Hey! How’s your English?
- Do you understand most of it but, have some trouble fine tuning it?
- Have you mastered the spelling and grammar but, find yourself confused by some phrases?
- Are you still noticing awkward faces when you're sure that you've used the right vocabulary?
Most tutors will provide a “professional” or “college paper” level of English, and that’s great! However, even if you get perfect marks in those departments, you may still struggle with “slang” or niche phrases that can make communicating with native speakers a bit tricky. That’s ok, too! Most of us understand you well enough to carry on but, if you would like to speak more like a casual American, I believe I can help you to express your ideas with a little panache.
I am a college graduate, who excelled in English classes throughout all of my education. I enjoy reading and writing for my own pleasure. Even when writing texts, emails, and social media posts, I just can’t help but to use proper grammar and spelling. It’s just a habit that has stayed with me but, I can also appreciate the fun ways we can turn phrases and manipulate spellings to create fun new ways to interact, like, “Dats kewl, bro!” Or, “Yo. Wassup, gurl?” These kinds of greetings would anger your teacher but, to some average Americans, this is an acceptable way to chat.
I have also spent significant time learning other languages, so much so, that I can often understand “broken English” quite effectively. Not only do I know what you were trying to communicate but, I often know why you chose the words you did and how you can learn to choose a more accurate phrase, because I understand how your language pieces words together. For instance, the way Spanish sentences are formed is entirely different from English. So, a direct, word for word translation might be accurate enough but, some native speakers will be confused.
"Yo tengo hambre."
In Spanish, this basically means that "I am hungry." However, to translate it precisely, it might read, "I have hunger." Most Americans would understand but, some verbs that indicate a form of possession, like "having hunger," in English are actually used to explain a state of being that one is "participating in." These slight nuances exist across many different languages. That's why simply using an automatic translation tool doesn't always work perfectly. Even some British to American English translations can leave native speakers baffled!
I grew up in the Southwestern United States. While I am not fluent, I do have an understanding of Spanish and that has also helped me to wrap my head around French, German, and some Portuguese. Along with that, I am intent on learning more about the ESL (English as a Second Language) program but, if you're looking for me, you probably already have that sorted out. I imagine myself as someone that you can bring your questions to about specific instances. Maybe I can read your document, email, or social media posts and check them for readability.
I DO NOT have an ESL accreditation, but, I am confident that I can help you polish your vocabulary so that native speakers may not even notice that English is your second language. I am also available to help students with English assignments, such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation, even if you are a native speaker.
For a free consultation, send me a quick message about yourself, what your goals are, and how committed you are to mastering English. We may be able to work exclusively via email for a reasonable fee, or we can negotiate a more substantial agreement working with video meetings.I am not a “professional.” I don’t work for a company. I am just an independent writer who is looking to coach motivated individuals and make an honest living.
Let's begin by opening up the comment section. Share something that you're confused about and we'll see if we can figure it out, together. If you find my help useful, then you can consider tipping me. If you feel that you need more help, then we can discuss a traditional tutoring session via email, Zoom, or in person.
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