Well it depends! On so many factors. Native like fluency is a must at least for higher levels but at lower levels, it's incredibly helpful when a teacher speaks your native language.....

British English with Maria

Teachers MUST be native to help you...right?!

Did you know that we can use 'Not + a Superlative' to convey the opposite. In this episode, we discuss this commonly used expression in English.

Listen to the episode and analyse the following examples:
That's not the most efficient way to do it.
That's not the most original idea.
That's not the worst movie I've ever seen.

Don't forget to make your own examples and post them in the Comments Section to grasp this concept fully.

All Things English

Confusing Structures in the English Language - Superlatives

Did you like the film? Was it good?
-- Umm, it wasn't bad. 
Why do you always have to do that? Can't you just say good or bad?
-- Indeed I cannot. 

In this episode, we will take a look at the difference between 'it was good' and 'it wasn't bad.' And how we can use it in daily speech to Express a Nuance.

Confusing Structures in the English Language - Using Opposites

Leonard: I couldn't agree more!
Alisha: Wait, you don't agree with me?
L: No, I said, I couldn't agree more. That means I completely agree with you.
A: What? Then why did you say you couldn't agree with me!

I think we can all relate with Alisha. There are so many indirect ways of saying something so simple and direct. We use such structures to add nuance to our meaning!

But it 'can' be confusing for a language learner.

In this series on the Confusing Structures in the English Language, we will discuss these very structures so that the next time Leonard says 'he couldn't agree more,' or 'he couldn't care less' or some such phrase, you'd know exactly what he is saying. 

Confusing Structures in the English Language - Introduction

Can you always be a Productive Language Learner? More importantly, Should you?

It is important to be a Lazy Learner as well and it is important to mix things up when practicing any skill.

Effective Listening: A Game Plan for Listening

Do you watch videos in your Target Language? 
If yes, then let me ask you another question. Are you sure you are doing it in the most productive way possible?

In this episode, I outline a way in which you can Watch videos and at the same time get the most out of your Listening Exercises.

Effective Listening - An Ideal Listening Exercise

I Know the Words but I cannot Remember them while Speaking.

If you also feel that way, you need to know what Selective Attention is and how it affects the Language Learning Process. 

Effective Listening: Selective Attention and Language Learning

Reading and Listening to Practice Content at the same time is a highly Useful and Productive exercise for Language Learners. 

Audiobooks, Audio Dialogues with Transcripts, and Series with Subtitles are all great tools to that effect. 

Effective Listening: How Can Subtitles Help Me?

You have acquired high-level proficiency in Listening and yet you feel like you barely understand dialogues in a film. Why is that? If that's a question you've asked yourself, then let me assure you: It's NOT YOU! 

In the series on Effective Listening, I'll be sharing a great many tips and strategies to get the most out of our Listening Comprehension Exercises.

Let me know in the Comments Section if there are any topics you'd like me to cover or any doubts and questions you'd like to clarify. 