Ashley English

English is a special language that has many exceptions for every rule! The combination of being a native speaker & studying foreign language pedagogy has helped me craft a teaching style that is effective & truly fun!

I fell into the role as a 15-year-old expat living in Germany. Whether friends were asking me to check their homework, friends' parents asking for lessons, or my sports club asking me to write copy.....I have been teaching English for over half my life! I have learned a lot through my other jobs along the way and that has only improved my teaching & solidified my choice to be an English teacher!

English opens the door to so many opportunities! Mostly students want to study or work in an international context and then English is very handy. Other reasons are love, travel, culture or simply to expand their knowledge.

English is not very difficult when it comes to grammar but idioms, pronunciation, spelling, and vocabulary are difficult. As much as people joke how difficult it is to learn German, German is easier in a way because the rules are very logical. I feel that English is almost "temperamental" and you need to learn so much individually. That is not to say that there are no set rules (because there are) but it is something that takes time, practice, and consistency!

As with any dialect, there will be certain cultural norms in addition to pronunciation, writing, grammar, and spelling rules. People tend to focus on pronunciation and vocabulary differences but I think the cultural norms are what set each dialect apart the most.

I generally get students who want to learn how to approach a business context within an American context but some other aspects include norms & values, respect, politics, and popular culture.

Getting students to realize that there is no "quick fix"....time, practice, dedication, and consistency are needed!

A motivated student who is not afraid to make mistakes along the way. They should also be open to learning in a new way when the opportunity presents itself.

Most of my students find writing or pronunciation the most difficult.

Never give up! Practice makes perfect.