A teacher who does all the voices
Eddie has three children, now grown up, and he read the Harry Potter books and The Lord of the Rings aloud to them more times than any of them can count. He knows every character, from Hagrid to Gollum, and he does all the voices. Children notice that within about a minute, and from then on they are listening.
That is the whole idea behind his lessons for younger learners. A child who is enjoying a story is not "doing English". They are following the plot, guessing what happens next, repeating a line in a funny voice, and arguing about whether Snape can be trusted. Along the way they pick up vocabulary, grammar, rhythm and pronunciation almost without noticing.
Underneath the fun sits proper teaching. Eddie holds the CELTA, Cambridge's English teaching certificate, so every lesson has a clear aim and parents can see real progress.
What the lessons cover
- Reading aloud and reading for pleasure, with books chosen to suit the child's level and interests
- Speaking and listening: retelling the story, talking about characters, asking and answering questions
- Vocabulary and grammar, taught through the book rather than from a worksheet
- Pronunciation: clear, natural British English, helped along by acting out the dialogue
- Writing for older children: short summaries, letters from a character, a new chapter of their own
- Confidence above all, so English becomes something they enjoy rather than something they dread
Who the lessons are for
Children and teenagers learning English as a second language, whether they are just finding their feet or already chatting away and ready for a proper novel. Lessons are especially helpful for families preparing for a British school or a move to the UK. For boarding-school preparation specifically, see the Pre-Boarding Polish Programme.
How it works
Lessons are one-to-one, or shared with a brother, sister or friend, and are taken in blocks so there is continuity from week to week. They run online in any time zone, or in person in London. Parents are always welcome to sit in, and Eddie keeps you updated on how your child is getting on. It all starts with a short, relaxed conversation with parent and child together, so Eddie can find the right level and the right book.