About
Greg and Ivy Cook…
We have been teaching ESL spoken English at ‘tertiary level’ throughout China for seven years. Our experience also includes teaching ESL at Primary, Middle School levels, and Private Language Schools. We have teaching qualifications and experience from Australia, and have travelled extensively throughout Asia; gaining an acute awareness of the ESL Spoken English needs within the Education, Private and Business sectors.
As a result of our vast experience in teaching spoken English, we have developed proven methods of teaching based on ‘Experiential Learning’. In short, these practical methods not only teach how to acquire knowledge, but take the knowledge gained and enable the student to fully realise their potential in Spoken English.
Students who have applied these innovative methods have greatly enhanced their spoken English skills. We are currently in the process of recording our successful learning methods in the form of a series of books (soon to be published).
Our Site…
From our experience, the learners of spoken English, after some five or so years training, find that they have amassed a goodly amount of ‘theoretical knowledge’ gained mostly from ‘Rote Learning’ methods, but have little expertise as to its practical application. Indeed, the majority of students at this level have a decidedly shy attitude regarding the use of English as a communication ‘tool’. Memorized vocabulary, grammar and dialogue, all amount to very little help when faced with the reality of verbal communication with the English speaking world.
‘Better Spoken English’ is a site that is currently evolving to compliment a series of books we have written regarding our proven ‘Experiential Learning’ methods: by providing extra resources, activities, suggestions and advice, to assist all learners who are interested in having better spoken English.
It exists to create an interactive environment with the learners: to get their feedback on a continuing basis in order to better meet their needs; guiding them through our proven learning methods; offering an environment to develop ‘confidence of expression’; providing an environment that will help with the acquiring of knowledge, and the practical application of that knowledge to the best advantage.
This site also serves as a meeting point of spoken English learners: to exchange ideas, communicate with each other, and establish collaborative learning partnerships to assist one another.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Dear Greg and Ivy ,
I’m Kitty. You know the happy girl. Ah,I’m so worry about my English,nomater listening ,speaking ,reading or writting. Maybe,you feel that I’m a opening girl,but ,in fact I don’t like comunicating with strangers.I’m just exciting in class. When after class I always be alone.So I can’t find a good partner to learn together.
I want to learn English well ,It’s my duty.But I don’t know how to enlarge my vocabulary ,I can’t remember them.
So I’m worry about that.
Thank you for making this Web ,I Know it’s a good way to improve our spoken English. Thank you very much.
Best wishes for you !
Yours
Dear Kitty,
You’re absolutely right when you say that you’re the ‘happy girl’. It’s always lovely to see you and talk to you; in class and out.
The situation is this. You’re a very caring girl with many wonderful attributes. We’re confident that you’d have many interests, and many meaningful thoughts and feelings regarding life in general.
You need to find the vocabulary that best expresses your interests, thoughts and feelings, and start talking to people about it all (please read our post entitled “Passion” for more details).
We believe that people like you can make the world a better place by sharing the things you find important; you’ll be helping others as well as yourself.
Be confident Kitty.
Oh, and thank you too, for your encouragement regarding our work. People like you make it all worthwhile.
Dear Greg and Ivy,
Thank you for your letter. I know if I want to learn English well, I shuold practice more and more. Sometimes,I just talk to myself,but I’m thinking in English.I like to think about my mood in English.It is a little bit useful.
I’ll be confident.In your class,I always feel happy,even,I can forget the bad things .
I have a question, why do you cancle the “Story time”? Ah,I love the story time very much!I think maybe you can give us some real situations in class.I alway want to be the volunteer. we can get the knowlege in the games.For example,when we learn the “Ice break”,we can image that we meet at first time at bus stop or hotle. How can we start the conversation? You could ask two people to act it without preparation. Because if I meet a foriegner by chance,I have no time to prepare for it.It will be dificult at first,but I think it will go well!Do you agree with me?
Good evening , kind people ( Ivy and Greg )
I always dream of speaking english fluently one day, but day after day, I feel nothing has changed. I’m so frustrated. And I’m scared to think that I’m someone who can’t do anything. But, you know, I love speaking english. I love it extremely! May be you can’t understand the feeling I have…
I want to learn English well !