Steven Gold, English Language Services, HCMC

Lately, I have been teaching my private online students more cadence, intonation, and pronunciation. I have my students mimic my reading. I make them read and repeat slowly, stretching out the words, making each sound clearly. I find that Vietnamese want to speak in short bursts and too quickly to be clearly understood.

I am teaching them to group words together. Example: I looked... into the shop... at the mall... and saw... a blue dress... that I liked ... so ...I bought it. English is often grouped into small phrases of two, three, or four words. You can take a short pause between these groups. Now my students are sounding more fluent and natural. 😀❤️👍

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oJ_k0Hu5fAc?feature=share 😀

Easy Everyday Synonyms #english #education #learnenglish #synonyms

https://youtube.com/shorts/AKxXVnhMslA?si=GNAkst5p47PBxaf6

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https://youtu.be/sOUqHr9tcVY

Silent Letter Day Website: https://www.michaelmcintyre.co.uk/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMichaelMcIntyre/Twitter:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY TO ALL MY AMERICAN FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I had one of the best days of my life. Staying with friends. Went to a baseball game for my friends boys, here in Saigon. International school vs. Vietnamese team. Great baked ham feast with sweet potato pie and pumpkin cheesecake for desert. Tomorrow the fourth day of Thanksgiving we will have Turkey and pumpkin muffins. We are extending Thanksgiving. I love my Vietnamese and American family of friends here so much. They really take care of me and support me so much. I am almost walking without a cane now. What a miracle, what a healing. I am soooo blessed. Have a lovely time and a blessed year. Yes there are ups and downs and bumps in the road but with good friends, a joyful heart, and the love of God, things are good no matter what. Love you all, Steven

Thanks to Kenn Smith for inspiring this discussion of English Teaching Methods.

I have been teaching English for over 15 years in Vietnam. Mostly online, one to one for one hour per lesson. I also teach small groups of 5-7 students sitting around a table at Me Cafe. I never use textbooks or workbooks anymore. I prepare each lesson precisely for my student's needs. Some are teens, some working adults, some professionals like Dentists or Engineers or Bankers. Each level and profession needs vocabulary and idioms that pertain to their work or station in life.

I use a variety of resources such as YouTube videos, the Vietnam Express newspaper, and many free downloads from the ISL collective. Engaging the students in conversation is my primary goal, not teaching grammar. Vocabulary is learned along the way as needed. At Me Cafe, there is no workbook either. We sit in small groups asking and answering questions. There are topics with lists of questions to elicit responses, making the students think and speak in English.

I don't know the best way to teach English. Surely there are many systems and ideas about it. I do know that repeating practical phrases, which was how I learned Spanish when I lived in Peru and Bolivia was most helpful. So practical phrases, the most commonly used phrases, and pertinent idiomatic expressions are my preferred method for teaching.

Of course a basic knowledge of English sentence structure and vocabulary is needed, but I only teach intermediate or advanced students. It is certainly different than teaching beginners. I think repetition is extremely important so I often have my students be the teacher and ask every person the same questions sequentially in my small groups.

I am always trying to improve my teaching skills by reading or watching videos about teaching English. As a method, perhaps exposure to words, phrases, and sentences is paramount. Sometimes with my online students we read English stories like Forrest Gump or Erin Brockovich.

Learning ESL is a lifetime process and I hope you all stick with it. 💚 Steven K Gold, Steven Gold, English Language Services, HCMC

Lucy teaches Ricky how to pronounce English words.....hilarious!
🤣🤣🤣🤣

I love Lucy english Pronunciation

I have often told my students, "English is crazy." I apologize for it, saying, "I didn't invent it, I only teach it." I mean that it is weird and strange and a difficult language to learn.

Often I explain that this is because English is a conglomeration or blend of many European languages and so it uses the spelling and sounds of German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Latin, Greek, etc. How else can you explain words like tough, through, and although, that are pronounced differently though they are spelled the same?

Well, I just found this video on YouTube that explains in detail what makes English so weird and therefore difficult to learn. The video is pretty funny as well as informative.

Hope you enjoy it! Steven ❤️

10 weird things about English Enjoy this whistlestop tour of the weirdness of English. And start speaking a new languages in 3 weeks with Babbel 🎉. Get up to 60% OFF your subscription ➡️...

The new Me Cafe - Da Kao is fabulous. It is beautiful, spacious, comfortable, cool, and quiet. Here are some photos from opening night. ❤️