I've been an English teacher at Cambly for almost two years now. (Has it been that long already?) And an ESL and writing teacher for university and college students even longer--- since 2013! What is Cambly? During the pandemic, all my teaching and tutoring went online. I'd already done some online tutoring, but I was hoping to connect with more ESL students. A friend and coworker of mine suggested I try Cambly, which is an online platform where students from all around the world (for a reasonable price) get to speak with native English speakers. Most Cambly teachers are just that--- a native speaker. Which is great! If you've been practicing English for a while, it's nice to have someone to "test" your English. (After all, isn't speaking to a native speaker and having him/her understand you the ultimate test?) I am, however, more than a native English speaker. I have a Master's in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MTESOL) and am an experienced ESL instructor. I can explain why you're making the errors you are as well as give you tips for how to improve based on your specific level or skill sets. Am I underpaid at Cambly? Oh, yes! So why do I do it? Because I know how to help, I love teaching, and it's fun to meet other people from around the world! Working with regular students I don't mind having one-time conversation with students, which is an option while teaching for Cambly; however, it's much more fulfilling when I have students regularly signing up to have lessons with me. It gives me a chance to assess their abilities and build lessons specific to their needs. There are several ways I can help you with your English. Here are a few favorite options, which my regular students mix and match, depending on what they feel they need. Free-Talk Usually, the best way to improve your English is by simply having a conversation in English (without a translator). That's what I call "free-talk." I have decades of experience in helping students talk at whatever level they are at. All my first lessons with students is a type of free-talk. Some students, especially after having worked with me for a while, like choosing topics using the eslconversationquestions website, but I like it when students talk freely and without preparation. I also love it when students ask me questions! The goal in free-talk, after all, is to keep the conversation going and not use the translator. So don't be shy! Tell me a little about yourself, your interests, your goals, your country, your goals, your day--- I'm here to listen and help you improve. (Please no politics, though!) Engoo Articles This is probably my favorite option because it combines a lot of different skills: reading, vocabulary, pronunciation, speaking, etc. Basically, we go to the Engoo article website together (or you can do this on your own before our scheduled lesson) and choose a level (see image below) and topic. You can choose between intermediate (level 5) to proficient (level 10). After we make our selection, we
Engoo articles are great because new topics come out daily. You can also build your confidence as you move from level 5 to 6 to 7, etc. Grammar Guided Conversations I can answer your grammar questions, share resources, give ideas for personal practice, but also--- build conversation around specific grammar concepts. I like using the grammar focused questions on the eslconversationquestions website, but we can
Cambly Lessons
Cambly provides ready-to-go lessons for paying students. They're not bad! I especially like the ones that provide IELTS and TOEFL practices. If you're studying English for a specific purpose (eg. business), then we might find a good Cambly lesson series for you. There are also some interesting idiom and conversation focused lessons. Don't be surprised if we skip around or we don't make it through an entire Cambly lesson during a single reservation together. The Cambly lessons are often long, too easy, or too hard. It sometimes takes a little practice getting the Cambly lessons to work for you. Conclusion I work with ESL students all the time! It's my career. So if you'd like to do something besides the ideas listed in this article, don't hesitate to ask! I have a number of good articles on this blog that can help any ESL student answer questions and build their own English practice, but if you want to work with me on-on-one, find me on Cambly!
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