Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.
Anton Chekhov
I love that quote.
To me, it sums up a really important point about language learning. That is, it is one thing to know about English, but it’s another thing altogether to actually speak it.
Would you agree?
Studying grammar, memorising vocabulary, drilling pronunciation…these are all important steps on the journey to learning English. But, if you want to be able to communicate effecitively in English, there’s one more thing you’ve gotta do. You’ve got to practice, well…actually speaking! And you’ve got to practice a lot!
So where do you start? Well, conversation lessons, of course!
Let me help you with that!
Hey, I’m Rose and I offer conversation lessons to motivated learners who are keen to improve their listening and speaking skills.
When you work with me, you’ll have opportunities to practice natural conversation in a supportive environment. Together, we’ll work together to develop your fluency, expand your vocabulary and improve your accuracy… all while growing your confidence!
ABOUT
Conversation lessons
Conversation lessons are all about you! They’re a space for you to talk, about things that you’re interested in, in a way that helps you reach your goals.
You will…
Speak… a lot!
My job in conversation lessons is to make space for you to speak English. And I promise, you’ll get to speak a lot! I’ll ask plenty of questions and encourage you to share your thoughts on a variety of topics. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say!
Learn new words and expressions
As we explore different topics, it’s inevitable that we’ll come across words that you don’t know. But don’t worry, I’ll help you learn them! I’ll draw your attention to these new words by typing them in the chat box during conversation, encouraging you to guess the meaning from context, and giving clear explanations with plenty of examples.
Recieve feedback and corrections
Worried you said something wrong? Can’t find the right words to express what you want to say? Relax, I got you. I’ll help you fix your mistakes, make better word choices, and improve your pronunciation. With each improvement we make, you’re one step closer to sounding more natural and expressing yourself fully.
Boost fluency and gain confidence
Do you want to speak more quickly and with less hesitation? And to do it without feeling stressed? Great! Let’s get you there! The best thing you can do is practice, practice, practice. Repetition is the key to fluency, and I can help you do that!
Have fun!
Believe it or not, having fun is an incredibly important part of learning. When we’re having fun, we’re relaxed. And when we’re relaxed, we are able to take in new information. So come to class expecting to chat, laugh, and have a good time…all while learning!
STRUCTURE
Lesson Style
Lessons are informal, relaxed and fun. Most of our time is spent talking, followed by a valuable feedback session at the end. The total lesson time is 40 minutes.
3 – 5
We’ll start the lesson with a brief greeting. If it’s the first time, we’ll take turns introducing ourselves.
20 – 25
I’ll get the conversation started by asking you some questions, and then we’ll let the conversation flow. This is your chance to talk, talk, and talk some more!
10 – 15
At the end of the lesson, I share feedback. I’ll point out your strengths (what you’re good at) and areas to improve (your mistakes). We’ll also review new words and expressions.
SUITABILITY
Who it’s for
Not sure if it’s for you? Well, ask yourself this…
Do you…
Do you freeze up when you have to speak English?
You like learning English, but you feel super nervous when it comes to speaking. It’s like… you’ve got words in your head, you know what you want to say, but you can’t get it out. You feel self-conscious speaking in public, and you want to build your confidence.
You want to practice speaking English in safe space, with someone you trust, where you can relax and have fun.
Do you worry about making mistakes or being misunderstood?
You feel reasonably confident when it comes to speaking English, but sometimes you feel like that you’re not quite getting it right. You know, like, when you talk to your friends, you can kind of get your idea across, but you know something is missing. Your friends don’t correct you on your mistakes, or if they do, they can’t explain it well.
You want to work with someone who can: a) tell you what you’re getting wrong, and b) show you how to get it right.
Are you sick of working through textbooks and itching to actually SPEAK with someone?
Maybe you’ve spent hours studying, studying, and studying some more… and you’re keen to actually apply everything you’ve learned. You know, like say the words…out loud… to someone else… in the context of a real conversation.
You’re keen to actually COMMUNICATE in English, and experience the joy of connecting with others and sharing your experiences.
BOOKING
Get started
Booking is as easy as one, two, three. Follow the steps below to start learning with me!
2.
Meet me online
Follow the link from your booking confirmation to join me in Google Meet!
3.
Let’s talk!
Enjoy using English to discuss all sorts of interesting topics in a fun and relaxed space.
BOOKING
Get started (?)
Booking is as easy as one, two three. Follow the steps below to start learning with me!
2.
Meet me online
Follow the link from your booking confirmation to join me in Google Meet!
3.
Let’s talk
Enjoy using English to discuss all sorts of interesting topics in a fun and relaxed space.
ONLINE LEARNING
What you need
All lessons are taught online using Google Meet. Learn from the comfort of your own home!
- Best: A computer with a webam
- Good: A tablet
- Okay: A smartphone
- Best: Your home cabled/Wi-Fi high-speed connection
- Good: Mobile Internet Connection
- Best: Headphones with attached microphone
- Good: Build-in speakers and microphone
- Okay: Speakers with a separate microphone
- Paypal
- Debit / Credit Card
ONLINE LEARNING
What you need
All lessons are taught online using Google Meet. Learn from the comfort of your own home!
- Best: A computer with a webam
- Good: A tablet
- Okay: A smartphone
- Best: Your home cabled/Wi-Fi high-speed connection
- Good: Mobile Internet Connection
- Best: Headphones with attached microphone
- Good: Build-in speakers and microphone
- Okay: Speakers with a separate microphone
- Debit / Credit Card
PAYMENT
Pricing
$36
per lesson (NZD)
One on one time with a qualified teacher
Student-centred teaching and learning
Personalised feedback
Detailed lesson summary
Flexible pay-as-you-go scheduling
A little bit about me…
Lessons are super interactive, and we’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other, but here are just a few things about me. See if you can spot anything in common!
In my free time I like…
tramping, snowboarding, reading, going out with friends
Some of my favourite things are…
craft beer, stand-up comedy, meeting new people
I speak…
English (Native) and Japanese (Upper Intermediate). I’m also learning te reo Māori and Italian (Beginner)
Education & Training
- Bachelor of Arts
Applied Linguistics (Second Language Education) and Japanese - Certificate in TESOL
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages - Over 5 years’ teaching experience
New Zealand, Japan, Myanmar, Online - Experience living, working & studying abroad
Japan (2 years), Myanmar (3 months) - Bilingual
English (native), Japanese (Upper-intermediate)
TESTIMONIALS
What people say…
I started taking conversation lessons because I wanted to get better at listening and speaking. I have studied in classrooms for years but I was sick of learning from textbooks – I want to practice real English. The classes are very fun. Rose always brings up different topics in class and it is very interesting for me. Sometimes, Rose pointed out some pronunciation mistakes I make and help me to say things correctly. I feel much more confidence speaking English now. I still have a lots to learn, but I am motivated to keep going and I am glad I have someone to help me.
I began lessons with Rose because I wanted more chance to speak English. At first, I felt very shy, but Rose is so funny and kind to me and I felt like I can try speak English. Now, I enjoy speaking English and I feel glad to talk about my life. I also learned some new words and especially Kiwi expressions. It’s so cool! My favourite thing is the feedback document. She writes corrections and new words down so I can see them on the screen. And I can review after too. It is very helpful to me.
I like conversation lessons because Rose helps me use correct English. I can talk about a lot of things in English but I often make mistakes. Like when I talk to my friends or colleagues at work, sometimes they don’t understand me, but they don’t tell me whats wrong. I don’t know how to be clear. Rose helps me a lot and the lesson style is fun. We talk a lot and it is like talking to a good friend. But the best part is actually Rose is a very good teacher and she tells me when I make mistakes. She shows me correct grammar and says many good examples. It is easy to understand. Sometimes I forget, but Rose is gentle and reminds me nicely so I can practice. I feel my English is getting better and I want to study more and more.
MORE INFO
FAQs
Read the answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below
How long are the lessons?
Each lesson is 40 minutes. We’ll spend the first 25 – 30 minutes talking, and then I’ll set aside the final 10 – 15 minutes to give feedback.
What will we talk about?
Anything and everything! There are no assigned topics to these lessons. Instead, we’ll talk about everyday life. I’ll get the conversation started by asking you questions, and when we land on something interesting, we’ll talk about that! And it could be anything… hobbies and interests, relationships, work and/or study life, current affairs, past experiences, dreams and aspirations…whatever! I’ll encourage you to talk about the things that interest you and I’ll push you to express yourself as much as you can in English. In this way, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences on a variety of topics.
I want to prepare before the lesson. Can I pick a topic in advance?
You can, but I recommend you try without one. It can be a little nervewracking jumping into a conversation without an assigned topic or lesson materials, but it’s actually really valuable practice. How come? Well, cos that’s how conversations go in real life! It can be a little scary, but it’s important to practice having uncontrolled spontaneous conversations, and this is the perfect place to practice! With me, you have a chance to practice speaking “on the fly” without the constraints of a traditional classroom. Of course, the lesson is about you, and if you want to choose a topic, you can! But I would really encourage you to try showing up without one. You might be surprised by just how well you are able to talk, and how much you enjoy it!
What do I do if I can't say what I want to in English?
Look, sometimes we just can’t say what’s in our head. It happens. And it’s perfectly okay. If you get stuck, there are a number of things we can do:
- You can describe, draw, or act out an idea
- You can look it up in a dictionary.
- We can use a translation app.
Once I have an idea of what you want to say, I will help you find the right words. I will write down some useful words and expressions, and I’ll give an example of how to express your idea. Then, you can try again!
What do I do if I can't understand you?
If you don’t understand something I said, the best thing to do is ask! I am happy to repeat sentences, and I love explaining new words and phrases! Here are some useful phrases you can use:
To ask for repetition:
“Pardon?”
“Come again?”
“Could you say that again?”
“Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”
To ask for clarification:
“What does _______ mean?”
“What did you mean by __________?”
“Sorry, I’m not sure what you mean.”
Can I learn grammar in conversation lessons?
Yes and no. We don’t explicitly study grammar in these lessons, so if you want instruction on new grammar structures, this is not the lesson for you. However, we do spend time looking at your mistakes and making corrections. Often, this involves correcting your grammar or learning appropriate language (i.e., grammar, vocabulary and expressions) to express your ideas clearly.In this way, conversation lessons can be a way to improve your grammar accuracy and expand your knowledge of useful structures.
Do you bring materials to class?
Nope! No books, no worksheets, no materials … instead, it’s just you and me! And trust me, that’s a good thing! Conversation lessons are all about, well, conversation… It’s a chance for you to share your life experiences and enjoy talking in English.
How do you give feedback?
During our conversation, I take notes…lots of notes! Then, I dedicate 10 – 15 minutes to giving feedback. We’ll look at two key areas:
1. Strengths (what you did well)
I share examples of what you did well – perfect sentences, great vocabulary, beautiful story-telling, clever questions…I want to remind you of all the things that you are doing well!
2. Areas to improve (error correction)
I point out your mistakes and help you to make corrections. We will discuss various aspects of English including grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Together, we will make changes so that you can sound more natural and speak with confidence.
I share my screen while I give feedback so you can follow along easily. After the lesson I’ll send you a copy of the notes to review in your own time.
What tools and/or software do you use?
During the lesson I use the chat box, screen sharing, and my own custom feedback form (Microsoft Powerpoint). Lessons are carried out over video conferencing software where we can connect ‘face to face’ by using a webcam & microphone.
I've never had a lesson online before. What's it like?
Learning online is awesome! For one thing, you get study from the comfort of your own home! And what’s more? Technology these days is incredible! We’ll connect via video conferencing software which means we’ll be able to see and hear each other. There are also plenty of useful tools available like chat messenger, screen sharing, whiteboard and more.
What you need
- a computer
- a reliable internet connection
- a webcam
- earphones with a microphone
Do I have to book at the same time every week?
No. One of the wonderful things about these lessons is the flexibility! You can choose a time that suits you, and come as often, or as little, as you like! Of course, the more you practice, the more quickly your English will improve, so I recommend you decide on a regular schedule and stick to it. For you that might be once a week, once a fortnight, or once a month. It’s completely up to you.
Are you a qualified teacher?
Yep! I have a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Linguistics (Second Language Education) and Japanese, and a certificate in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). I’ve taught English for over five years and I love helping students.