Cheryl Williams

I like English. I enjoy teaching English because it allows me to meet and share ideas with people from different backgrounds and cultures. I help others reach their goals and, through teaching, I learn more about the world through my students.

In 2001, a community organization in my neighborhood needed a volunteer English teacher to teach evening group classes to immigrants and refugees. I applied for the position and taught three full sessions. It was a big challenge, but I learned a lot. I met many wonderful people, and the experience sparked my interest in teaching English. Eventually, I got certified to teach English as a Second Language in 2015, and I began teaching English online in 2019.

There are as many different reasons for wanting to learn English as there are people. Most of my students have been studying English for a while. Although they are able to express themselves and be understood in English, they want to refine their speaking. They want to be proficient, make fewer errors, use more sophisticated vocabulary, incorporate idioms and expressions, or simply sound more like a native English speaker.

Every language has its difficulties. What can help an English learner is its ubiquitousness. English is everywhere! English is practically the "Esperanto" of our global world, giving you lots of opportunities to see and hear it in context. If you learn just a little English, you will likely get the opportunity to use it.

The hardest part of teaching any language is that the TOOL you are using to teach (example: English) is the same as the SUBJECT you are teaching (example: English). Teaching and learning a language requires both the teacher and the student to use all of their senses and intuition to create an environment for understanding.

Students who do the best immerse themselves in the language outside of class. They watch movies in English, read, listen to podcasts, listen to song lyrics, and speak English whenever they get the chance.

Three pieces of advice that I would offer are:

1 - Be fearless! Make mistakes. Go for it!

2 - Connect with the REASON you want to improve your English (to stay motivated).

3 - Make the journey as fun as possible for yourself so that you stay inspired.

Learning English is not difficult. Mastering any language is. Some of the idiosyncrasies that make English challenging include:

- English spelling and pronunciation (It is not always logical or consistent).

- Articles (a, an, the) can be difficult if your first language doesn't use them.

- Verb Tenses. English has a variety of verb tenses that indicate time, with subtle distinctions.

- Phrasal Verbs and Idiomatic Expressions are common but must be learned to be understood.

- There are many exceptions to many "English grammar rules"

Find a teacher who you love learning with. If the journey is fun and inspiring, you will stay motivated and reach your goal!