Are you an intermediate English speaker who wants to...

✧ reach the advanced level with fluency and confidence?

✧ gain skill in what really matters to you without wasting time on useless topics and exercises?

✧ have fun and truly look forward to your lessons?

Well, that's exactly what I can help you do.

Here's a summary of what I bring to the table:

✅ native Canadian English speaker

✅ 7+ years and 6000+ hours of experience teaching online one-on-one lessons

✅ 2 university degrees in languages and 12+ teaching courses

✅ personalized lesson plans with a variety of resources, tools, and materials

✅ direct experience with different teaching methods through taking 10+ language courses as a student

You can talk to me in English, Slovak, Spanish, Italian, French, German, and Russian. I'm a student of all these languages (plus beginner Chinese), so any struggles you're feeling, I've felt them too. I'm here to help you make steady progress without stress.

►MY TEACHING PHILOSOPHY My lessons are all based on one simple premise: you become good at what you practice. If you only practice doing grammar exercises, then you’ll become good at doing grammar exercises! And if you practice speaking English a lot, then you’ll become great at speaking English. This is where a lot of textbooks, courses, and teachers fall short. They focus too much on exercises that do improve your English, but not in the way you want. (It’s like doing abdominal exercises and expecting your cardio to improve!) Of course, exercises are useful to learn the components of language. But they must be used in the context of your goal. I've learned this from personal experience learning languages, and I plan my English lessons with this in mind. I put a lot of effort into getting to know each student’s goals, from our talk in the first lesson to getting regular feedback. We stay on track and always keep moving towards your goals. ►LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION I do my classes as much as possible in English, to maximize your practice with the language. However, if needed, I can also communicate in Spanish, Italian, French, Slovak, German, Russian, and a bit in Portuguese and Chinese. I have personally taken more than 10 courses and long-term private lessons in these languages. This has given me first-hand experience with various methods and exercises. I know what works and what doesn’t work, and I can find the best ways to help you overcome your difficulties. Thanks to my knowledge of these languages, I also understand the reason behind many typical mistakes that people of different linguistic backgrounds make. I can explain them with better insight, and find tricks to help you fix them. ►CLASS MATERIALS I will provide you with all the materials you will need for our classes. (Except if you wish to work with a textbook, in which case you will need to buy a copy of it). I use material from different real life and academic sources, but I have also made a lot of my own material, based on my experience. This variety will let us pick the best resources for your goals. With each class, you will receive a document with notes on what we have learned, your mistakes and my corrections. You can access and review these documents anytime from any device. If you’d like to have homework to study outside of class, I can give you exercises and digital tools. These can include reading, listening, grammar, vocabulary, writing, videos, and more. ►MY LESSONS IN 10 PRINCIPLES I am passionate about my work and I always aim to have a positive impact on my students. My lessons are based on the 10 principles below. ✧(1) - We will focus on your objectives and needs. I don’t waste time with exercises or topics that aren’t useful for you. You’ll move towards your goals with every lesson. ✧(2) - You will gain fluency in speaking. The biggest benefit of one-on-one lessons is the possibility for us to interact throughout the whole lesson! You’ll be able to take full advantage of this. ✧(3) - You will gain confidence in your weakest skills. Whatever they are, I fit them into your lessons to make sure you build a strong overall level. ✧(4) - You will learn not just “textbook English”, but also colloquial phrases, words, and expressions that native speakers use in real life. You’ll be able to speak in a natural way. ✧(5) - I give intuitive explanations you'll easily understand. I know several other languages and I can explain English vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and typical mistakes from your perspective. ✧(6) - You will make visible and steady progress. My lessons are not separate units on random topics, but they build on each other. Over time and with your hard work, you’ll see great improvement! ✧(7) - You will be able to apply everything you learn in real life. I teach grammar and vocabulary in context so you know how and when to use it in conversation. ✧(8) - You will maintain your English through time. We will keep using what you learn and review from different angles. You won’t be learning new things just to forget them the next week. ✧(9) - Our lessons will be well adapted to the online medium. I use interactive digital tools to not only eliminate the barriers of learning online, but take full advantage of them. ✧(10) - We will have fun! :-) I believe learning a language takes effort, but should still be a fun experience. I do everything I can to make a positive atmosphere so you look forward to our lessons. ►TYPES OF LESSONS I specialize in teaching English at the advanced level. But I also offer classes for the basic and intermediate level. I have experience with a wide variety of lesson types and goals: ～ Lacking confidence or practice in speaking English? ✦ CONVERSATION LESSONS ✦ Build your fluency and confidence in conversation. We practice speaking English naturally. I correct your mistakes and show you the most natural ways to express something. We learn vocabulary and grammar only by correcting mistakes, learning words you didn’t know, and answering your questions. (1) - We speak freely, as if we were having a coffee together and talking about life. (2) - We discuss topics that I prepare (this may include some relevant grammar / vocabulary). (3) - We discuss articles, videos, podcasts, etc. that were given previously as homework. ～ Want to impress your colleagues and get ahead at work? ✦ BUSINESS ENGLISH LESSONS ✦ Learn to speak English with confidence in work situations relevant to you. These can include phone calls, meetings, making requests, apologizing, clarifying information, handling complaints, agreeing, disagreeing, suggesting new ideas, negotiating, etc. We do simulations for both oral and written scenarios and cover the necessary vocabulary and grammar to handle them comfortably. Of course, we also work on pronunciation, formality, and expressions of politeness to make sure you make a positive impression. (Search for “Business English” to find my separate page with more details.) ～ Preparing for a stay in an English speaking country? ✦ LESSONS FOR TRAVEL OR IMMIGRATION ✦ Learn to confidently manage situations that you’ll find yourself in abroad. These could include shopping in a store, visiting the doctor, making plans with someone, accepting or rejecting an invitation, getting to know someone, describing your weekend, asking for directions, dealing with problems, etc. We cover the grammar and vocabulary necessary for you to communicate easily in these scenarios. We practice them through simulations in both dialogues and written communication, so that you know how to handle each scenario with confidence. ～ Starting a degree taught in English soon? ✦ LESSONS FOR THE ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT ✦ Prepare yourself for success in an English academic environment. We focus on academic vocabulary and grammar that will help you understand lectures, read research papers, make presentations, and write essays. Naturally this includes all four skills (reading, listening, speaking, writing), with particular emphasis on speaking and writing. We also compare ways to say something in formal, casual, written, and oral contexts. You’ll understand the subtle differences in advanced language and know how to express yourself accurately in each kind of situation. ～ Feeling lost and anxious about your English exam? ✦ ENGLISH EXAM PREPARATION LESSONS ✦ Increase your chances of getting a high score on your IELTS, Cambridge, or TOEFL exam. In these lessons, we focus on speaking simulations, answering your questions, improving your weaknesses, and practicing strategies to easily boost your score. I have taken 12+ courses and certifications by past IELTS examiners to prepare students for English exams. (Search for “IELTS” or “TOEFL” to see my separate pages with more details). ～ Struggling to put sentences together? ✦ GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT LESSONS ✦ Become a master of using grammar to express yourself flexibly, accurately, and naturally. Grammar always requires looking at theory, but you don’t need a teacher to sit and watch you do grammar exercises — so I give them to you to do in your free time. This way we can maximize our time in class. We go over any questions, then we practice situations where the grammar is necessary or useful, turning the theory into skills. You’ll become proficient at using the grammar in a communicative context, and recognize when you need to use it. ～ Got lots to say, but lacking the words? ✦ VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT LESSONS ✦ Expand your vocabulary to easily express your ideas. Vocabulary can be taught through conversation lessons. Or, we can choose topics relevant to you and learn words to help you talk about them. I can give you sets of expressions to study before class, as well as exercises to help review them in your free time. I also provide a free digital tool which can help you easily practice the words from any device. We focus heavily on discussion, making sure you know how to use the words flexibly, accurately, and naturally in conversation. ～ Feeling insecure because people struggle to understand you? ✦ PRONUNCIATION LESSONS ✦ Sound more like a native speaker and make it effortless for others to speak with you. We look at the components of good pronunciation like word stress, linked sounds, rhythm, intonation, and the sounds of the letters. There are two starting approaches: (1) We read articles together out loud and I correct you, or (2) we break down the components of good pronunciation and practice them one by one. You’ll gain confidence and skill in expressing yourself. ～ Want to boost your English overall? ✦ A MIX OF EVERYTHING ✦ You’ll like this type of lesson if you don’t have any particular objective at the moment, but you want to improve your English for your own self-development and future opportunities. We include a balanced mix of vocabulary, grammar, conversation, reading, writing, and listening, with particular attention to your weaknesses. These lessons help you reach an overall strong level. ～ Don't see yourself on this list? ✦ YOU CHOOSE ✦ Write me a message describing your goals. I’d be happy to talk with you about your unique needs. ►STUDENTS So far, I’ve helped prepare: ✧ doctors and oncologists for consultations in English ✧ professors for international conferences and seminars in English ✧ German actors for English-speaking roles ✧ eCommerce professionals for pitches and demos in English ✧ students for English exams and certifications ✧ children and teens for international exchanges in Canada or America ✧ children and teens for fluent communication with native English speakers ✧ travelers for extended trips ✧ families for immigration to Canada ✧ business owners for client communication and international expansion ✧ accountants and lawyers for multinational meetings ✧ graphic, product, and interior designers for client communication in English ✧ pilots and flight attendants for their exams and entry to work ✧ yoga teachers for classes in English ✧ programmers and other professionals for interviews, meetings, and presentations in English And you? What could you achieve if you spoke English with confidence? Send me a message and let’s see how I can help you!

If you have a specific one-time request, such as help preparing for a job interview or presentation, let me know and we will focus the hour on that.

If you would like regular lessons and it is our first lesson together, we will take 15-30 minutes to get to know your level and goals.

Based on that, we will create a plan so that each lesson brings you a bit closer to your goals.

Here are a couple examples from my current students:

-An orchestra violin player is preparing for a 1-month trip to America. She's confident speaking about music already, but wants to feel confident talking about current events and other everyday topics with the other musicians and their families. Our lesson is split, 30 minutes speaking freely as if she's having coffee with a friend, and 30 minutes talking about what's new (from the newspaper), a movie she saw or book she read.

-A young Spanish engineer is working in an international company and wants to improve his business English to improve his work communication. The lessons are each focused on a particular work-related topic such as giving suggestions, asking for clarifications, politely disagreeing, etc. They each include grammar, vocabulary, and speaking simulations of situations where this grammar and vocabulary are naturally used.