ESL Tutor available for one-on-one lessons

Learn to speak fluent English confidently with me as your Tutor.

Learn from the comfort of your home, at a time that fits your schedule.

Contact me today to schedule a free 1/2 hour lesson & discuss your learning goals. I look forward to hearing from you!

How to contact me:

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Testimonials :

Dear Deborah,

I am writing to let you know that I passed the IELTS exam. I would like to thank you for your help. I couldn't have done it without you. You encouraged me in each of our classes. My spoken, writing and listening skills improved a lot with your teaching method. I enjoyed the lessons and I feel more confident now. I really appreciate your dedication, patience, and your punctuality. You are a great teacher!.
Patricia Mochon (Argentina) May 2009

Hi Deborah,
I would like to thank you for the trial lesson and for being a good listener. I had never told anyone about my English problems and to tell you the truth, for some reason I feel much better now. It was like talking to the doctor when you have a health problem, or to the chaplain /counselor. (Walter - The Philippines)

Deborah the lessons are fun and I enjoy them. It is well worth the money and I feel more confident now. Thank you.

Dear Deborah,
I would like to thank you for the quality of your course. I really appreciate the way you handle each lesson. It has been really difficult to find a teacher able to point out each weakness and to provide the answer to correct it. I have been learning so much about grammar and pronunciation that I now feel comfortable to handle a conversation with my English colleagues. The way I speak now is much more natural and sophisticated.
Thanks,

Laurent (Belgium)

Thank you so much Deborah for everything. You helped August to become what he is when it comes to English. His scores in the IELTS were really good, even in speaking,..more sessions with you will really make a difference. God bless you.
Januarie (Kansas)

"Deborah is a perfect English teacher. The interesting thing is that she is more than a teacher, she is a very awesome lady, who encourages us. The way she spoke to me the first time and told me which country I was from just by my accent, surprised me. She makes English very easy for anybody who seeks her classes. All the best to every one who wants to learn English. I can tell you that in Deborah's classes you will see that "learning English is not a Rocket science."

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to write a testimonial about you.

Dr. Lakshmi ( India)

Dear Deborah,

Thank you very much for your help. Although my English is at advanced level, I feel my writing has improved since I started one on one sessions with you. Your attention to subtle points in grammar and meaning warns your students about the mistakes which can easily be made and avoided. Your method of teaching makes your students more accurate both with their speaking and writing skills. Your patience, diligence and your punctuality (which I would call the icing on the cake) makes your teaching even more helpful and effective. I am looking forward to having more sessions with you.

Farideh
July 2008

Hi, I am Yushi. I found Deborah's site through the internet and we began our lessons.
I am on a business trip to the US. At first ,I felt a little afraid of talking to people in English but after a few lessons, my spoken and listening skills improved very quickly. I can talk to my US colleagues in English now.
Thank you Deborah! (Yushi, China)

"Online learning is very convenient. We do the same things as you would in a classroom. I feel very comfortable talking with Deborah, she is a great teacher. I don't have to go anywhere to do my lessons, it's great." (Jennifer, New York)

"Hi, I contacted Deborah by browsing the Internet; I was tired of trying to find the perfect English school with the perfect schedule and price and I just didn't want to lose my money or my time. I was afraid of trying a tutor by Internet because I thought it would be too impersonal but it wasn't true. She is great! We contact each other through messenger, we write and speak in our class, we do home work, the sound is very good and she corrects my pronunciation. It's like being in a personalized class but better because I do it from my comfortable home. I am very excited about our classes and I feel very confident she will help me to perfect my English. Of course she doesn't do magic, I have to study by myself too! " (Victoria- East Coast)

"Thanks for your teaching. You are a very nice and patient teacher." (D .S - CA)

" Just three lessons with Deborah, I started seeing an improvement in my speech and pronunciation of words. My co-workers and supervisors noticed immediately the change in my speaking. I highly recommend Deborah, she is great." Crystal (CA)

" After just a few lessons with Deborah I notice that I am speaking more confidently and now I am catching myself before I make mistakes." Miguel Contreus ( Peru)

"My English improved quickly learning with Deborah. I became more confident and learned a lot of new vocabulary" - Thubten (Tibet)

"I am writing to let you know that I passed my exam with flying colors. I couldn't have done it without you.... "Anabel (Madrid)

" ...I never thought learning over the internet would work but this turned out to be the most convenient method for me and my English improved quickly. Thank you so much. This was just what I needed...." Aleck (California)


I have taught students from:

• Spain
• France
• Mexico
  
• Germany
• Italy
• Japan
• China
• Tibet
• Nepal
• India
• Russia
• Slovenia
  
• Czech Republic
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Turkey
• Israel
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Belgium
• Kurdistan
• Pakistan
• Afghanistan
• Cyprus
• Greece
• Hungary
• Denmark
• Saudi Arabia
  
• and more
  

Qualifications:

I am a qualified & experienced English Language Teacher offering private tutorials to help improve your understanding and spoken English. Grammar, conversation practice, reading and listening skills will improve after just a few lessons.

I am University educated with a BA(Honors) in English. I am an accredited ESL teacher and have taught English to foreign learners both in the UK and the US for over 15 years.

My goal is to help you achieve excellent results quickly with the main emphasis on improving your spoken English. My expertise in teaching includes :

• Language skills for the work place
  
• Beginner , intermediate and advanced levels.
  
• Preparation for exams including TOEFL, IELTS, FCE
  
• Experience with teaching children , teens and adults .
• Grammar
• Conversation practice
  
• Pronunciation
  
• Accent reduction
• Business English
• Comprehension
• Confidence building
• Proof-reading and editing : essays, business letters, course work and more
  
• Weekend tuition available

I am available for online tutoring or in person if you are within traveling distance . For online tutoring you will need access to a computer, headset and the internet. I offer competitive rates and flexible hours .

For further information and to redeem your free lesson please contact me via email or phone. I look forward to helping you improve your English .

To schedule your free introductory lesson, contact me today!

• email : shambhala_sedona@yahoo.com
• or simply fill out the contact form below
  

Name:

Email:

Message:

Pronunciation and Accent Reduction Help for ESL students

I am a qualified and experienced ESL teacher and can help reduce your accent and improve your speaking . You can expect to see an improvement in just one lesson following my proven method of successful language learning. I offer two different programs to ensure that you obtain the results you are seeking. These are intensive , crash courses designed to quickly improve your speaking. Your friends , family and co-workers will notice the results .

Testimonials:

" I was amazed at how quickly my accent improved. The techniques you used made it easy for me to understand and correct my mistakes. I wish I had found you earlier! Thanks" (Silvia Lopez , NYC)

" Just three lessons with Deborah, I started seeing an improvement in my speech and pronunciation of words. My co-workers and supervisors noticed immediately the change in my speaking. I highly recommend Deborah, she is great." Crystal (CA)

• See results quickly
• Accent reduction and pronunciation refinement
  
• Personalized program to overcome your unique language difficulties
• Clear explanations and examples to help you succeed
• Professional assessment of your strengths and weaknesses
• Study aids for you to practice at home
• Confidence and self-esteem building
• Patient and thorough tutoring
• Affordable
  

Are you frustrated when speaking ? Do you find yourself having to repeat yourself often so that others can understand you? Are you losing confidence with your spoken English?
Don't worry, I can help you speak English so that everyone understands you. I am a qualified ESL tutor with many years of experience , teaching English to foreign learners and I can help you too.

I fully understand the difficulties that come with learning correct pronunciation and speaking skills. I know that it can be a very frustrating and daunting prospect for you. But no matter what your level is right now, I can help you to drastically improve the clarity of your speech so that people can more easily understand you. Never underestimate the power of great communication skills, and know that you have the ability to achieve this .

I offer an intensive course of re-learning the way you speak English. By systematically going through the basic steps and building upon this in a thorough manner, I can promise that you will see some improvement.

Don't let poor communication skills stand in the way of your success! Contact me today for a free evaluation and needs analysis.

How to contact me:

Click here to send me email.

Use the contact form

New English Words for ESL Students

In an earlier ESL post, I had talked about how new words were constantly being added to the dictionary through their popular usage. I mentioned how it kept the language ever evolving and colorful. The other day while driving , I was listening to NPR as is my habit. I often recommend NPR to my students to listen to , for practicing listening skills and for learning new words. A very interesting topic came on regarding the ever-changing English language. My ears pricked up and I kept the station on that channel.
Essentially the show was interviewing a language consultant, Jeremy Butterfield , and he was talking about some odd words that he had come across as well as an electronic database of more than 2 billion words. This database is called the Oxford English Corpus, words that are mainly collected from the World Wide Web.
Some of the words he mentioned were:

Damp squid - meaning something that is disappointing. The phrase actually is a mutation of the word "damp squib" meaning a damp firework that won't go off, therefore causing disappointment.
404 - a failure (as in the 404 error message you get when a website is not available)
high dudgeon - a feeling of intense anger and indignation.

Listen to the interview in full by following the link and learn about the changing nature of the English Language.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98982345&ft=1&f=1032

Another great story to listen to is on the BBC website , and they talk about other new words that have been included in the dictionary.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/2009/01/090102_new_words.shtml


If you need help with the ever-changing English language, I am a qualified ESL Tutor. You can reach me by:

• email : shambhala_sedona@yahoo.com
• or simply fill out the contact form below
  

Name:

Email:

Message:

Proofreading and Editing Services

I will help you present your writing with confidence!

Here is what I offer:

• Help with Essays, resumes, business letters. proposals, web site content.
• Fast turn around (rush service available upon request)
  
• Affordable rates
• Dependable, accurate work
• Suggestions for improving flow, grammar, word choice.
• Ensure that your ideas are expressed clearly and correctly.
  

Here is what my proofreading and editing services can do for you:

• Avoid making embarrassing mistakes
• Present your work with confidence that it will be polished and professional
• Help you meet important deadlines
  

Please contact me today for a free evaluation & quote.

Click here to send me email.

Use the contact form

Testimonials:

"Thanks for your help with checking my essay. The corrections you made helped me to get a good grade." Angelica (CA)


Dear Deborah,

Thank you very much for your help. Although my English is at advanced level, I feel my writing has improved since I started one on one sessions with you. Your attention to subtle points in grammar and meaning warns your students about the mistakes which can easily be made and avoided. Your method of teaching makes your students more accurate both with their speaking and writing skills. Your patience, diligence and your punctuality (which I would call the icing on the cake) makes your teaching even more helpful and effective. I am looking forward to having more sessions with you.

Farideh
July 2008

" Deborah provides a fast and accurate service that is affordable." (William C., Reno, Nevada)

" Deborah helped me with my resume. It now looks professional and I feel confident that it will look good to employers." (Nadia M., Naples, FL)

Business English For ESL

Fast and efficient method for improving and enhancing English skills in the workplace.

Online business English classes available to help you gain confidence in a professional setting. The course will focus on improving your :

• Written English
• Spoken English
• Vocabulary Building
  
• Clear pronunciation and Accent Reduction
  

The classes are suitable for intermediate and advanced levels and are aimed at improving the communication skills of executives in the workplace.

• Personal tuition available
• Group classes up to 4 students available
• Flexible hours
  
• Convenience of learning from home or the office

Please contact me for a free language assessment. Each course is specifically conducted to suit the needs of the attendee, offering a proven record of achievement with your English study needs.

Testimonials :

Dear Deborah,

I would like to thank you for the quality of your course. I really appreciate the way you handle each lesson. It has been really difficult to find a teacher able to point out each weakness and to provide the answer to correct it. I have been learning so much about grammar and pronunciation that I now feel comfortable to handle a conversation with my English colleagues. The way I speak now is much more natural and sophisticated. Thanks, Laurent (Belgium)

"Deborah is a perfect English teacher. The interesting thing is that she is more than a teacher, she is a very awesome lady, who encourages us. The way she spoke to me the first time and told me which country I was from just by my accent, surprised me. She makes English very easy for anybody who seeks her classes. All the best to every one who wants to learn English. I can tell you that in Deborah's classes you will see that "learning English is not a Rocket science."

Hi,
I found Deborah's site through the internet and we began our lessons. I am on a business trip to the US. At first ,I felt a little afraid of talking to people in English but after a few lessons, my spoken and listening skills improved very quickly. I can talk to my US colleagues in English now. Thank you Deborah! (Yushi, China)

" Just three lessons with Deborah, I started seeing an improvement in my speech and pronunciation of words. My co-workers and supervisors noticed immediately the change in my speaking. I highly recommend Deborah, she is great." Crystal (CA)

Contact me today to find out how I can help you with your business English needs.

How to contact me:

Click here to send me email.

Use the contact form

Reference guide for ESL learners who speak Spanish.

Here is a handy reference list of websites for Spanish speakers learning ESL. These websites offer exercises and audio recordings and are free.

• http://eleaston.com/pr/t-d-Id-pattern.html offers help with pronouncing - ed endings
• http://eleaston.com/pr/i-iy-pattern.html help with vowel sounds /i/ and /iy/.
• http://www.eslgold.com/pronunciation/sound_sh_ch_j_y.html assistance with the sounds of ch, sh , j and y.
• http://esl.about.com/od/speakingadvanced/a/timestress.htm all you need to know regarding word stress and sentence stress.
• http://www.miguelmllop.com/glos/index.php False friends list. Helpful to Spanish speakers as the Spanish equivalent to the given English word means something different.
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv279.shtml all you need to know about adverbs and adverbial clauses.

For more detailed explanations of the above list please refer to my ESL post that gives fuller information.

If you know of any other helpful websites that can help Spanish speakers of English please let me know so that I can include them in my list.

New English words for ESL students.

An interesting aspect about a language, which I like to cover in my ESL lessons, is the manner in which new words are continually coming into play. Take the English language for example, it is always in a state of growing and evolving with new words and expressions being coined by people and then, overtime, added to the dictionary.
For your entertainment and I hope learning, this post is all about new words.

A new word I came across today is "discomgoogolation" According to London reuters, it is the stressed and anxious feeling at an inability to access the Internet.
Another word that I commonly hear is "chillax" , a merging of the words chill and relax.
Chill (verb) - meaning to relax, take it easy. For example: "This weekend I am doing nothing. I am just going to chill (out). Note that the use of the word out is optional. Chill out is a phrasal verb.
Popemobile - (noun) - the bulletproof car that is used by the Pope during public appearances.
Kumbaya - (adjective) - an ignorant or naive attitude that is held in the hope for peace or happiness. Derived from the hymn Kumbaya, which has become synonymous with sugary sentiment.
Plank (noun) British English meaning a stupid person. For example, "Frank is a real plank!"
Hoodie (noun) a person (often a youth) wearing a hooded top.
Colbert bump (noun) - A popularity boost in the polls that is experienced by a politician after appearing on the Colbert Report. The Colbert Report is an American TV show , which is very funny and satirical especially in political matters.
Andropause (noun) The end of virility. A merging of the words virility and menopause.
Pooper-Scooper (noun) . A scooping device for the collection of animal waste. For example when cleaning out the cat or dog's litter box, you would be well -advised to use a pooper- scooper. Sometimes it is referred to as a poop- scoop.
Fantabbulous (adj) - Meaning excellent, more than fabulous. It is a merging of fantastic and fabulous. For example " Joan and I had a fantabulous time."

This is just a small sampling of the many new words that crop up. As you can see many of them are slang and are a popular part of everyday language. I think this brings so much color and vitality into a language , although I understand it is more words for an ESL student to learn!


For further new words please go to http: //www.britannica.com/blogs/category/words/.
Also check out http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/new_words.htm
http://www.askoxford.com/worldofwords/newwords/?view=uk
http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~ling215/NewWords/

If you have come across any new words or phrases , please feel free to let me know!
If you need professional help with your English study needs , please contact me. I am an English Tutor and offer private ESL lessons.