native speakers, just listening to them will also help you a lot.
Even if you are taking English instruction online, add to that by finding other native English speakers to be around. Even if you don’t know many (or any) native English speakers, you probably know a place where native English speakers get together. Go there. Listen carefully to their conversation. Say hello and try to start a conversation. The more you speak English and hear it spoken by native English speakers, the faster you will begin to get a feel for the rhythm of native English speech, a very important element of learning the language.
What area of English do students need most help in?
From my experience as an English speaking tutor, I know that everyday conversation is the most important aspect of English that students need help with. I have noticed that in the public schools, the dialogue they are taught is very systematic, but would not work very well in the context of a conversation. Students need to learn how to smoothly socialize. Conversational practice is the best and most effective way to learn a language.
