I am a native speaker of English as well as a certified ESL teacher with over 16 years of experience. Many teachers know to teach, but they don't know how to make an English lesson EXCITING for the student! So, if you are looking to learn English in a unique way that engages your thinking skills and your imagination, then your search for the right teacher is over. I will show you how to "think" like a native speaker of English instead of just how to "copy" a native speaker.
Like other teachers, I teach the basic skills for mastering English, but in an exciting way that actually INSPIRES you to learn English! My objective is to teach you how to THINK in English, so that you can respond confidently while in a difficult communication situation (even when I am not there to help you). Learning English is about more than just learning grammar; you must have a good "command" (an intelligent understanding) of the language to achieve your goals.
Speak English with Confidence, Power, and Passion!
Learning English should not be a burden. It should not be work. It should not be an obligation. It should be something you look forward to doing in each and every class! Certainly, a student must learn the mechanics of English. However, this will never happen if a student is not motivated, and motivation comes from inspiration.You must have, as we say in English, "a fire in the belly."
When learning English, the most important tool you have is your own imagination. It must be completely engaged in order for you to absorb and apply what you are learning. You must use your natural creativity if you want to master English! Everyday, I teach ESL (English as a Second Language) in a physical classroom where I use a variety of creative activities such as music, mind maps, and role-playing to make my students passionate about learning and using the English language.
About Me
In 2002, I decided to make an important career change. I had worked in jobs related to sales (including a job with the Discovery Channel), customer service, and market research for eight years before that time, and I had become "burned out" (tired) from the whole experience. That same year, someone encouraged me to take a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification course with Lado International College.
After receiving my certification, I started teaching for nonprofit organizations, but later moved to some of the better known private schools in my area. Teaching a group of multicultural students has given me the wonderful experience of working with people from almost every country in the world!
Learn Real English with The Total Approach!
Dr. Robert Lado is the creator of a very unique way of teaching English called The Total Approach. He was born in Florida, but his parents (who were of Spanish descent) took him to Spain before he had a chance to learn English. He returned to the United States at the age of 21 and had to learn English as an adult. He attained his doctorate from the University of Michigan, and later created the Georgetown University School of Languages and Linguistics as well as Lado International College.
Unlike other teaching methods, Dr. Lado's method is based on his actual experience of learning English. His approach emphasizes teaching a language "in context." This means that the student learns the grammar (and other functions) of a language through real-world situations. These situations might include things like buying a car or answering questions in a job interview. This is the approach I was taught during my certification course, and it is the one that I use in my class on a daily basis.
What My Students Think!
Look
below, and you will find some comments from my students about what
my English training has done for them!
"I attended the six week course and I must say that I couldn't afford to miss even one class. His classes are well organized and will provide you with good direction on how to learn the language efficiently. He teaches with state of the art ESL techniques and uses functional activities like role-playing exercises among other things. Anyone who is serious about learning the language should religiously attend his classes." François S. (Canada) |
| "Hello Mr. Douglass! How are you doing? I hope you are doing great! Thanks a lot for your newsletter. I enjoy the class. It is really great! I love your lessons. I have found the newsletter to be helpful. I forwarded this e-mail to all of my friends. Once again, thanks a lot!" Sergyi (Ukraine) |
"I am a student of Applied Linguistics and I have been "attending" Douglass's weekly online English courses to learn how ESL classes are conducted. I appreciate his professionalism and dedication, planning of classes, his ability to modify his lessons to the level of the students and the personal encouragement he gives to each student. Douglass's classes have been a most unusual, no-strings attached discovery on the Internet." Eve T. (Singapore) |
My Training
- Certified in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) through Lado International College.
- Twelve years of experience teaching ESL for both private schools and non-profit organizations in multicultural classrooms.
- Eight years of experience in communication related fields such as customer service, market research, and sales including a job with the Discovery Channel.
| Tutoring Price Matrix | ||
| Number of Students | Face to Face Price | Online Tutoring Price |
| 1 | $32.00 per hour | $24.00 per hour |
| 2 | $27.00 for each student per hour | $19.00 for each student per hour |
| 3 | $22.00 for each student per hour | $16.00 for each student per hour |
| 4 | $19.00 for each student per hour | $14.00 for each student per hour |
| The maximum number of students per session is four. Minimum time per session is one hour. | ||
| You can buy tutoring sessions in three ways: | FOUR (4) tutoring sessions paid for before the class | EIGHT(8) tutoring sessions paid for before the class | TWELVE (12) tutoring sessions paid for before the class |
Payment, Refund, & Cancellation Policies
Payment:
A student can make payment online through PayPal.com. When your payment
has been confirmed, you may immediately schedule classes. English
tutoring will not be provided until payment has been confirmed. Payment
is to be given in advance (before the time) of whatever tutoring
sessions you are to receive. Paypal.com is a third party payment
service that allows people to send and receive payments online more
securely. However, I do not control the services provided by
Paypal.com, and I will not be held liable for the use of their website
in any way.
Refund & Cancellation: In the event that I can not teach on a specific day or days, then the student may choose to receive a refund (or a credit) for the day or days I am not available to teach. In the event that the student can not come on a specific day or days, then I will need to receive at least 48 hours notice, so I can prepare alternative activities to be e-mailed to the student during his or her absence. I put in a lot of time and work for the preparations I make for each student. Therefore, no refunds will be given for any day or days canceled by a student. However, the student can receive a credit for any days missed which he or she can apply to a future class. The time a credit can be used will be based on my teaching commitments and schedule at that time. Furthermore, any refunds will be given through PayPal.com and subject to their policies. | |||
What You Need to Get Started
- You need to be a non-native speaker who is serious about learning English.
- You need a working version of Skype installed on your computer.
- You need a headset or a microphone and earphones.
- You need a fast
connection to the Internet.
- You need a web browser which can access multimedia websites.
- You need to be able to pay for tutoring using PayPal.Com. (Go to their website to get more information.)
You should know that it takes a lot of time for me to prepare a learning program for each person. Therefore, I can only tutor a very small number of students at any given time. Please Contact me today by e-mail to find out how I can help you on your journey to master English and speak it fluently!
