My classes are for people who have a desire to learn and wish to receive personalized instruction. I use a communicative method that helps the student begin conversing as soon as possible. In the first class, an assessment is done to determine the student’s current language skills (level) as well as the goals to be achieved and the best methodology to reach those goals.

For those who beginners or intermediate, it often helps to use textbooks for the corresponding level so the student can continue practising at home. In the class, speaking is the most important aspect, acquiring greater fluency and confidence. For the advanced students who require “maintenance”, conversations and activities are directed to specific topics to continue increasing vocabulary in various areas. Classes are given online (Zoom or Skype) or in person in my office.

In addition, I recommend practical strategies to manage each of the sections on the exam: reading, listening, speaking and writing.

General observations:
– Each student must be clear about the score required for their purposes.
– Training can begin with a minimum intermediate level of English to obtain the score required by English-speaking universities.
– The classes are only one part of the preparation. Independent learning is also essential.

The idea of these seminars is twofold:
1) The participants have an opportunity to listen to and speak English in a stress-free environment, on the understanding that this is part of the learning experience.
2) The participants will receive information on the culture and expectations of people in the English-speaking world. Each seminar is offered in the form of a talk for two hours or in an activity of four hours, divided in two sessions of 2 hours each (1 session on theory and 1 practical).

The seminars are the following:

1. Tips to improve your writing
Here the idea is not to learn all the grammar of the English language in a single two- hour session. After years of reviewing manuscripts in English, I offer tips on English style generally, vocabulary, and how to avoid the most common mistakes made by native speakers of Spanish.

2. CVs and Cover Letters – Tips and Tricks
This seminar is mainly for people who wish to study, work or live in an English-speaking country. We explore such subjects as: what to include and not to include, the number of pages a CV should contain, the subject of ATS etc. Since English CVs and cover letters differ in form and content from those in Chile, this seminar can help participants produce a CV and cover letter in English that stand out.

3. Tackling Job Interviews
Here participants learn the most frequent questions in an interview in English and how to respond to them in the best possible way. Uncomfortable questions and how to address them are examined. In addition, the questions a candidate should ask during the interview to stand out from the other candidates are discussed.

4. Presentations and Posters
Giving a presentation is the art of persuading your audience. This seminar is designed to help participants in business or academia give a convincing presentation, examining topics as structure, language, and room dynamics. In addition, posters and how to capture the audience’s attention are analyzed.

5. English Exams for Studying Abroad: TOEFL and IELTS
This talk is designed for people who need to take one of these international exams to study abroad. It offers information on the structure of each exam, the type of question and the scores.