I was reading the other day that not long ago, say 200+ years, a different language was considered just one feature of a different culture encountered if you traveled far from home.

Basically, when you traveled far from home you eventually encountered a different culture, which always meant you had to navigate a different language, along with the rest of the new culture. Yes, sometimes there would be similarities (Ex: many words could be similar; words may be written in similar ways),…

I was talking to a high level student today who said she has been in the US for 1 year and has 6 more months. She felt that she would "solve the problem" of English in this time, but things have not worked out this way.

Learning English is not a science, it's an art. Just like with any art, you need to take an interest in it, enjoy it, and continuously engage it. Only when you do these things will it be "solved" which, as you can see, cannot be connected to any time standard.

There is no doubt that learning English is easier from a writing and reading perspective, and this is how most ESL is done.

However, there is no doubt that speaking and listening is by far the most common way to use a language, and should somehow be prioritized.

If it is prioritized, is it not more important to teach the sounds as native speakers say them instead of how they appear in a book?

wuja do?

...should be presented during tuition next to...

what…

I was teaching a low intermediate class today and was having everyone ask each other "Where do you live?"

The answers ranged from the street number and street name to just the name of the suburb.

I fixed everyone's answers to be not an address but something just useful.

For example, we are in a fairly large city, so it is not so helful if you answer with your house/apt number, street name, and suburb/neighborhood. While the suburb/neighborhood name might be useful, the…