R.L.'s Tutoring Blog

All academic writing can be presented effectively by following the rule of three. In a single paragraph, one needs three development elements: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. In the case of a one paragraph writing, the introduction is often the thesis statement, although some writers may prefer to have a hook, an attention getting sentence prior to the thesis, but both are part of the essential first element, the introduction. The second element is the body of the paragraph, those sentences that develop the idea stated in the thesis. This may be as simple as a single sentence or may...

All languages are based on the labels that are given to people, places, things, actions, etc. One becomes more proficient in their speaking, reading and writing when they have a firm grasp of the vocabulary of a language. Thus the more words one knows the easier it is to understand and to be understood in a language. As infants, we begin speaking simply by mimicking sounds that have been repeated to us numerous times. Therefore, after our mother or other care givers have said 'cookie' enough times, we learn to associate that word with the food that it is a label for. And, if we have also learned...

It is understandable that adults prefer to be treated as adults. Being spoken down to seems demeaning in some way. However, it is important for second language learners to be realistic about how much they know about their new language challenges.

I have worked with hundreds of second language learners over the past 20 years. Most have been career minded adults: business men and women, doctors, lawyers, engineers, educators and a variety of other professionals. Unfortunately, many of them found it difficult to recognize their limitations when it came to the vocabulary and syntax of the English...

Sometimes it seems that there is no logic to the way native English speakers pronounce their language. How can the 'f' in 'fish' be pronounced the same as the 'ph' in 'telephone'? The way in which native English speakers pronounce the final sound of verbs expressed in the simple past actually follow a pattern that can be easily learned.

If a regular verb ends in the sound of [t] or [d] the 'e' in the simple past ending of '-ed' is pronounced as if it were spelled 'id'.

need + -ed becomes needed pronounced: ne 'did'
count + -ed becomes counted pronounced: coun 'tid'
trade + -d becomes traded...

With each English skill lesson, I provide a written review text. So, even after the lesson is over a student can use the text to review what was covered in the lesson as many times as he or she wishes. Within most lessons, a student will have an opportunity to apply what is being covered to specific examples, often created just for a particular student. For example, if a student is working on learning the parts of speech used in English he or she would be given a text explaining each part of speech. For learning to identify and use nouns correctly a student would receive this information for...