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A Lesson in Sales from an Unexpected Encounter One morning, on my way home from the gym, I had an unusual encounter that left me thinking about sales, storytelling, and the power of curiosity. I was walking down the street,…

Practise Conversation Using ‘Should’ During my 20 years of teaching English in Saudi Arabia, I’ve observed students consistently struggle with auxiliary verb usage, particularly “should.” In Arabic, auxiliary verbs like “to” are not used as frequently, leading to common mistakes…

The Upside Down Cup: A New Approach to Student Engagement Many students today face the same problem-they find learning, particularly in subjects like English, to be monotonous, whether in high school, college, or university. Despite the wealth of technology at…

Substituting /B/ for /P/ In a recent conversation with an Arabic-speaking colleague, we discussed the challenges of mastering certain sounds in a second language (L2). As we explored the common difficulties Arabic speakers face with the English sounds “P” and…

The Persistence of Writing Anxiety This fear of writing persists throughout students’ lives, affecting their ability to write simple emails or messages in English. The anxiety around writing becomes a significant barrier in professional settings, where clarity and correctness are…

Problems Understanding Idioms in Business English As an English teacher and Motiformance facilitator who worked taught over 5,000 students in higher education in Saudi Arabia, I developed a deep appreciation for the Arabic language. Every time I heard it spoken…

The Problem With Using AI Tools and ChatGPT When I first started using ChatGPT, it felt like getting a new robot-similar to the excitement of getting my first remote control car. I was thrilled at first, but just like with…

Why Do Native Speakers Talk So Fast? Understanding Linked Sounds in English Have you ever wondered why it seems like native English speakers talk so fast? You’re not alone-many students feel like they’re missing out on some of the sounds,…

The Silent Barrier: Idiomatic Expressions Learning idiomatic expressions can be one of the most frustrating challenges for language learners. It’s not just about mastering new vocabulary-it’s about overcoming the very real pain of feeling stuck, of hitting a wall in…

Breaking the Habit: The Downfall of the Grammar-Translation Method   Modern research shows the significant drawbacks of the Grammar-Translation Method (GTM), which often makes learning dull and monotonous. Constant translation slows response time and hinders natural speaking skills, causing students…

Struggling to find someone to practise speaking English with? It can be incredibly frustrating trying to improve your English speaking skills without a partner to practise with. We all know that mastering a language requires plenty of practice. Research shows…

Turning Active into Passive: A Journey from Demotivation to Engagement Teaching can be incredibly rewarding, but it comes with its challenges. One of the most difficult hurdles to overcome is dealing with unmotivated students who lack confidence, refuse to participate,…