5 Advantages of 1:1 Language Learning

Suitable for intermediate CEFR B1+

1:1 tutoring has several advantages over group study.  Firstly, 1:1 tutoring is a personal experience between you and the tutor, and for this reason one-to-one tutoring can be much more focused and versatile than learning in a group setting.

So let’s look in more detail at some of the reasons why you might choose one-to-one private tutoring over group English lessons. 

1. A personal learning experience

In group classes, teachers have to ensure that every learner in the class is familiar with the concepts and subject of the lesson. This process means that teachers often have to recap language that some students already understand or can use well. A major benefit of 1:1 tutoring is that your tutor can develop an individual learning plan that focuses on improving weaker areas rather than revising what you are already good at. Equally, if you are having trouble with understanding something you tutor can spend more time explaining and help you to practise until you are more comfortable with new concepts.

2. Course & content co-creation

Choosing 1:1 tutoring means working together with your tutor to plan your learning and decide the content of your lessons. Ultimately, this can make learning English more interesting as content can be tailored specifically to topics that you enjoy, and allows you to work towards specific contexts you need the language for. Your tutor can also build a structure into your lessons that suit your learning preferences, and set homework that will build your language skills more quickly.

As a private learner you are always encouraged to share your perspectives on what is covered during your lessons, how it’s covered and why it’s covered. This way there’s no need to sit through any lessons or content you feel are not the most beneficial for you, or don’t match exactly what you’re looking for. It can also improve your motivation if you feel empowered and actively responsible in your own learning journey.

3. Learn fast with less distraction 

With 1:1 tutoring your tutor is always there to keep you focused and engaged in the lesson. There are no distractions created by others in the class, which allows you to use your time most effectively and achieve your learning objectives faster. Although private tuition is typically more expensive than learning in a group, you might find that fewer lessons are needed overall and that means you get more for your money.

4. No peer pressure

If you’re a shy person or new to learning English you might feel self-conscious speaking in front of others or be afraid to ask for help for fear of what others might think. 1:1 private tuition offers a safe, private space for you to learn entirely at your own pace, without worrying about who else is listening. A good teacher will be responsive to your needs and do everything they can to help you overcome any challenges.

5. Maximum flexibility

With private tuition you don’t have to change your schedule or miss out on work to make a class. As private tutoring is now available online through your laptop or mobile device, you have the freedom to learn whenever and wherever you want!

...but is it all good?

The one disadvantage to private tutoring is that you miss out on practising real conversations with other people learning English. As English is a communication skill, it’s important that you attend some group lessons so that you become better at listening to a variety of accents and develop natural conversation and social skills together with your language knowledge.

A good way to get around this is to take group classes with 1:1 lessons a couple of times a month, or as often as you like, to focus on those areas that you need some help with. 

Do you have experience with 1:1 English tutoring? What was your experience like?

If you’re thinking about private tutoring and would like to give it a try, ask me about a free 15-minute trial session.

Life in the UK: 10 Famous British Artists

Suitable for intermediate CEFR B1+

If you’re applying for citizenship in the UK, it’s important to know about art as part of British culture and heritage. Art is also a great topic of conversation for English learners because it often divides opinions! This article will provide a summary of 10 of the most famous British artists, but first a little of British art history.


It is thought that British art from the middle ages had a mostly religious theme, but unfortunately much was lost during the Protestant Reformation. During the 16^th and 17^th Centuries, most artists working throughout The British Isles were from Europe. British artists that painted both portraits and landscapes became popular from the 18^th Century onwards.


Paintings and sculptures by British and international artists are displayed in art galleries and museums all over the UK including The Tate Britain, The Tate Modern, The National Gallery, The National Museum in Cardiff and The National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh. The Tate Britain is home to The Turner Prize, established in 1984, to celebrate contemporary art. Each year four works are shortlisted and displayed there before a winner is announced. Previous winners have included Damien Hirst and Richard Wright.


This is by no means a complete list, but it’s a pretty good starting point and they are all in the syllabus for those studying for the Life in the UK Test. Artists are listed in chronological order.

1. Thomas Gainsborough (1727- 1788)

Thomas Gainsborough was a portrait painter who typically painted people in garden or country landscape settings.

2. David Allan (1744 – 1796)

A Scottish painter well-known for his portrait art. He specialised in painting family groups and one of his most famous works is named The Origin of Painting.

3. Joseph Turner (1775 – 1851)

 Joseph Turner famously raised the profile of landscape painting and is widely considered one of the ‘great masters’ of painting. His work was first displayed at the Royal Academy when he was just 15 years old. Throughout his career, Turner produced over 500 oil paintings and 2000 watercolours including Dutch Boats in Gale, 1801 and The Fighting Temeraire, 1839. His paintings, many of which are seascapes, are identified for his clever use of light, shade and colour. Turner was recently named the most influential British artist of all time with his portrait printed on the £20 note.

4. John Constable (1776 - 1837)

Also a landscape artist, John Constable was an English painter of the romantic tradition. He was most famous for his depictions of the Dedham Vale, an area of Suffolk close to where he was born.

5. The Pre-Raphaelites

Yes, I know this might be cheating as it is not just a single artist. The Pre-Raphaelites were a group of painters from the late 19^th Century who painted literary and religious scenes in bright colours.

6. Sir John Lavery (1856 - 1941)

 

This famous artist from Northern Ireland once painted the Royal Family.

7. Henry Moore (1898 – 1986)

Henry Moore was an English sculptor and painter best known for the abstract style of his large bronze sculptures. 

8. John Petts (1914 – 1991)

 

This very successful Welsh artist worked mainly with engravings and stained glass. 

9. Lucian Freud (1922 - 2011)

This well-known portrait artist was born in Germany but spent most of his life in Britain after his parents fled the Nazi occupation in 1933. He served in the British Merchant Navy during the Second World War, before becoming one of the 20^th Century’s most prolific portrait painters.

10. David Hockney (1937)

David Hockney contributed to the pop art movement in the 1960s and continues as an influential painter, printmaker and photographer today.


Who is your favourite artist? Comment below!

Do you mean bad bad or bad good? 10 Confusing English Contronyms

Suitable for intermediate CEFR B1+

#vocabulary #EnglishVocab #miscommunication

Any English learner will realise that English has a notoriously large vocabulary. The current edition of the Oxford English Dictionary contains a staggering 218,632 words 171,476 of which are currently in use, making English vocabulary the largest of any language in the world by number of dictionary entries. Having a large vocabulary can be useful because it allows for greater freedom of description and expression, but it can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or miscommunication. You’ve probably heard of synonyms – different words with similar meaning, but what about contronyms?

Contronyms also known as antagonyms are words that have two opposing meanings. Contronyms should not be confused with antonyms, which are words opposite in meaning to another word, such as big is to small and hot is to cold. So here are 10 most common confusing contronyms that have two opposite meanings.

1. Bolt (v.)

To bolt can mean to escape or run away suddenly, as in ‘the horse bolted from its stable yard,’ or to fasten or secure something, as in ‘the door was bolted.’  

2. Buckle (v.)

To buckle can mean to fasten, as in ‘she buckled her shoes,’ or to bend, distort or collapse, as in ‘the heel of her shoe buckled.’ 

3. Clip (v.)

To clip can mean to fasten together, as in ‘he clipped the papers together,’ or to cut, as in ‘he clipped the paper to an appropriate size.’

4. Consult (v.)

This verb can mean to give advice and obtain advice.

5. Custom (n.)

We often talk of customs associated with different countries or cultures, but the word custom means both something normal and ordinary, and something special and unique.

6. Dust (v.)

To dust can mean to cover or sprinkle over something, as in ‘once cooled, dust with icing sugar,’ or to clean by removing fine particles, as in ‘I need to dust the shelves in the living room.’

7. Fast (adj.)

 

Fast is an adjective that can mean moving or capable of moving quickly, as in ‘the dog ran fast,’ or firmly fixed in position or attached, as in ‘the lid was stuck fast.’

8. Fine (adj.)

When someone asks how we are and we reply ‘I’m fine, thank you,’ we are indicating that we are neither very well nor very unwell, but just ok or as usual, but the word fine can also mean something of very high quality, as in ‘the gallery sells a selection of fine art.’

9.  Hold up (v.)

 

This phrasal verb can mean to delay, as in ‘Sorry I’m late, I was held up in traffic,’ or to support, as in ‘hopefully this bandage will hold up until we get to the hospital.’

10. Sanction (v.)

To sanction can mean both to authorise, approve or allow or to restrict or penalise as a form of discipline.

These are just a few examples. Can you think of any contronyms in your language? I’d love to hear from you. Please comment below!