Teachers' articles, thoughts and opinions

Becoming a successful English tutor is about more than just knowing the rules of grammar and punctuation. Developing certain skills can significantly improve your performance and capacity to motivate students, regardless of how experienced or new you may be to the field of English tuition. In this blog, I will explain the 10 essential skills every English tutor needs to succeed, with tips on how to develop them for both in-person sessions and En...

Tips to Remember When to Use Ser or Estar SER and ESTAR are the two "to be" verbs in Spanish, and for English speakers, used just one verb, which can be confusing. But there is a way to understand these two verbs, by remembering DOCTOR and PLACE.  This will help you remember when and how to use SER and ESTAR when learning Spanish. How to Conjugate SER in the Present Tense Yo soy (I am). Tú eres (You are). Él es (He is). Ella es (She is) V...

What are Verb Tenses?  As you might recall from some English lessons, verb tenses in grammar are structures that allow us to communicate and express ideas, situations and actions relating to the moment in which they develop, that is, taking into account the different structures of present, past and future. the simple (Present Simple, Past Simple, Future Simple) the continuous (Present Continuous, Past Continuous, ...

How to Calculate the Distance Between Two Points?  In maths lessons, you explore the concept of the distance between two points, which measures how far apart they are in space. This fundamental idea forms the basis for various applications in physics, geometry, engineering, and navigation. Understanding how to calculate distances helps solve real-world problems, from determining the shortest path between two locations on a map to designing ...

Many companies are looking for part-time workers who can dedicate a portion of their time to specific tasks. For some businesses, hiring curious, motivated students who possess knowledge in various disciplines can be an advantage, as they might even train these students for future full-time roles. Are you a student struggling to balance studies and work? Does it feel complicated or even impossible? Perhaps if you found an activity that allowed ...

What are circle theorems? Circle theorems describe the relationships between angles in a circle. For the purposes of most maths exams, you can assume that the circles theorems are true and state them in your answers, unless the question explicitly asks you to prove them. Proving circle theorems will be covered further down. What circle theorems are needed for GCSE? There are seven main circle theorems which you need to memorise for your GC...

Learn How to Conjugate Common Spanish Verbs in the Past Tenses Learning Spanish is fun until you reach A2, and then you end up learning three different tenses to talk about the past. Each of them has irregular verbs with different conjugations. As someone currently learning Spanish, I understand the struggle. That’s why I wanted to prepare a guide to the most common Spanish verbs and their past tense conjugations, including the Pretérito Indefin...

This tricky verb is not like the others, so it's important to understand that the rules you use to conjugate other verbs don’t apply to gustar or any verb similar to it. When we use verbs like gustar, we focus on what the person likes, not the person(s) who like it. Let me show you some examples to make it clearer: A mí me gusta el chocolate (I like chocolate) – we don't say "yo gusto el chocolate." A ella le gustan los chocolates (She likes c...

Christmas is just around the corner, and if you’ve got kids, you know this time of year feels extra magical. It’s the season for family fun and festive activities, but let’s be real, kids are all about play during the holidays, and sneaking in a little learning at home can feel like a challenge. That’s where we’ve got you covered! We’ve put together a list of DIY Christmas crafts that are not only fun to make but also sneak in some educational v...

The most wonderful time of the year is around the corner. Christmas is the perfect time to bond with family. Every family has their own traditions, but it is always a good idea to plan ahead to make the most of it. If you’d like to enhance your Christmas holiday season this year, we have prepared the ultimate guide to make it easier for you and your family. From the classic Christmas films, best holiday destinations, to most useful stocking stuf...

Learning English can feel hard, especially if you speak another language at home. Here are some tips to help you learn English faster and make it more enjoyable: 1. Practise Every Day Try to speak or write in English every day. You can keep a small journal in English or talk to a friend who also wants to practice. Another easy way to practice is to read short English texts. Start with things you enjoy, like news articles, novels, or even comics...

Microsoft Office has been such an important part of our daily digital lives that at times, it is hard to think there was a time this did not exist. From students to pros, almost everyone had to get hold of its applications one way or another. But how did this suite come into existence, and how different is it now from what it used to be? Let's see! The Early Days: Where It All Started for Microsoft Office (1989–1990)The Office suite was officia...

You've decided that you would like to move abroad for work. Maybe you are a doctor or a nurse and you want to work in the UK or Australia. Maybe you are a teacher and you'd like to move to New Zealand. Maybe you are trying to get Canadian Express Entry. Or you have decided that you want to apply for a Masters' degree or PhD in an English speaking university.  You hear that you need 'IELTS' to prove your English level.  What does that ...

In many languages, we have two words for "you", one for formal and the other one for informal conversation. English is actually an exception, because we say always "you". Compare this: Tú eres María. You are Mary. Usted es María. You are Mary. In the first case, María could be my friend or my sister. In the second case, it is an unknown person or a mere acquaintance, and I am showing respect and putting some distance using "usted". If you know ...