Teaching Method
“Language acquisition comes from input, not output; from comprehension, not production.”
Stephen Krashen
Compelling Comprehensible Input is Key!
Many language courses ask students to repeat vocabulary and memorize grammar rules. I used to teach this way too, but I found it to be a tedious and often ineffective way to learn. It takes language out of its natural context, moving away from real-world communication and the innate way our brains actually process speech.
My teaching style is based on a highly effective theory of second language acquisition called The Comprehension Hypothesis, first proposed by linguist Stephen Krashen. Through his research, Krashen found that acquiring a language is a subconscious process that happens naturally when we are exposed to input.
Language input happens through reading or hearing the target language, and it should be at a level just slightly higher than our current ability. That is, we should be able to understand most of the content (ideally 70% to 90%). When that input is compelling—meaning we are genuinely interested in what we are reading or listening to—we enter a state of deep focus and acquire the language much more quickly. To stay in this state, I teach only a limited amount of structured content in the beginning of a student's language journey. Once a student can already speak the language basically, we then look into the patterns and rules , the why, to refine our skills and deepen our understanding of its underlying structure.
Instead of traditional drills, I focus heavily on storytelling and narration. I use a vibrant mix of language inputs—such as storybooks, songs, current affairs, TV programs, and engaging online media—to keep you immersed in useful, relevant, and everyday language.
I can personally testify to the success of this method.
I used these exact strategies to refine my isiZulu and acquire French, Spanish, and Vietnamese—all during adulthood. By working with tutors familiar with Comprehensible Input and immersing myself in content I genuinely loved—like comic books, audiobooks, podcasts, movies, and storybooks—I proved that you don't need traditional textbooks or methods to achieve true fluency, and that becoming fluent in a language in adulthood is definitely possible with commitment to enough hours of study.
You learn best when you are having fun!
Krashen also found that the more enjoyable the learning experience, the easier it is to learn the language. Conversely, negative emotions like embarrassment or anxiety impede progress. This is why I try to create a relaxed and supportive atmosphere, setting students up for success, especially in my group classes, where beginner students may initially feel intimidated or shy.
Learning a language shouldn't feel like hard work, it should be fun! The most enjoyable lessons are also the most memorable ones. I find that the material my students tend to retain the best are often funny or ridiculous stories that were told or created in class.
Interactive Storytelling & TPRS
To bring Stephen Krashen's theory to life, my online lessons are heavily influenced by TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Storytelling)—a dynamic method that replaces traditional lecturing for active communication. While I don’t follow a rigid script, I integrate its most powerful techniques to get you speaking fast. In our sessions, we keep new vocabulary minimal so your brain never feels overwhelmed. Instead, I use expressive gestures to reinforce the meaning of new words, and we co-create engaging stories together—often drawing directly from real life events and scenarios. By using "circling" (asking simple, repetitive comprehension questions from different angles) and slow and comprehensible storytelling, I ensure you fully absorb and comprehend the core details, through natural conversation.
Here's an example of fun characters that were created in my classes using interactive storytelling.
This was an isiZulu Tprs demo that I gave to English teachers in Japan while I was living in Vietnam! The teachers had only done one lesson with me 6 months prior to this.
“You must just be good at languages.”
I get this response quite often when people find out which languages I speak. But from what I’ve seen, absolutely anybody can learn a language at any age. It simply takes a little time to find that optimum mental state for learning—that moment where you temporarily forget you are even listening to a foreign language.
If you aren't a language learner yet, think of it like reading a really good book: you get so caught up in the story that the text fades away, and the words temporarily turn into a movie in your mind. That is exactly what optimum language acquisition feels like.
